I wanted to start my atv today, but it wouldn't. I had a charger hooked up to the battery. Its about 22 degres outside today. When its warm, it starts way easier. I put the fuel on, full choke. Any tips on what I should do? Thanks.

 

Usually when its cold I don't have any problem starting up compared to when its not.


But you are sure its not something simple? Battery, stator, wiring, etc. Though you said you had the battery up to a charger, so that isn't the problem. If you can't get it to start, it isn't worth it to keep trying; You will flood it.


I'm not sure as far as tips go, maybe someone else will know.

 

it still turned over i'm guessing right? honda 400's have always been hard to start, and realy hard to start in cold weather, originaly from IN, and MI. so i know all to well. first you can start with your spark plug, see if its fouled out. black, and smells like gas, shinny from gas sitting on it. also,

u have good gas? no water in the tank that could have froze in your line?

i've never had much lucky with full choke. i usuall get it started with 1/2 and imediatly turn it off and ride around untill it gets warmed up. i've got it jeted, piped and a filter and i know for sure its runnin a lil rich so thats one of the reasons choke doesn't work for me.

also after every time i adjust my valves the dang thing starts 10 times easier. intake lash .004 & exhaust lash is .005 if u want to check. (highly recomended if you got a lil time)

well keep us up to date with it

bowz

 

I second comment on gas. The gas that you leave sitting in the float bowl can start going bad in only a week. So prime float bowl with better gas from tank using drain screw on left bottom of carb. If bike has been sitting a month or more sometimes the pilot jet will start plugging up so that is next thing to check.

 

Try a new spark plug, seems to help. When cold, I have the best luck with a few pumps while not cranking, then full choke,no throttle.

 

You need a thinner oil in the wintertime, i reccomend amsoil 0w40. The quad wont start if it cant move the thick summer oil.

 

I'm using 10w-40 oil. Is it to thick for winter? Im gonna check the spark plug tomorrow. I was riding it about 2 weeks ago. Ive been thinking of unscrewing the float bowl and cleaning it.

 

Its probably either your gas, battery, or oil. Read this article.

http://www.micapeak.com/info/oiled.html

For those of you who dont want to read that entire article.

It pretty much explains what the different parts of the oil rating means.

Example: 0w40

The 0 represents the lowest viscosity rating of the oil will reach thermally.

The 40 Represents the maximum viscosity the oil will reach thermally.

0 is like having the consistency of water and 100 being like cold maple syrup (slightly exagurated)

The article also explains how pour points work, which is Extremely significant when it comes to starting your quad (or any other vehicle) in the winter.

 

I know some people are going to say i dont know what im talking about but when it is cold outside i have to pump the gas throttle a ouple of time for it ever to start. The 400ex motor is just really cold natured. and no it will not flud the motor (if you dont get carried away)