SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Hand grenade - with the pin pulled ..
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1438534586

Message started by tom3949 on 08/02/15 at 09:56:25

Title: Hand grenade - with the pin pulled ..
Post by tom3949 on 08/02/15 at 09:56:25

I am a newcomer to the Savage having only recently acquired a RYCA converted LS400:

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/tom_3949/DSC_0138.jpg

I bought this from ebay UK without seeing it in the 'flesh' - but this shouldn't have been a problem as it was only put together last year and had less than 300 miles on the new speedo. I was informed the engine had done around 19,000 miles.

You would expect anybody forking out for a full RYCA kit would make sure that they had a good starting point in terms of the donar bike - i.e. that the engine was all sorted. Well I had my suspicions about this as soon as I got hold of the bike. Something just didn't sound quite right when I was riding it, and the trouble I had getting the oil drain plug out, (which has a whole thread dedicated to it!), led me to believe the engine hadn't been touched during the build.

I suspected I would need a new cam chain adjuster and have actually just put in an order for a verslavy, Probably a good premonition on my part ...

Today I decided to print out the thread on checking the adjuster, dig out my recently acquired Clymers manual, and get my hands dirty, (the Savage is a new experience for me as I am no mechanic). I needed to check the adjuster for myself - as I don't know how long I will be waiting for the verslavy.

So here's the bike with the clutch cover off:

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/tom_3949/DSC_0149.jpg

And a close up of the adjuster:

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/tom_3949/DSC_0150.jpg

Ouch!

Obviously the builder didn't do anything with the engine.

Needless to say the bike is now going nowhere until the new verslavy is installed - so no summer riding for me :(

The question I have to ask, however, is whether or not the adjuster getting to this state could have caused any additional problems - and whether or not installing the verslavy will be sufficient - or is a new cam chain now required?

Title: Re: Hand grenade - with the pin pulled ..
Post by verslagen1 on 08/02/15 at 10:05:10

19k miles on a unmodified adjuster is reasonable.
you probably won't have any other problems.
a verslavy on the 2nd hole should do ya for another 19k on that chain

I'd straighten out the brake line between the caliper and the strain relief.

Title: Re: Hand grenade - with the pin pulled ..
Post by tom3949 on 08/02/15 at 10:07:15

3A293E3F202D2B29227D4C0 wrote:

Cheers - I wanted to hear some good news! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Just have to wait for the verslavy now ... ;)

Title: Re: Hand grenade - with the pin pulled ..
Post by FerousBastard on 08/02/15 at 10:14:23

Looks good, didn't know there was any Ryca bobbers 'this side of the pond' ;)
How much did you have to part with for it?

Title: Re: Hand grenade - with the pin pulled ..
Post by tom3949 on 08/02/15 at 10:25:01

0427302D373100233136233026420 wrote:

Looks good, didn't know there was any Ryca bobbers 'this side of the pond' ;)
How much did you have to part with for it?

It cost me about the same as a RYCA kit - when you take duty, delivery and VAT into account - so not too bad.

Still can't believe though that someone would put all that effort into the build without making sure the engine was fully sorted first!

Title: Re: Hand grenade - with the pin pulled ..
Post by FerousBastard on 08/02/15 at 10:35:46

2932306E6469645D0 wrote:

Still can't believe though that someone would put all that effort into the build without making sure the engine was fully sorted first!

Could be any number of reasons. Ryca kits are simple bolt-on so it opens up the possibility for less-mechanically inclined people to own a custom bike. Might be the 400cc engine was too little for the owner. Those are quite rare in Europe aren't they? Only produced for what two years back in the 80's.

Title: Re: Hand grenade - with the pin pulled ..
Post by verslagen1 on 08/02/15 at 10:57:30

The adjuster only looks to be starting to oval.
So from the outside, probably no symptoms.

Title: Re: Hand grenade - with the pin pulled ..
Post by govnor on 08/12/15 at 19:17:19

I wouldn't be surprised at anything people do with kits. There's a Ryca cafe racer for sale on Craigslist here that doesn't have a clear title! I don't know how it is over there, but in the states if you don't have a clear title the bike is worthless unless you are only riding it off road or racing it or something. Someone put a $3000 Ryca kit on a untitled bike. Pretty stupid. The person expects to be paid what the bike would be worth for a clean titled bike too, lol.

Here's a link: http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/mcy/5090913011.html

Title: Re: Hand grenade - with the pin pulled ..
Post by tom3949 on 08/24/15 at 01:30:31

2A223B23223F4D0 wrote:

In the UK someone could try and sell a bike without the V5 registration document - but no-one would buy it. No title - no sale!

Title: Re: Hand grenade - with the pin pulled ..
Post by tom3949 on 08/24/15 at 01:37:32

Had an email from Verslagen saying that my Verslavvy is on it's way. Can't wait to get this installed! While I have been waiting for this to arrive I have been 'tinkering':

Lowered the seat height.
Stripped the tank and rear mudguard, (fender if you are in the US), back to bare metal with a couple of coats of lacquer
Put on a set of drag bars
Painted the clutch cover

Here are the results to date:

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/tom_3949/DSC_0184.jpg?1440404942313&1440404947121&1440404959175&1440404992752

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/tom_3949/DSC_0163b.jpg?1440404942313&1440404947121&1440404959175&1440404992752

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/tom_3949/DSC_0161.jpg?1440404942313&1440404947121&1440404959175&1440404992752

This is now getting very close to what I wanted with this bike.

Just hope the Verslavvy sorts out the engine noise I was experiencing.

Title: Re: Hand grenade - with the pin pulled ..
Post by cigarandcoffeeman on 08/27/15 at 13:33:08

very nice! were in the uk are you? i'm up north in cumbria/lake district, building a 400 atm used to have a 650...
mike

Title: Re: Hand grenade - with the pin pulled ..
Post by cigarandcoffeeman on 08/27/15 at 13:34:56

btw if you ride in the wet like me, get that front mudguard back on, there lethal without it :)