Posted by Paul Russell on April 21, 2003 at 19:11:44:
I purchased a 1987 Savage last summer from a guy my father knows. I rode it all summer and the fall. I then parked it in my garage all winter. I fired it up at the beginning of March and have been riding it sporadically until now.
About a week ago, I went to take off, but the engine would not start. It kept turning over and over, but would not fire up. I tried so much that I drained the battery. I borrowed a motorcycle battery charger, charged my battery and managed to get it running. When it did start running, at first it was running really rough but as it warmed up it ran smoother. 3 days pass of the motorcycle running. Now it is doing the same thing, only it will not start. Battery died again, so I charged it again. This time it refuses to start. It just keeps turning over but refuses to catch.
I'm smelling gas when I'm cranking the engine. Like maybe I'm flooding the carb. I've tried no choke, half choke, full choke with no success. My petcock is set on prime. I've read some of the posts on the forum and think my petcock is set on prime because the previous owner disconnected a vacuum line. He made a point of telling me to leave it on prime, saying it ran better that way.
I have this bike torn apart thinking my spark plug could be fouled. I have the seat removed, the gas tank drained and removed and the left side chrome cover removed. Now for the dumb stuff. I cannot get any socket I own to fit on this spark plug. Is there a special tool I need to purchase to remove this spark plug? I am very NOT mechanically inclined and realize I'm probably asking the most stupid question ever on this forum, but as my drill sargent used to say "the only dumb question is an unasked one!" I hate to say it but this spark plug has ground my attack on this bike to a halt.
Also, at the risk of being longwinded, I've noticed a few things wrong while checking out this machine. There is a rubber vacuum hose running from the right side of the carberator that is disconnected tucked down in the battery compartment. Also on the right side of the carberator is another black hose with a chrome spring material over it that is also disconnected. The hose with the spring is near the front of the carb and the plain black hose is near the rear of the carb.
Also under the gas tank is a part that says solenoid on it. On the right side of this solenoid is a black nipplelike rubber cover that has been ripped and is barely on there. Could this be causing my problems?
I know I've gone long and appreciate everyone's patience. Any comments or advice would be hungrily devoured! Thanks in advance, Paul