Thanks for your time on this,

1997 425 magnum I got a deal on it. I am well versed with old honda atc's etc. but not these. The man I got it from, said that one day while riding it she quit. He said he had no spark and put a new plug in it but same... there it sat for 3 years and along I came.

Getting it for next to nothing I went to work. There is no battery on this vehicle. I went straight into pull starting it. Good spark, good compression and the carb was thoroughly cleaned. Nothing....?

I connected a 12 volt battery to the leads and it still did nothing, almost as though there was no battery attached. No dash lights or anything. I was just told moments ago that pull starting it without a battery can be bad... is that true? I dont get that?

Stats- bike is intact with all components less battery and fan. Radiator is empty. I figured once it cranked then id install the cooling components. One more wierd thing. Spark is present with key on and handlebar switch to run. Spark is also present with key on and kill switch activated.

Im confused, the manual is coming this week so I can trace wires... but am I overlooking something? Did I damage it worse by pull starting it or hooking a battery to it?

Help!!!!
ed

 

The best thing I ever did was get rid of the 1995 425 magnum I had. I was in the same situation as you and got the quad after it sat for 2 years with a blown apart rear end for basically nothing. I spent $1000 putting it all back together and getting it running right. The 2nd time I took it out riding it blew low outta the tranny with no prior warning. Needless to say the polaris junk got parted out! Best thing I ever did.

Anyways I never had and issue with pull starting it w/o a battery. It shouldn't cause a problem because it was designed to do that in the 1st place. None of the lights ever worked on mine including the dash lights even after putting a battery in it. i heard something somewhere about a wiring issue of some sort and it will blow all of the bulbs... All my bulbs were there but all blown.

I had the same issue with the key and kill switch. The kill switch contacts corroded inside and needed to be cleaned so they would make a good contact. Must have happened from sitting for so long. After a good cleaning never had an issue with that again.

Try getting it to run by spraying carb cleaner in the carb. If it runs that way you are going to have to take the tank off and clean out the tank and petcock and i would replace all the lines and take apart the vacuum fuel pump located by the radiator and clean it well. Everything is probably all gummed up from sitting as was mine. You have to pull the tank to drain it because of the manual fuel pump.

If you need any help let me know and I'll try and help ya

 

Running with a bad or no battery WILL blow every bulb on it.Clean the connections,carb,set valves(check cam for wear.there was a problem with cam lobe wear)Onc e you get it running then you can get the other things lined out.
The 425 is a very good machine but will require maintenance to keep in top shape.