I have an '04 500 and first off, I love it.

Recently though, its been having trouble starting. Once started, it will run great. I think it's something with the electric/auto choke but not sure. In order to get it started, I have to take the seat off, pull the air filter off and put my hand over it and it will start right up. But if I don't do this, it won't start. Anyway, just seems like the choke isn't working right to close the choke plate on the carb. What do ya'll think and what should I do to check it??? Thanks guys!

 

So anyone have any ideas?

 

I think you are on the right track. Especially since you have to "manually choke" the intake with your hand to get it to start.

I am not exactly sure how the electric choke works inside the carb. You need to look at a parts schematic to see. but you may need to clean the carb to see if some thing is restricting the choke OR it could be an electrical issue and the choke is not getting juice to engage.

Swampy

 

ArkAC500 first off welcome to the forum !
If the Carb and choke are like the one on my 2006 Arctic Cat 400 4x4 FIS Auto it doesn't like the old manual choke on earlier year model AC's , It's called electric shoke/enrichiner and doesn't have the choke plate/butterfly ; it's more like the new small engine's on lawn and garden equipment with rubberblub primer .

But don't look for a rubber primer blub it's actually a diaphram inclosed in the carb it'self .

Your hard starting issue could be either the valve's out of specification or you'er losing pressure from the cheap plastic fuel and vent hose that all manufacturer are using on motorcycle's atv's now , the way to check this out is to look on the right side for the carb and you will see a little lever with a round hole in this metal lever with your thumb press the choke lever up and down three time's ; if the lever doesn't come back up each time you press it down then this is your problem i had to same hard starting as you're having !

I replaced all these fuel and vent hose with GoodYear's rubber Automotive and also the cheap hose clamp's with the small automotive screw type clamp's ,another thing i did was to unhook one of the battery because the time clock ( not the one that tell's the engine time ) but the regular clock it still draw's juice even with switch in the off possition and will run your battery down if you let the quad sit for a couple of day's in between ride's ;
Another thing i want to say about the O.E.M. plastic fuel i actually split and starting spraying gas between intake tube and the carb and this happened just after my warranty ran out !

I hope this is of some help to you .

williebee.........