RE: i seriously think my wasp idle is retarded
The stock throttle linkage on Savages isn't anything to write home about. I still have the TRS on mine but I've gotten into the habit of gently tapping the brakes if I know I'm not going to get on the gas real soon. My Wasp .26 does the same thing but I think it's more of a throttle problem than engine problem. Since you're at it though, make sure you aren't running too rich on the bottom end. Leaning that out helped me a bit but it didn't cure the problem. The cure is sitting on my workbench. OFNA throttle linkage does wonders especially when backed up by a high torque servo.