SuzukiSavage.com - adjusting decompression cable

franch Senior Member Offline I love YaBB 1G - SP1! Posts: 287	adjusting decompression cable 01/04/07 at 04:58:16 the clymers says "lift up on the shaft to check that there is 3-5mm of freeplay " i don't get it. by shaft do they mean the shaft with a spring on it that goes into the head cover ? where exactly does one check for free play ?
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Savage_Greg Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Don't go around your ass to reach your elbow... Posts: 7844 SW Washington State Gender:	Re: adjusting decompression cable Reply #1 - 01/04/07 at 05:49:00 Yes, that's the lever, but first remove the tank if you haven't done so. You lift the lever and then measure at the solenoid.
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franch Senior Member Offline I love YaBB 1G - SP1! Posts: 287	Re: adjusting decompression cable Reply #2 - 01/04/07 at 06:19:50 do you mean i lift the lever then measure how far the cable housing moves away from the solenoid ?
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Re: adjusting decompression cable
Reply #3 - 01/04/07 at 07:10:13

Let me put it this way, the lever has got to be really loose. 5mm is about .197" and 3mm is .112". On mine the lever just about hits the base of the bracket that holds it. In my experience with solenoids, the need for looseness is too give the solenoid a chance to build momentum. Solenoids develop maximum power at the end of their travel. So if you adjust it to tight, it might not pull in. I think as long as the lever is pulled in and the engine starts adjust it as loose as posible.

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Reelthing

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Re: adjusting decompression cable
Reply #4 - 01/04/07 at 07:48:58

well, seems to me you need to get a good measure on the solenoid first - on the right hand side (starboard) of the engine find the solenoid - there is a rubber cap that covers the end - you must pull this off - and then push the shaft through from the left(port) side and measure how far the shaft sticks out past the base.

Make sense?

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vroom1776 Serious Thumper Offline Posts: 2110 Gender:	Re: adjusting decompression cable Reply #5 - 01/04/07 at 08:27:04 the adjsutment lever is in fact on the left side of the engine near the top. my valve adjust post in the tech section covers this a bit, with pics. I didn't know that about the solenoid...
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Re: adjusting decompression cable
Reply #6 - 01/04/07 at 09:59:50

If you want to take the measurement by the book, you are supposed to do it at the solenoid under the tank. Which is a good way to learn what you are dealing with...

Essentially, if it is too tight, the decomp actuator may hold the exhaust valve rocker down...worse case being to hold the exhaust valves open, too. Not good.

If the adjustment is too loose then the actuator may not be very effective in opening the exhaust valves during the starting cycle. Doesn't hurt anything but might make starting hard.

If you know how the solenoid works, then the truth is that you can measure it at the lever. Give it about 3/16" slack and you're good...The choice is up to you.

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Savage_Greg Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Don't go around your ass to reach your elbow... Posts: 7844 SW Washington State Gender:	Re: adjusting decompression cable Reply #7 - 01/04/07 at 10:04:21 Oh yeah...just for grins... You can't see the lever when sitting on the bike. If you can, get someone to help with starting the bike while you're watching the lever. That first click that you hear when you push the starter button is the solenoid pulling in...
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vroom1776 Serious Thumper Offline Posts: 2110 Gender:	Re: adjusting decompression cable Reply #8 - 01/04/07 at 10:19:44 hmmmm... gonna have to take a look at the manual... to me it read (haven't looked at it in a bit) to adjust at the lever... I prolly' misread it... S4B
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Savage_Greg

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Re: adjusting decompression cable
Reply #9 - 01/04/07 at 10:22:07

Going out to get manual now

Back...Here it is according to the SSM. I will summarize since I'm a slow typist

Remove seat and tank

Remove plug and timing inspection plug

Put engine at TDC on compression stroke

Pull the actuator body on the solenoid (lousy photo) and measure the end length on the shaft.

Loosen lock nuts on lever, adjust cable at the lever to make measurement at solenoid 3-5 MM.

...You did misread it a little bit, but with the terrible photo in the manual it isn't very clear. I also know that once you do it this way, you'll find an easier way to do it next time...as I mentioned above.

BTW - the first thing the SSM says in this section is:

"Incorrect adjustment of the cable free play may result in starting difficulties or engine damage."

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bentwheel Serious Thumper 2005 No Login Offline Ride free, citizen Posts: 658 Sarnia, Ontario, Canada Gender:	Re: adjusting decompression cable Reply #10 - 01/04/07 at 10:35:39 Do it this way, and don't forget to be at TDCC. http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=RubberSideDown;action=display;n...
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vroom1776 Serious Thumper Offline Posts: 2110 Gender:	Re: adjusting decompression cable Reply #11 - 01/04/07 at 10:55:21 aha! I only read the " Loosen lock nuts on lever, adjust cable ~~at the lever to make measurement at solenoid~~ 3-5 MM." part... simple stuff is okay to do drunk (change the oil, remove the seat...), more comples stuff, liek reading the manual... maybe not! on the other hand, just rereading now I missed it again ???
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Savage_Greg

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Re: adjusting decompression cable
Reply #12 - 01/04/07 at 11:10:11

bentwheel wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:

Do it this way, and don't forget to be at TDCC.
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=RubberSideDown;action=display;n...

That's what I said...only not as thoroughly Shocked

The best point that you made is the part about understanding it better when you see it.

Now it's up to Franchie...

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bentwheel Serious Thumper 2005 No Login Offline Ride free, citizen Posts: 658 Sarnia, Ontario, Canada Gender:	Re: adjusting decompression cable Reply #13 - 01/04/07 at 11:33:05 Hey I didn't mean to steal your thunder Greg, but I did post it prior to your last edit.
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Savage_Greg

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Re: adjusting decompression cable
Reply #14 - 01/04/07 at 11:40:22

bentwheel wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:01:

Hey I didn't mean to steal your thunder Greg, but I did post it prior to your last edit.

Hey, it's not my thunder. We're all trying to help Franchie. I didn't know about your post, though. I wasn't trying to steal your thunder either...

You know, I wonder if there's a way to have a "table of contents" for the technical reference section. Might make it easier...the search feature can be a little bit tedious.

...of course, then we wouldn't have these great discussions either.

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