Hey folks. Been reading here for a couple years now since I bought my Savage! Awesome resource! But I've finally hit a wall. So nice to meet y'all.  

I don't do a lot of highway riding but last week I was and my bike lost throttle, or at least power and I pulled it over where it promptly cut off. I have been able to start it since. I've replaced the petcock (raptor), cleaned the carb (plugged the vacuum) and replaced the spark plug, oil and filter, and put on a new air filter. All this stuff needed to be done but weren't really solving my problem because it won't start but will turn over.. I tried bumping the engine today and I can push the bike forward in second with out the clutch engaged. Oddly even with the clutch engaged when trying to start in second the bike wants to learch forward. Any advice? Thanks.

norm92de wrote on 03/10/19 at 13:25:12:

Ok going through the trouble shooting guide here I was trying to test for decomp solenoid so it was new for me starting in second after bumping it. The battery is new and charged or was as of starting the trouble shooting. I am trickle charging it now to be sure.. rectifier problem maybe?

norm92de wrote on 03/10/19 at 14:14:01:
Aye. Since I bought it it's actually been running with the stock petcock and the vacuum hose disconnected.. not bragging but it ran. I just replaced the petcock and sealed up the vacuum line on the carb.. all carb work was done after it died while on the road. While I mention it has compression it's just a thumb feel I haven't gotten to a psi check.

Thanks Justin and everyone else. I've wanted (and needed apparently) to do some work on the bike. I've had a full set of gaskets cam chain and the a ability to modify the cam chain tensioner.
I'm not sure it's compression, I'm but after considering the ol thumb gage and  and not having any other ideas. I'm going to stop being lazy and either fix it or FUBAR it while I check everything else as I break it all down.. Since I'm opening it I'm going to replace the Piston rings but I'm waiting to order those. I'll post some pics and let you know one way or another.
I'm trying to be prepared but I. Fairly broke and ignorant so if you have anything to add I'd gladly hear it.

After a lot of trying to start, but no joy,... you may have gas washed the cylinder.
This will wash away the oil seal on the cylinder walls and give you no compression.
Pull the spark plug and spray a little oil in the hole.  Just a second or two of spray lube or a squirt from an oil can and it will recoat the cylinder.

Then, I'd try starting with a car battery jump... (make sure not to have the car engine running or it can fry the small bikes electrics)...

Why did the bike die originally?... Might have been the petcock,... might also be a clogged gas tank vent.

Forgot how primitive this site is...
Anyway...

If you spun it over with the plug out, anything that may have fell into the cylinder blew right back out. If the engine has enough power to raise the piston it has enough to blow road grit off the piston crown. JoG is kinda paranoid...

Does the engine “chuff” when cranked? You have compression.
Does the plug spark when out of the cylinder? Ignition is good.
Crack the bowl drain screw and get drips? Petcock is good.

It is either a low battery, very common, the charging system is a joke... or a plugged jet. Also very common, and easy to fix. Pop off the float bowl, pull the float and run a big needle through the jet you can now see. Does the slide move freely, or is it sticking the ethanol blend crud in that jet?

My 2003 sat idle from late 2016 until last week. New battery. New spark plug. Fresh fuel. Nothing... Pulled carb and ran a torch tip cleaner through the jets. Filled float bowl with fresh pure gas and fired right up. Gas tank with 2 gallons of white vinegar is in the back of the truck. Soak and agitate for the next couple weeks. May be savable... not important. Have another just in case.

Good luck, happy tinkering, don’t ride it until you replace the factory cam chain tensioner. The stock one will fail and will destroy your engine. Usually between 20-30 thousand miles indicated.

WD wrote on 03/21/19 at 04:51:51:


Are you referring to the bike.....the forum.....or the members?