SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> buying new (to me) savage today!
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1109594405

Message started by erik on 02/28/05 at 04:40:05

Title: buying new (to me) savage today!
Post by erik on 02/28/05 at 04:40:05

Hi all, am pretty excited about buying a Savage later today. Not to bore you with details, but we bought the wife a new 2003 Vstar 650 last spring as her first bike. Well, she road it all of about 300 miles all year, due mostly to the weight and size of the Vstar. My bike is a custom Honda Valkyrie, and I was unimpressed by the Vstar's power and handling.
Anyway, we decided to find a used Savage because it is smaller, lighter and quicker and will sell the Vstar in about a month (sure hope we don't take too bad a bath).
I found a '98 with 4,400 miles in fantastic condition for $1,800. It has saddlebags and a backrest, has never been down and runs perfect - the only problem is there is an oil leak around the front of the engine - I think it is the oil cap/plug that I have been reading about. I looked at 4 savages before buying this one, and ALL of them leaked at the front of the engine - pretty weird this problem is so prevalent.
I will probably be back on the board soon with questions about replacing the plug, but I'm not too concerned about it.
Anyway, I am looking forward to riding this bike - the power and handling were way beyond expectations on my test rides, and I think it will be a much better learning bike for the wife, just wish we hadn't wasted a year (and money) on the Vstar first.

Title: Re: buying new (to me) savage today!
Post by Kropatchek on 02/28/05 at 04:46:57

The post about the leak you refering to:
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=tech;action=display;num=1099227295
Be prepared

Greetz
Kropatchek ;D

Title: Re: buying new (to me) savage today!
Post by erik on 02/28/05 at 04:53:00

Yeah I saw that, looks like a whole lot of bolts. Oh well, for the price I'm paying for the bike I can deal with the job. Maybe I'll make it next winter's project - wonder if the leak will get worse as we ride it?

Title: Re: buying new (to me) savage today!
Post by Greg_650 on 02/28/05 at 05:41:52

From what I've seen the leak starts out as irritating but only progresses to obnoxious and stays that way. It is pretty much just a gravity leak of oil anyway. No pressure.

Title: Re: buying new (to me) savage today!
Post by erik on 02/28/05 at 06:00:28

Does it leak just sitting there then or does it leak only when running?

Title: Re: buying new (to me) savage today!
Post by slavy on 02/28/05 at 07:00:29

The oil is going out only when engine is running, but the acumulated on the cylinder oil will drip after You park it. Sooner or latter Y The price of the rubber plug You will get sick of it and You will have to take care of the problem. The price of the plug is approx. $7.

Title: Re: buying new (to me) savage today!
Post by erik on 02/28/05 at 07:33:47

Thanks. You don't happen to have a Suzuki part number handy, do you?

Title: Re: buying new (to me) savage today!
Post by Kropatchek on 03/01/05 at 02:48:30

For a breakdown of parts ( the Illustrated Parts Catalog) go to

www.ronayers.com

for the microfiches

Greetz
Kropatchek ;D

Title: Re: buying new (to me) savage today!
Post by Reelthing on 03/01/05 at 17:53:15

do you happen to know what part number you ordered for them?
thanks

Title: Re: buying new (to me) savage today!
Post by Savage_Rob on 03/01/05 at 18:27:02

Well, how about that? It seems I jumped the gun a bit. It looks a bit different now that I took it out of the plastic bag (and no, the bag isn't clear; it's more like wax paper). The plug is pretty darn solid and I guess it could be rubber but it's pretty hard for rubber - almost plastic. I'm pretty sure this is the right part though. The part number is 11145-41B01.

Title: Re: buying new (to me) savage today!
Post by erik on 03/01/05 at 18:35:13

Thanks, but THANK GOD I DONT NEED IT! ;D

Title: Re: buying new (to me) savage today!
Post by Savage_Rob on 03/01/05 at 18:42:44

If your Savage is a '98 and the plug hasn't been fixed yet, you will. When I got my '98 with 1640 miles on it, I thought I got out lucky on the plug thing.... nope, it just took a little time and mileage. It's not a horrible leak. It's just annoying enough that I want to fix it.

Title: Re: buying new (to me) savage today!
Post by Reelthing on 03/01/05 at 19:20:51

Savage_Rob wrote:

that was sure one of three part numbers - looks like the new one is 11145-37401 - but Slavy believes the old ones will cross to it - unless the dealer just happen to have an older one I'd think - speaking of that I called every dealer in and around town - none had this plug in stock - and one - a rather large famous place - said so far as he could tell had never had it in inventory - guess all these dealers just pop the old back in all the time....

Title: Re: buying new (to me) savage today!
Post by Savage_Rob on 03/02/05 at 05:55:19

Not that it necessarily follows but the part number I wound up with is a higher one. Would it likely be the newer one then also?

Title: Re: buying new (to me) savage today!
Post by Reelthing on 03/02/05 at 06:20:42

Look like a cup with a ridge on top or more like a mushroom? - the new one seems to look like the later

Title: Re: buying new (to me) savage today!
Post by slavy on 03/02/05 at 07:13:49

Yes, You are right.
The dealers are not very helpful when You are talking about the Savage.
There are not so many Savages sold overall and not too many of the existing ones go for a service to the dealer. This makes it not worthed for the dealer to keep LS650 parts in stock.

Title: Re: buying new (to me) savage today!
Post by erik on 03/04/05 at 15:27:29

Well, I changed the oil and filter yesterday and the oil leak is back, although not nearly as severely as my first ride home from buying the bike. It seems to stop leaking after riding it for a while, but starts again after a day or so kind of strange. Anyhoo, I ordered the $7 plug and will gettin to it. Just one question though: how does a leaking cylinder cap leak out the cylinder head cover gasket?

Title: Re: buying new (to me) savage today!
Post by Reelthing on 03/04/05 at 19:13:24

Well, if you look over the picture in the fine written procedure you see the plug is plugging a hole in the bottom of the head cover - right under the plug is one of the head bolts so it can be accessed without removing the head cover, but a large air space is between the two - so as you drive the oil drip is liable to end up most any and every where, wind blown and otherwise

Title: Re: buying new (to me) savage today!
Post by erik on 03/04/05 at 19:36:08

I took a flashlight to the engine tonite and I can see the plug and understand now thanks.