I was hoping somebody could give me some good suggestions. I have a Prairie 650 thats terriblly hard to start. I just got done replacing the choke springs, which did solve my running rich and fouling out my spark plug problems. But now I still have the starting problem. I always shut the petcock off as soon as I kill it. Sometimes it takes so long I haft to put a battery charger on it. The only way I can get it to start is to constantly move the choke back and forth and give it just a little gas. Once it starts up it will run fine once its warmed up. You can shut it off and it will immediately fire up. It idles fine, no other problems. If anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate.
Thanks DennisC.

 

You always should crack the throttle to start a 650. The compression release is funny that way.

You probably should also adjust the air screws a little richer. Turn one in (one at time) until engine slows. Turn it out until you have the fastest idle. then turn it out 1/4 turn past that.

I always use 2/3 choke to start mine cold. It cranks right up. Are you sure that this just isn't something that you need to find the right setting for your machine? Flipping choke back and forth while starting it? I wouldn't think you would have to do that.

I would be willing to enter a cold starting and idling contest (as long as I was allowed to use the choke). Mine starts that well. On the other hand it doesn't sputter in the rain either. It is just right.

 

I too have starting problems. Using the choke helps.......
I was in Little Saharah for the past 4 days and if you haven't been make the trip to Oklahoma! Everything was great except the 15 hr. drive.

Besides a starting problem my '03 650 has a "out of the hole" problem. It sputters and hesitates out of the hole. Even just sitting in neutral reving you can hear it.
I had some real gear heads with me that couldn't get it worked out using the air screws. What are the allen head screws on each carb by the way? We tried from 1 1/2 to 3 turns and everywhere inbetween settleing around 2 1/4 (I think) being the best.
My warranty runs out in two weeks. People are telling me to get a jet kit and that would take care of the "out of the hole" problem.

The only mod I've done is a K&N air filter, I have a black spring and am waiting for the warranty to run out. I'll also try the muffler mod then too.

If I could tune this baby I'd be able to stay neck and neck with my buddies on there Z400 & KFX 400 for sure!

Here is a picture from this weekend:

http://www.poleshedlan.com/650.JPG

 

DennisC, check your valve adjustment. They might be on the tight side.

 

Good call Krabid, the valves don't need adjusting on most people's 650, but if they are tight they make the idle worse and starting harder.

Gravelayer, you need to adjust your needles (you also need a DG snorkle). I don't know if you are rich or lean. If it runs fine at your house and bad at little sahara, I suspect little sahara was higher elev(?) and that caused you to be running rich. I don't know the elev's, it could be backwards.

You may be lean since you put the K&N on. You can tell better than we can, since you ride it. Read my jetting tips.

 

Thanks nyroc I'll read through your tips. Its running rich. The elevation's are pretty even...it runs rich at home to. The thing is it ONLY for the 1st couple seconds. I get out of the hole a bit slow and you can notice it while reving in neutral on a hot engine.
So the DG snorkle helps? How about a link to a good, cheap place to pick one up!?

 

You order it direct from DG. The phone is listed in the tech tips on my website.

 

What website????[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]