Hi all -- Looks like a great board to get some advice, so I figured I'd take a shot. I have an 03 Honda Foreman Rubicon that won't start. It's full of new clean gas, a bit of HEET in the tank, and has a charged battery. The ignition continues to try to roll the engine over, but nothing seems to happen. About 2 weeks ago I got it started with the typical choke/throttle (it's been outside in the cold). A few days ago it sounded like it would turn over, then backfired twice and has been non-functional since.

I'm mechanically inclined, but have not done much work on engines/autos/atvs... today I tried to replace the spark plug and (after finding it) found that my 3/8 socket that said "spark plug" on it, is not the right size. ANY help would be appreciated... some things may need slight visual descriptions for me to know what you're talking about.

Thanks a ton guys.

 

Cold in your area??? Did you use the primer like your supposed to?? PUll the black plastic panel off of the right side as your sitting on it Its kinda under the seat. Then look into the carb area and youll see a black primer bulb... just like on some old lawn mowers.... push it two or three times.
Is your kill switch in the correct position?

Killswitch's happen easy

 

The choke isnt a real choke...its an enrichener circuit, and when its cold out, it just isnt up to the job.
Have you pushed the primer? Theres a black button on the side of the carb, which squirts extra gas, for cold weather starting. The owners manual should cover the operation of that.
Sometimes when its really cold, it helps to use a real chokeing device...like covering the intake snorkle, with a mitten. This acts like a real choke, and usually never fails to get mine running.
Make sure the kill switch is centered, if its even slightly off position, the spark is killed.

 

Where is the intake snorkle? I'm going to go outside and find that primer... hadn't seen or known about that... thanks to all...

 

It sounds like you're having fuel delivery problems. Some in here would immediately say "change your jets!"

All kidding aside, I ran into this problem with my Grizzly a few months ago. It turned out to be a seized needle in the carburetor (the part of the carb that lets fuel into the bowl). If it backfired right before dying for good, it was probably using the last remaining fuel available in the bowl before drying completely. On the Grizz (which has a Mikuni carb), I was able to open the the float bowl drain valve. If fuel doesn't flow out of this valve, chances are you're experencing the same problem. I haven't looked at my Rubicon to see if it has such a valve but it's worth looking to see. This will at least get you into the ballpark as to what the problem may be. It certainly sounds like a fuel starvation issue.

 

Pull off the seat, and youll see where the air box and air filter is. Theres an opening which goes forward towards the gas tank, thats it. Cover it closed about 90%, with duct tape or a mitten. But try the primer first, that should do it.

 

yup, sounds like jetting, just switch the main and pilot around.

all stupid aside, the primer can be reached by taking the pull start cover off on your rubicon (the cover is on the right side, it's black, and adjacent the rear fender). straight shot and a pain to get to, but if you have long fingers you can get at it. like they said - a black **** about the diameter of a dime. push it a couple times.

Someone on here had a set-up to extend the primer. I haven't tried it.

 

Thank you all for the help -- I'm learning, slowly but surely, what is what underneath that seat [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] Still no luck with the primer, but I haven't tried the jets yet. I'll need to do some more reading before I start digging that far in (don't really know what parts you're all referring to, but at least I have a starting point to learn).

Thanks a ton!

Dave

 

are you saying you still can't find the primer? or you tried it and it didn't work?

 

If you dont understand where the intake is, or the primer for cold start... I think the first thing we should be suggesting is a rubicon service manual you can find online at any auction house for around 30 bucks. Then we will discuss a re jet.