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Bike Won't Turn Over (Read 53 times)
birchmaxwell
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Bike Won't Turn Over
10/28/24 at 15:45:15
 
Hi everyone! First time post, hope someone can help.

To begin I am a novice on a motorcycle and just passed my MSF course over the weekend, but I have done a good amount of work on my car and I am mechanically inclined so I hoping to learn how to do repairs on my own. I bought a 2002 Savage a few weeks ago - the guy I bought from had originally bought for his wife from a reputable pre-owned bike dealer, but due to health issues, she is no longer able to ride. Bike had been sitting for about 5 months before I purchased and was only ridden a handful of times prior. I saw a cold start before I bought (and had a friend with years of experience to aid with some questions) and the seller rode it once he unloaded it from the trailer he used to haul it over to my house.

I knew a change of the gas and oil was probably a good call after sitting for so long. For the gas, I put a little SeaFoam in with fresh gas to try to help clear out any stale gas or deposits that weren't removed when I siphoned the old gas out (for Seafoam I did less than one ounce per add gallon cause I know that stuff can be corrosive). For the oil, I did a 10W/40; I only added 2 liters per the manual since I did not change the filter (neither AutoZone or O'Rielly, unbelievably, had suitable filters and I am expecting one to be delivered soon). Regardless, I noticed there was no oil in the oil-level-check-window, but another post on this forum suggested to let the bike idle for a few minutes before reading.

This is where my problem begins, I can't let the bike idle since it won't turn over. I switched the petcock to prime for two mins, turned it back to on, pulled the choke out before starting, still nothing. Battery is fresh and charged, lights go on, I hear it going like its just about to go, but nothing..... I figured it is a possibility that I really need a filter change and another half liter of oil (manual says 2.5 with fresh filter), but regardless I feel the bike should at least be starting up, especially considering the prior owner was able to do so in my own driveway only a few weeks ago.... And yes, I am in neutral, clutch in, everything standard like I was doing in my MSF course by the book.

I'd figure I'd ask here before going into 20 rabbit holes on older posts with similar, but slightly different issues. Thanks in advance.
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ThumperPaul
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Re: Bike Won't Turn Over
Reply #1 - 10/28/24 at 16:28:49
 
First.  Welcome.  This is a great forum that has helped me bring 3 Savages back to life.  You're in good hands.  There are many members with more experience than myself, but here are a few basic things to consider.

Seafoam in small amounts is fine.  It doesn't work miracles though and it's better for maintenance and light duty.  Let's not jump ahead yet to the possibility of a clogged pilot jet/dirty carb.  Hold that thought for now.

When checking the oil, the bike need to be straight up and down (perfectly vertical).  The bike can't be leaning on the side stand.  Get a buddy or somebody to sit on it straight up and down while you look.  Or, learn to hug the bike by the seat area to get it vertical from the right side while you try to see the sight glass window.  Or, if you're young and real flexible, you can sit on the bike and contort yourself to twist and look down and see the sight glass.

You have enough oil in there for it to start.  A new filter won't make it start.  Get the oil to the right fill level, but this isn't the main problem.

When you put it on "Prime", leave it there.  You can run the bike all day long on Prime.

Some clarification - The bike actually turns over (it's trying).  You can hear the starter turning when you hit the start button.  Right?  You can hear it trying to start?  Right?  

IF it doesn't make a peep (won't turn over) when you hit the starter button, it's at least partly an electrical problem.

It does seem fuel related if its "trying", but it could be spark related.  You basicially aren't getting combustion.

Try leaving the petcock valve on Prime. Don't twist the throttle while cranking it. 

If you have to try multiple times, only hit the starter button for like 5-8 seconds max (2-3 seconds is safer).  Stop.  Let the starter rest and cool off.  Wait 5-10 minutes and try again.  Be patient - you don't want to burn up the starter motor holding the starter button down for like 30 seconds and then impatiently trying again 2 seconds later.

You can test the petcock valve and make sure it's not clogged by putting it on Prime and pulling the fuel line off at the carb.  If gas come out the fuel line and spills all over your hands/rag, you know its not completely clogged and the carburetor is getting fuel to it.  If you don't get fuel coming out, you have a petcock valve problem.  There is a filter/screen on the petcock valve inside the gas tank (it can get clogged with crap)  Or the guts inside the petcock valve can fail (stuck shut).  Get a Raptor petcock valve if you find your petcock valve isn't woring correctly.  

