Topic: 650 Suzuki Savage Carb Crisis

[Frankenkit]

Ok.  I did it.  I admit.

The Savage was bogging at intersections and stop signs, but seemingly running okay at mid rpms.  The single spark plug was greyish, meaning it was likely running a little rich, but 'needed to' or it wouldn't stay running at all.

I felt this was likely a carb problem.
I cleaned the carb thoroughly, blasting orifices with compressed air and making sure everything flowed smoothly, working slowly to make sure I didn't do anything 'wrong'.  I didn't change any adjustments, etc, though I took apart the CV needle jet mechanism (the infamous 'white spacer' with the needle jet, a circlip, the spacer, a washer, and a spring) and when I forgot, reassembled with parts fiche as instructions.

I reinstalled the carb and fired the bike up.  It started perfectly, idled perfectly, I congratulated myself and put my tools away.

This week, the bike won't even start.  Pulled the plug and it was fouled soot black and wet with gas.  Got a new plug and put it in. Took the carb off and attacked it the way I would, assuming it was the floats getting stuck.  No dice, I started it up and it kept wanting to bog... (but it started...) Leaned it way back, figuring maybe cleaning would make it somehow run a little richer, the passages actually being open.  Bike starts *shooting* gas out its twin breather hoses, bogs, backfires, and dies.

So...
WTF?  I'm thinking either somehow the floats managed to lose buoyancy, and I'm going to test them for that once I figure out how to do that... but also considering the placement of the spacer, though honestly, it doesn't seem like the order in which the spacer goes in on the needle jet should matter that much, just being that it is a spacer and nothing is blocked open or shut any more or less given its positioning. 

This just came at a lousy time because I was planning on going on a ride with this POS, or at least tuning it up and getting it SOLD... taken away ... whatever. Gone. Seriously frustrated.

[rchrdms]

Hi,

You can check the floats by shaking them. If you hear something splashing around in them, then they aren't floating right. You could see how they float,also, by floating them in a container with gas. See how they do. Again, you want to shake them gently and listen for gas splashing inside the floats.

Also, have you checked the ignition and battery-- and the charging system?

Good luck

Richard

[kghost]

Are you saying it ran ok last week but not this week?

In case your wondering ...the spacer on the needle sets the midrange mixture. Same as clips on the needles of our bikes.

[Frankenkit]

I guess the problem has been sidestepped for now, my friend has purchased a newer carb on eBay, as the 'suzuki' pros have told her all she needs to replace would basically total to a new carb, if not a new bike.

[kghost]

I guess the problem has been sidestepped for now, my friend has purchased a newer carb on eBay, as the 'suzuki' pros have told her all she needs to replace would basically total to a new carb, if not a new bike.

Thats the parts swapping school of maintenance....

Those folks scare me

[crazypj]

Depending on how new the 'newer' carb is, it may be a lot leaner than the old one. I really sounds like either the shut off valve is worn or the float level is off, probably float level from your description
PJ

[Green550F]

"Thats the parts swapping school of maintenance...."

If you start down that road, just do it all at once and get a new bike... 

Just kidding. Actually I just bought a '96 Savage this spring, so I'd have a bike to run with while the others are under the knife. 1600 miles in 4 months so far!

The only trouble I've seen with mine is the fuel valve likes to shut off by itself occasionally. I think I may have a vacum leak to the petcock valve. Good thing it has a "prime" setting to bypass the auto shutoff!

[Frankenkit]

uh... yeah.  From what I've read on the suzuki savage forum, it's either that (the petcock/vacuum issue) or the carb being perpetually lean or rich or 'off'. 

...I'd rather not ride than ride anything than my CB.