I'm so mad! My stupid 400EX won't start. It just snowed here so I wanted to take her out and have a little fun considering its never been in anything but sand. Well, I go out there, choke it, turn the gas on, the key on, the engine on and hit the button. Its doesn't start. I sat there for 20min in the freezing cold tring to start it! Its bad enough that this happens in cold, but it happens in the summer too! just not as bad. Can anybody help. BTW, I walked over to my 'ole 2-stroke kick and it started on the 3rd kick.

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Evan Johnson 400EX/LT250R

 

I had that happen once. I went out turned the gas on and everything and it would not start. Then I looked in the tank, it was a kinda low so I put it on reserve and it started. You might try putting it on reserve, other than that I have not had any problems. If mine is on an incline like it was in the back of my pickup on a little hill for a while it will leak the gas out because of the floats being set so high.

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Edited by Mike trx400ex

 

Same thing happened to me this weekend in FL where it isn't cold. My older brothers were watching as I tried to show off my toy which made it double embarrasing. After about 5 minutes of turning it over, I switched to reserve and it fired right up. Kind of weird since when I put it away last I wasn't on reserve yet so I didn't think about it.

 

I TOO HAD PROBLEMS STARTING MY 400EX UNTIL MY BUDDY SHOWED ME THE WAY TO IT. PULL YOUR CHOKE ALL THE WAY OUT , GIVE IT A TOUCH OF THROTTLE WHEN TRYING TO START. WHEN IT TURNS OVER AND IS IDELING KEEP THAT CHOKE OUT FOR HALF OF A MINUTE THEN PUT IT AT HALF WAY. THEN GO RUN THE GUTS OUT OF IT.........

 

I live where it's COLD its a high of 10 degrees f today. I oppen and close the throttle a few times to get the accelorator pump on the carb to get a little extra fuel going. If that don't work start looking, for fuel in the tank, and check reserve. Look to see if the plug cap is on, then check the plug after that.

 

I agree with wms1145. Put it on full choke, pump the throttle a couple of times, then start it while giving about 25% throttle. When it starts running, hold the throttle for about 30 seconds, then put it on half choke and it should idle on its own. I usually let mine warm up for about 5 minutes before I ride it. Others on the forum have suggested changing one of the jets, but if you use this procedure you shouldn't have any more trouble. Good luck....

Mike
'00 400ex

 

just a couple of weeks ago I couldn't get mine started either i tried till the battary started running down. Then I took it and let my friends dad look at it. He pulled the spark plug looked at it and said I fould it. I didn't belive him at first. The first thing the next day before we went riding I got a new spark plug and it started right up. I hve never heard of a 40strok fouling plugs but mine did it once.

 

I live in Michigan and it's cold. I have trouble starting my ex whenever it cold. I have tried different ways of starting - full choke - no choke - holding the throttle but it always starts hard and fouls the plug. The other day I pulled the plug and heated with a torch. I have found that sometimes it starts when on reserve. I asked the dealer and they say it's normal. My polaris sits in the shed right next to the honda. It sat for a whole month and it will start on the first try all the time. I'm about ready to tear into the carb.

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toyman

'99 Scrambler 500, '00 400EX

 

I live in Michigan and it's cold. I have trouble starting my ex whenever it cold. I have tried different ways of starting - full choke - no choke - holding the throttle but it always starts hard and fouls the plug. The other day I pulled the plug and heated with a torch. I have found that sometimes it starts when on reserve. I asked the dealer and they say it's normal. My polaris sits in the shed right next to the honda. It sat for a whole month and it will start on the first try all the time. I'm about ready to tear into the carb.

 

you guys have to remember that the 400ex is a performance machine, not an economical machine, it is desiged to run its best when warm. I too have fouled plugs when cold, I always keep and extra handy. ALSO always check the kill switch by the left grip, its made a fool of me before!