i might even install kickstart too my 400ex and i'll tell you how i like it.

 

ok do any of you know how a modern quad engine works, technically, you dont need a battery if you have a kickstart or if you push start it each time (pretty stupid), a quad has a stator, or as 420ex said a magneto, this is what keep the battery from going dead, it makes an electric current, as soon as its on it doesnt need a battery, as long as its on im pretty sure it can run all your lights, so you really dont need a battery at all if you have an kick start, i would recommend looking into a more powerful stator somewhere, if you got that you can run your lights as bright as with a battery that way

 

it wouldnt start without a battery unless u installed a kickstart but other then that u dont even need a battery

 

FastBansheeKid,

Does your friend have any mods done? Does it have an aftermarket rev box? Is it a higher comp piston? Is it a larger bore piston? My bike would NEVER start cold. The stock battery didn't have enough juice to turn over the engine cold. I got to the point of taking my stock rev box with me so I could start my quad in the mornings. Yuasa offers another battery the same size as the EX's stocker that has more CCA's. I hear it works fine with modded engines. -RT

 

mine starts up EVERY time on the first try even with all the modifications, what your friend should do is pump the throttle a few times before starting, the carburetor is equipped with an excellerator pump that shoots a small stream of gas into the intake, kinda like a primer on a lawnmower.

 

I would try and figure out why it is not starting consistently first. There is enough knowledge on the web to possibly figure out your problem. His quad should start every time, immediately, if it's a 400ex. I know that all you want to do is put in a kickstarter but it is just a suggestion. Consider telling us more about his quad and the problem can easily be fixed I'm sure. I would consider the rev box, like the previous guy said but also consider the brushes in the starter. They wear down over time and can make inconsistent contant. If you have electric start, keep it....

 

i know who hes talkin bout and his 400ex has a wb silencer and a rev limiter and back razrs his ex really wont start good but he also jus wants a kickstart for the fun of it

 

I don't see a rev box listed. Do you have one? 99% of the time it is the Rev box that causes the cold starting problems. After the quad has been started it will run and restart fine. A new battery [stock Yuasa] did not even help mine. Stock Rev box starts cold, hi-comp / big bores fine.

 

What he said was right on. Half of the White Bros. rev boxes that we sold at our store would not start for people. Now we only sell the electrix rev box and the Rick's. I haven't heard anything yet on the Rick's box, but the Electrix box it killer. Keep in mind, that the White Bros. rev boxes are a rev box that is something like a xr250 rev box. White Bros. just sells it for the 400ex. The timing advance curve on a 400ex is different that on a xr250. I've heard of a few things that may help like jetting up or getting a stronger battery. I would just spend the extra money on the Electrix. The Electrix rev box has no rev limiter on it. I have one on mine and it runs great. The 400ex motor will only rev so high upon acceleration. Not high enough to blow anything in the motor as long as it's adusted right. I know that you want a kick start but you might be kicking it all day with that White Bros. rev kit????

 

his motor is stock except for a white bros. silencer. it always had trouble starting in the cold because it is runnin a little too lean. but the other day he went to go start it up and it just started clicking. theday before that the electric start worked fine. he looked at the battery and there was green powder on the wires. his lights worked fine and his neutral light was bright. but he DON'T have an aftermarket rev limiter or rev box. all the wiring is brand new and his battery is new. he shined up all of the connections. it didn't do nething.