I have been having problems starting my sportsman for a while. Most of the time when I try to start it it tries to turn over, but doesn't seem to have enough power to, even with a new battery. Sometimes after I try 5 or 6 times it will turn over and start, but not always. Even trying to hand start it is almost impossible. Last year I broke the handle off the pull start cord trying to pull start it. Maybe something is sticking, or the decompression isn't working properly?

Thanks,
Brian

 

Sounds like the decompression is not working right. There is a little spring that enables it and if it breaks or becomes weak it doesn't work anymore.

 

Do you know where it is or how to fix it?

 

It's on the end of the cam.

 

there is a cap on the side of the engine if you pull the cap of you will see the spring.

 

ok, I'll check it out when I get a chance. Thanks.

 

I don't know much about engines and I looked up the schematics on bike bandit, but they weren't much help. If someone could give me a little more direction on what the cap looks like and where to find it on the engine that would be great.

 

part 10 in this diagram http://www.partsland.com/index.cgi?N...00-HO-CYLINDER is the cap when you remove this make sure you put a new O-ring on part 7. Now what you will see under the cap is part 16 the relase lever and 17 the return spring in this diagram http://www.partsland.com/index.cgi?N...KE-and-EXHAUST if the spring fails it will not pull the lever back and will make starting really hard like your case
Jason

 

Thanks,

That looks like it will help a lot. I will look at it when I get a chance.

Brian