Posted by WD on April 23, 2003 at 06:57:31:
These are a few tricks I've picked up over the past 5+ years with my Savage. Maybe some of you can get some use from these.
1. Shifter rod: some of these will break, most shouldn't. A very cheap preventative step is to measure a piece of steel tubing the length of your rod. Cut it to fit between the rod ends (heim joints-cool). Remove one end, slip on the tube, put on the other end, and get it brazed together. The length hasn't changed, so just play with how the end slides on the spline to retrieve your shifter sweet spot.
2. Paint chipping or fade: go buy a couple cans of clear wheel paint. Spray the exposed frame sections and whatever tinware you wish to protect. Rim paint is a nightmare to smooth or remove, so wait until a clear, warm, windfree day to apply. The color will still fade, but nowhere near as readily.
3. Adding oil: a regular kitchen funnel works fine, better if you add a piece of rubber tubing to the end of it. Hold the funnel where you like, stick the tube in the motor, and add oil without the mess.
4. Bolt and aluminum corrosion: polish out and either coat with clear wheel paint or Zoop seal aluminum sealer, which is good for all bare metals. Cheaper than stainless or titanium bolts, although if you have the cash, titanium is killer hardware- light, strong, corrosion resistant.
5. Rubber parts: replace all the rubber lines with automotive hose. The factory fuel line on mine was cheap vacuum tubing. Reinforced hose is safer for the fuel line. Silicone vacuum lines will outlast the stockers 10 to 1, and are available in multiple colors if you want something unique to your ride. The stock tires are junk, buy Avon, Metzeler, Dunlop, or Bridgestone to replace them. Cheng Shin (now Maxxis) is OK at best, the rubber used for my back tire got very stiff within 2 years of replacing the stocker.
6. Brakes: keep the rear brake lever pivot lubed. The book recommends motor oil, but lock lube works better. Doesn't wash off as readily due to graphite in the oil base.
7: Bulbs: parts store bulbs work great. Buy Sylvania silver base, they last longer than most others. Cheap bulbs are cheap bulbs, and bike vibration will tear them up quickly.
8. Tools: I finally started buying new replacements for my tool roll. The stock tools are OK in a pinch, but don't rely on them exclusively. Autozone, NAPA, CarQuest, and Wal-mart carry well made yet inexpensive tools. For example, a set of metric stubby combos, a set of full length metric combos, and double sized open end Stanley tool pack costs roughly $30 at my local Wal-mart. Pliers and screwdrivers are another $10 or so from CSK. Real tools are worth every penny when you need them (luckily not often with most Savages). A traditional leather tool bag fits quite nicely on the handle bars, but strap it down well, mine broke my stock plastic headlight bucket when I hit a stop (pecan tree) in my front yard (necessitating more tools and a cool metal headlight swap).
Enough for now. Happy motoring. KTRSD. KTSSU.
-WD