More about the petcock valve here...  -->  https://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1251932429/1


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« Last Edit: 10/29/24 at 06:43:01 by ThumperPaul »  
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JOG
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Re: Bike Won't Turn Over
Reply #2 - 10/28/24 at 16:29:14
 
You say
Won't turn over
But reading your post I'm thinking it
Turns over
But won't
Start.
A low battery will spin it over BUT
because of the load on the battery from running the starter
The ignition won't have the voltage it needs to make it spark.
Make Sure your battery is providing 12 volts WHILE it's being asked to spin the motor.
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birchmaxwell
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Re: Bike Won't Turn Over
Reply #3 - 10/28/24 at 16:52:35
 
I see my confusion with the turn over, I guess better phrasing was crank-but-no-start for my specifics, I appreciate that clarification.

I should have also noted the battery is new (literally bought yesterday) - I installed a battery tender harness so I could plug in a battery tender and I made sure the battery terminals were in contact with the bikes ring terminals before the tender harness. I think it would be reasonable to assume a low battery is not the cause, but I will test anyway for general practice.

Luckily I got a spark plug tester so I can check that easy as well.

Thanks for all the info regarding the petcock!
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JOG
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Re: Bike Won't Turn Over
Reply #4 - 10/28/24 at 17:11:44
 
If a motor isn't getting the fuel it needs, it can spin and never start.
To figure that out, pop the seat off and shoot some WD 40 in the intake snorkel.
If you don't have WD, brake cleaner or anything that will shoot a flame if you stick a lighter to it will work. Ether, frikken hair spray, if it bumps, you have proved it isn't getting fuel.
Ether Can cause problems if you over do it.
I've never used hair spray, but I think it would answer the question.
I have seen what Aqua-Net does when someone gets it in their eye.
The one eyed angry woman was still able to chase me as I larffed.
WD provides lube for the cylinder walls, so I would rather use that,
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ThumperPaul
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Re: Bike Won't Turn Over
Reply #5 - 10/29/24 at 07:03:54
 
To build on JOG's message...

Starting Fluid (ether) is fine.  Instead of removing the seat, you can remove the side tin and air filter and direct the starting fluid into the snorkel tube using the straw included with the starting fluid.  You will want to open the butterfly on the carb to get the starting fluid past it and into, or as close as possible, to the intake manifold as possible.

It's actually easier to test the petcock valve and make sure it's delivering fuel to the carb.  If the carb is getting fuel and it still won't start, I would guess a stuck float valve or dirty pilot jet in the carb.  You could then try the starting fluid method and see if you can make it go bang.  If it'll go bang with the starting fluid, you can pretty much determine its a dirty carb (float valve stuck closed or clogged pilot jet).  If it's a stuck float valve, you could try tapping the float bowl of the carb with the handle of a screwdriver (not a hammer).
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LANCER
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Re: Bike Won't Turn Over
Reply #6 - 10/29/24 at 07:15:43
 
What are the pilot and main jets that you have in your carb now ?

When you checked the jets earlier to insure they were not clogged, did you also insure that the several tiny passageways in the carb body were clear as well ?  They are easily clogged by dirt or grit or by just sitting for an extended time as fuel evaporates and leaves behind gunk that can block fuel flow, and that will cause malfunctioning of the carb.
A carb tool (or gas welding jet tool), along with compressed air and aerosol carb cleaner, will clear the passageways.
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TheBabyDerp
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Re: Bike Won't Turn Over
Reply #7 - 10/29/24 at 08:21:41
 
Others have given good advice. Better than I can give. You need to cover your bases. Start checking things.  Spark and Fuel are super easy to check. Spark plugs and plug wire are cheap too. Hopefully your issue is a simple plug and plug wire swap or something like that. To me it sounds like fuel or spark issue.

Also, get some JIS screw drivers. $20 set from Vessel on amazon. I believe it's full tang. It has been treating me great working on these Japanese bikes.

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