SuzukiSavage.com - Still going

ebonysresearch

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Still going
07/20/11 at 04:51:42

I'm riding my 87 ls 650 between 3 1/2 to 4 hours a day. I finally found a starter on ebay, thank the lord. I still have a horible tick in my top end. I live in Lancaster ohio but i'm working in williamstown WV..So day in and day out its an hour and a half minimum to home and then the same back. So I am holding this engine almost wide open that whole time. Yet she keeps going. I have had my share of adventures..you know those moments where you are on the side of the highway wondering "how am I going to get this going...?" The worst was in Febuary when I rode through a sleet and rain and snow mix and shorted my electrical twice, fried the sloenoid and had to start her with my pocket knife, I'm burning though about a half a quart of oil per round trip...dont know if thats from an extended period of time at the RPM? Just wanted to post that life is good and these bikes are tanks. I have given this bike a bad beating and she just keeps going. well ok you have to poke and prod and encourage her every once and a while but hey...she gets me there. I know the harleys I work on every day cant be riden like this without some expensive mods and constant maintenence.

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serenity3743 Serious Thumper Offline Striving to better, oft we mar what's well Posts: 778 Black Mountain, NC Gender:	Re: Still going Reply #1 - 07/20/11 at 04:54:51 I agree, these are tough little bikes. I STILL haven't found a different bike that I would trade my Savage for.
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Arnold Serious Thumper Offline The dude abides... Posts: 896 Westchester, NY Gender:	Re: Still going Reply #2 - 07/20/11 at 08:07:49 Geez, reminds me of my commute when I was a kid back in Europe on my shi77y bike. You're a real trooper.
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28995 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Still going Reply #3 - 07/20/11 at 11:36:12 1/2 qt a day? probably time for rings, check the top of your piston for deposits. horrible tick, probably piston slap.
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adberns YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 31	Re: Still going Reply #4 - 07/20/11 at 11:59:07 Nice work on the longevity. Engines, especially this one, are probably tougher than I give them credit for. That being said, I still baby my stuff, just so I don't end up finding out their limits
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Routy

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Re: Still going
Reply #5 - 07/20/11 at 15:04:37

Quote:
..So day in and day out its an hour and a half minimum to home and then the same back. So I am holding this engine almost wide open that whole time.
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Why would you be holding it almost wire open. Is it that sick on hp, or are you just trying to ruin it ? If you are, you will succeed. You make think it indestructable, but it isn't.
It has been said, that any gasoline engine that is run wide open for much length of time,.....that the valves are slowly going out the exhaust pipe !

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Rich
'07 S40 Blvd stocker, except drilled OEM exhaust and white spacer mod...1/2 (.055)

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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Still going Reply #6 - 07/20/11 at 16:29:18 Generally, Running an engine at more than 80% of its maximum capacity will shorten its life dramatically.. Give or take a few %age points,,
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28995 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Still going Reply #7 - 07/20/11 at 16:53:08 justin_o_guy2 wrote on 07/20/11 at 16:29:18: Generally, Running an engine at more than 80% of its maximum capacity will shorten its life dramatically.. Give or take a few %age points,, maximum capacity is so much more, if it were healthy. add one more possibility... worn out cam.
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adberns YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 31	Re: Still going Reply #8 - 07/20/11 at 17:55:14 Could the valves just need adjusting? It's not a Harley
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engineer

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Re: Still going
Reply #9 - 07/20/11 at 18:08:24

I lived in that area many years ago and my only transportation was a British twin at the time. I've run back and forth on 33, 50, 550, 7 and so on. And I visited the area recently for the fun of it, the roads have been improved but there is no way I could make that run close to full throttle due to some sections of unfinished freeway, towns like Nelsonville, the student traffic for OU, and in the case of 550, if you use that route, a very twisty road. I think you must be losing power for some reason.

You live in a nice area, lots of good roads for bikes. I hope to go back there again some day. Hope you find the problem with the bike.

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2005 S40, Intruder shocks, Dyna, 52.5/150, 3 washers, 2 turns, modified seat, Raptor

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ebonysresearch

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Re: Still going
Reply #10 - 07/21/11 at 16:42:56

verslagen yes 1/2 a quart a day...redid the rings last summer and have been burning oil since. I was for sure that they were all facing the correct way but, I either strongly suspect I may have either installed my scraper up side down or that one of my valve seals is Not sealing. Piston slap...i dont think so since I put my stethoscope on and its def loudest in the rocker. some one a while back said something about the cam journals being worn or the rocker bolts being loose so I retourqued the rocker cover bolts and the sound became louder...

And yes I have adjusted my valves...I have several suspicions but wont find out till she breaks and I tear her down and rebuild it again. hopefully next winter.

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ebonysresearch Junior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 93	Re: Still going Reply #11 - 07/21/11 at 16:46:40 right on the head. 50 to 33 and then up through nelsonville. thats the only spot where I have to slow down. it is a nice ride especially North of nelsonville. So when I'm on the highway Im on it and when I get to nelsonville I have to stop for the lights. Usually just putt through town.
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Gyrobob

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Re: Still going
Reply #12 - 07/22/11 at 03:53:57

ebonysresearch wrote on 07/21/11 at 16:42:56:

verslagen yes 1/2 a quart a day...redid the rings last summer and have been burning oil since. I was for sure that they were all facing the correct way but, I either strongly suspect I may have either installed my scraper up side down or that one of my valve seals is Not sealing. Piston slap...i dont think so since I put my stethoscope on and its def loudest in the rocker. some one a while back said something about the cam journals being worn or the rocker bolts being loose so I retourqued the rocker cover bolts and the sound became louder...

And yes I have adjusted my valves...I have several suspicions but wont find out till she breaks and I tear her down and rebuild it again. hopefully next winter.

Take that thing apart and rebuild it before you have a disastrous schrapnel session at speed. If the motor disintegrates, it will most likely happen at high rpm, which could put you in danger,... no power in traffic all of a sudden,.... or engine pieces and oil all over everything when leaned into a turn,.... or the engine locking up while at speed.

Another factor: it'll be more expensive to fix if it explodes than if you just take it apart and rebuild it in a relaxed manner.

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adberns

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Re: Still going
Reply #13 - 07/22/11 at 07:06:28

ebonysresearch wrote on 07/21/11 at 16:42:56:

And yes I have adjusted my valves...I have several suspicions but wont find out till she breaks and I tear her down and rebuild it again. hopefully next winter.

Yeah, I had figured you knew to check the valves, being as you said you worked on bikes. I was more commenting on Harleys mostly (all?) having hydraulic valves. I've always been jealous of that!

My CB700SC also has hydraulic valves, and still revs to 10k.

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Gyrobob

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Re: Still going
Reply #14 - 07/23/11 at 06:51:22

adberns wrote on 07/22/11 at 07:06:28:

ebonysresearch wrote on 07/21/11 at 16:42:56:

And yes I have adjusted my valves...I have several suspicions but wont find out till she breaks and I tear her down and rebuild it again. hopefully next winter.

Yeah, I had figured you knew to check the valves, being as you said you worked on bikes. I was more commenting on Harleys mostly (all?) having hydraulic valves. I've always been jealous of that!

My CB700SC also has hydraulic valves, and still revs to 10k.

Gold Wings since 1984 have had hydraulic valves, as well.

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