Hello Guys...its been a LONG time since I posted here...but I need some help. For some reason, both mine and my Dad's 2000 AC 500 Autos decided to quit starting all of a sudden. And it's starting to snow here and I'll need to plow probably tonight.

They've both got spark on a freshly cleaned plug, and are getting fuel to the cylinder. I'm assuming that the float in the carbs is stuck open and flooding the cylinder. I've drained the carb, cleaned the plug, turned it over til the cylinder quit spitting fuel and let it sit for a bit. Then put the plug back in and tried to start before turning the fuel on. It fired once...then just cranked. I then turned the fuel on and it would never fire and the plug was wet with fuel when I pulled it again.

What can I do short of pulling the carb, taking it apart and cleaning it up? It looks like a real PITA to pull that carb and I haven't much time to spend on it. Any quick fixes?

BTW...I know all about not touching the throttle when starting cold. I normally close the choke and turn over til it fires...then slowly open the choke up til it runs at idle.

 

I would suspect that your fuel has a problem, not you carb or engine. Did you refuel both machines at the same time and they both quit running? I would drain the tanks and carbs and add new, fresh, known good fuel and change the spark plug as bad fuel can ruin them in a hurry.

 

Well...ether got my dad's to fire off.....now all it needs is a new battery.

And a new plug got mine to start.

So, I'm good to go now.

That was wierd that both of them gave up the ghost on the same day...with the same type of no-start problems...yet they each had different problems....

Lance

 

Do those have the carb primer lever on them? That is a HUGE starting aid.

I have to turn the idle up a couple of half turns on my 03 and 04 500's.

Have fun plowing!

 

Yes they do, it works great too, my dad's 2000 500 is even on the original battery. He just has to add water to it a couple times a year. But that thing does start up great.

 

I'm not aware of a carb primer lever on either of ours.....where would I find this helpful device?

I do know that we both run the Keihin carbs.

Both of our original batterys just left for the great battery grave site in just the last month or so. Not bad, 4+ years on them little suckers...

 

Hey CatLance, if memory serves all you have to do it take the choke lever, and pump it down 2-3 times. There is also a primer under the gas tank/seat area. I can't remember the exact location off hand but could find it really quick if I had the bike in front of me. I will check with my dad and get back to you. But I normally just push that choke lever down a few times and she goes right away. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

I dont know anything about the choke lever but on my TRV cats and my cousins 1998 500 cat there is a lever on the right side of the carb that when pumped forces gas through the carb. They start on the first firing stroke after that. -20 below outside all night and 3 pumps and it fires. Now that aint bad.

 

Can we attach images to posts here? I'm gonna try.


Right side of carb

Left Side of carb


Is that plunger deal on the right side of my carb the primer you guys are speaking of?

 

On the right side picture - just above the red thing - there is a round thing that looks like the primer end of a rifle bullet. Its not in the left side picture
is that the little tab on the end of the primer lever?

Did you get a owners manaul - its noted in the manual.

With it being on the 98 I have to believe it would be on the 2000 also.

Ive never seen a plunger type - just a short lever