Posted by Fats on October 20, 1999 at 14:48:59:
In Reply to: A new 50+ Rider and a Hard Lesson posted by Ping H. on October 20, 1999 at 06:39:00:
Time to come clean-
Ping H reminded me of the day I got my Savage.
The guy hadn't finished pulling the tarp off and I knew I was going to buy it.
Got the finances and plates arranged but it was pouring rain so he agreed to hold the bike for me until the weather cleared up. The same evening there was a let up in the rain and I couldn't wait. Got a cousin to drive me the 40 kms to town to pick up my Savage. Being an experienced rider, I rocked the bike to sloosh the gasoline in the tank and judged there was lots of fuel.
Started for home and got about 20 kms when the bike died going around a corner. By now it was raining again. Cranked and cranked and cranked with the occassional backfire but no running.
Finally sent my cousin to get a truck.
There I am standing by the highway - pouring rain with a wonderful new toy that won't run and which after all the cranking has killed the battery.
The bike is on the side stand - I think - it was running - it has to continue to run - motors don't just die like that!
Pull it up to try and start it again and EUREKA - it runs! = hurrah away I go ------- for about 1 km when it dies again.
I repeat the cranking until the battery is flat again ( it will recover somewhat if you let it sit for 10 or 15 minutes - enough to crank over). I look at the fuel tap - no can't be - this is off, this is on .
More rain, more time more waiting.
Gotta try again and again hurrah - the motor runs - I roll 1 km and it starts to die again - then old old memories start to click - engine dies at speed on the road - fuel fuel fuel fuel issue
I reach for the gas selector tap - put it onto reserve and continue the remaining kms home without another hiccup.
Got gas the next morning first thing and from then on I REMEMBERED!
My Savage seems to have a range of up to 40 kms on reserve
Keep the fuel tap in mind and the rubber side down
Fats