OK well i tried to start the 400ex today after sitting outside in less then 10 degree temps for two days and all the starter did was spin not crank the engine. Do you guys have a secret or just basically dont ride under 30 degrees?

 

Sounds like there is moisture in the starter motor, which is now frozen. Move it to a warm place or wait till it gets warmer out. Then take off the starter and let it dry out complely, should be OK after that.

 

Your starter does not work the same way as a car. On a car the starter gear engages to the flywheel when power is applied to it, then the gear (bendix) retracts from the flywheel when the engine starts.
Your quad is different as the gear around the flywheel is constantly meshed with the starter. No bendix. The flywheel gear pivots around the flywheel on a bearing which is termed a one way, slipper, or sprag. The bearings rollers are not cylinder shaped like most bearings have in them, they are egg shaped. When force is applied to the gear from the starter motor, the egg shaped rollers will bind against the flywheel allowing the engine to be turned over. Once the engine starts the rollers will slip as there is no longer a force against them from the starter motor and the flywheel gear will coast around the flywheel.
A few things that may be happening is your oil may be stiff and not allowing the egg shaped rollers to angage wuth the flywheel, moisture in the oil will freeze them also. Worst case is if the surface on the flywheel where the bearing rides could be chattered making the bearings unable to grab the flywheel, rather skip and not engage.
Most likely your oil is too heavy for the cold weather or like I mentioned before moisture in the oil has the rollers froze so the starter will turn over and not grab the flywheel to turn over your engine

----- gimpster -----