I've done some reading on this forum and have seen a little about the Honda utility quads being a little cold blooded. I have two of these bikes and I have noticed this with both of them. I also have a Polaris Trailblazer 250, but only need the choke in below-freezing conditions. My Honda's need the choke for about 3-4 minutes even in 80 degree weather or they won't stay running for more than 30 seconds.

Do the Foreman's have the carb heater I've been reading about? Maybe that is all I need to do - let the carb heat up first.

I've also seen mention of the factory setting them up lean to meet air quality specs - is this true and, if so, is there a cost effective way to counteract this?

These are used for brute work, so we usually have no problem just letting them warm up on the choke for a few minutes, but I just want to know if this is a common trait with these bikes or if there is something I need to do to resolve this quirk. I have no other problem with these quads. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

I have both the Foreman and the Rincon.

They both take a while to warm up, the Rinny takes longer than the Foreman.
I don't have to leave the choke on all the way very long on the Foreman, but it does take a little bit to completely warm up. But once they warm up they are usually good for the day, even if I have to shut them down for a while.
I don't know anything about how to change that. Doesn't really bother me to much.

Good Luck

 

The Foreman has a carb heater and a primer. I never seem to think about them when starting it. So I usually choke it.

 

Quad4fun's got it down. You may need to get it started hard once, but then it's like a diesel. I don't care how long it takes a Honda engine to warm up because they'll run as long as they got fuel. We got an '86 TRX250 Fourtrax with a rediculous amount of mileage on it. A lot of parts have been serviced and replaced and the machine itself has been through hell and back multiple times, but the engine has run strong and still does from day one.

 

If it runs good when warm, but not when its cold...the idle circuit could be a bit lean.
Do you use pure gasoline? Or the ethenol blended stuff? The alcohol blended gas, has about 10% less btu's, than pure gas, and does run leaner.
Check the mixture screw, it should be about 2 5/8 turns out from lightly seated, if it's already there, try another 1/4 to 1/2 turn out, that will enrichen the idle circuit only.
The heater wont come on, until a specified temperature, somewhere around 32 degrees, and its automatic, its used to keep the venturie from iceing.
It doesnt hurt to use the choke, which is actually a starter jet. The air isnt being restricted, like with a real choke, theres just more gas available, for the same amount of air.
Hows the idle speed? It should be about 1400 rpm, plus or minus 100 rpm.
It could also be a worn out spark plug, the gap could be too big, or the end could have alot of carbon on it.

 

The cold blooded behavior is fairly typical. The carb heater isn't going to do you much good in this regard. I know some people claim that leaving the key on for a few minutes is helpful. But I don't buy that, I think Hondabuster is right, all that will happen is you will run the battery down that much. The best thing you can do is reset the carb idle mixture screw, on the front part of the carb facing straight down. You will need a short screwdriver, or a flat blade bit out of a cordless screwdriver works good. Allow the machine to warm fully before you set it. Usually one-half to one turn out or counter clockwise does the trick. Turn the screw a quarter turn at a time while listening to the idle speed. Usually it will increase, then you know you're doing the right thing. Turn the idle speed down as you're adjusting the mixture screw out. This does not eliminate the warmup completely but it helps, and you will find it will idle "on it's own" much sooner after cold starts. Try starting the Polaris when it's -20F, bet it won't go. But your Honda has a primer on the carb that makes starting routine even in those extreme temps (don't use it when the temps above 20F though).

 

I realize this is an old post, but it ha helped me learn things about what I am troubleshooting now. Thanks.