Here the deal with my 98 400 Xplorer.

It hasnt hardly been ridden since last fall but I start it every 2 weeks and let it warm up and up, until this week its always fired right up and ran fine.

This week it was very hard to start and I had to use full choke to do it{it never needs full choke}. When it started it wouldnt idle and would only spit and sputter if I held the throttle half open.

I changed the plug..still the same.

I took the carb apart thinking it would be clogged up but it was clean as a whisle. I took the jets out anyway and cleaned them with carb cleaner. I also cleaned all the passages in the carb body.....still the same.

I changed the plug again...still the same.

Changed the fuel filter...still the same.

I drained all the gas outta the tank and carb and replaced it with fresh gas...still the same.

Im thinking it has to be fuel related but I dont know what to do next.

Any ideas?

Andy G

 

Good, strong spark?
Clogged air filter?
Air or vacuum leak?

 

It could be weak spark. I'll check that.

It ran the same way with the filter out, so thats not the problem.

I didnt think of an air leak. Good idea. I'll check that too.

Thanks
Andy G

 

Hey, my fourwheeler is doing the samething.(I have a Xplorer 400 4x4) No idle. I have also tried everything you have. But where could there be an air leak? How do I check for that. If you figure out what is wrong with yours, I would much appreciate the information. I hate the fact that it doesn't idle.

 

Jessie

The two places it could have a vacume leak is on are around the rubber hose that connects the carb to the RAD valve cover or the Rad valve cover itself could be leaking.

I starting to think my problem may be ignition related. Im going to work on it more tomorrow. If I find the problem I'll post it here on this thread.

Is yours rideable? Mines not.

Andy G

 

Oh Yeah...
The way you check for a vacume leak is to spray starting fluid around the area you think may be leaking,while the motor is running. If the engine speed suddenly jumps,then youve found your leak.

BE CAREFUL..as you know starting fluid is highly flamable and the motor does get hot.

Andy G

 

Well, here's a problem, my coil went out on my fourwheeler today. I figure a weak coil with little spark would keep it from idle'n. So that may be your problem. Check your spark. Today mine just died and that was the last thing on my mind. Well now I must buy a new one.

 

Your problem is more than likely in your throttle control on your handlebars,which is called an etc it is a safety in case your throttle sticks open,it will cut out so she wont blow,it could also be your rev limiter which will make it cut out similar to trying to run fast in reverse without using your overide button.As far as just not idling your cable has stretched an there is to much freeplay in your cable,to correct that problem you slide the boot that covers your cable adjuster which is about 6-8inches down from where your cable goes into the throttle control at the handlebars,pull boot up and lossen jam nut and turn adjuster counter clockwise to tighten up cable you do want some freeplay but not alot. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img]

 

You need to tighten up the freeplay on your throttle,to do that you need to slide the boot uo the cable to get at the cable adjuster which is all located about 6-7inches down fom where the cable goes into the throttle control on the handlebars just slide the boot up lossen the jam nut and turn the barrel counter clockwise until you have very little freeplay on the throttle lever you do want some just not as much as you have now,i am almost sure it will fix problem to tell if that is it when it is running let it come to where it wants to quit and just take uo the freeplay with the lever and if it will idle then this will deffinetly fix it. Good luck...

 

Thanks 700! That actually sounds like a very possable cause. I'll check it this weekend.

Thanks
Andy G