Hi; It's been a long time since I have posted on the forum, but I need help. I have a 360 Kawi. that I bought in 2003. It has 147 miles. We can't ride here on Long Island, N.Y. so it does'nt get much use. I use it for hunting in the Catskills (about two weeks, and around my 1 acre property in the Adirondacks) Recently I was able to take it on a long strech and when I started to reach 20 mph it started to buck ( starving for gas?) every time I would 20mph it would buck. No problem starting, and it seems to idle ok. Please don't ask me to take anything apart as I am in no way mechanical minded. I will have to take it in to Kawi to have it done. My question is, can anyone tell me what might be the problem so I don't get ripped off when they tell me the long list of things that have to be done? Thanks. Vin

 

I understand you don't want to take things apart, but you have to do some checkings to educate yourself to learn more about the problem. In that way, you would sound smarter when explaining the problem to a mechanic and he would be less likely to rip you off. Remember, knowledge is power that can be used to save you $$.
First you should try to find out whether the hesitation is an engine or drivetrain/CVT related problem.
> In neutral, does the engine rev up freely?
> Any unusal noise from any where?
> How does the spark plug color look?
> How old is the gas in the fuel tank?
> After "bucking" at 20 mph, is the quad able to reach higher speeds?
> How is the overall power feeling other than at 20 mph?
Above are relatively simple things to check.

 

Thank you HAYASHI for trying to help. To answer the suggestions you offer, in neutral engine revs up with no problem but I do have n occassional pop. Gas in the tank can be anywhere form 3 weeks to 6. Quad will not go over 20mph. I have not checked the plug, but will do so. Your check points make a lot of sense but I do not know how to decipher them. Will you please take time to run thru some of the answers I have given you, if not I will take my medicine and go to the dealer, GOD help me. Thanks. Vince

 

From what you are describing, it sounds like a carburetion related issue. Pull out the plug and read the colors. It could be either too lean (greyish light color) or too rich (dark/black color). A correct carburetion would show as a light tan color on the plug. You said popping. Usually too lean condition make popping sound. Your carb's fuel passages or jets might be clogged up by gunk or varnish or other type of debris causing the lean condition. Add some quality fuel additives that clean the fuel system, like Techron from Chevron, into the fuel tank and ride for a while so that fuel additives can do some work. That's relatively cheap and easy to do. If the clogging material is not dissolvable by the fuel additive, such as aluminum or plastic debris, the carb has to be disassembled and cleaned out. It's not that difficult actually. As for a starter, you may just remove the fuel bowl (the lowest part of the carb that's held by 4 small screws) and dump out whatever is in there. Sometimes debris just fall out from there. If debris are clogged up some where else, then more disassembly of carb is required and that may be done by a mechanic. Even so, when you tell all these what you tried to the mechanic, he will not think of you as an easy prey.

 

HAYASHI; You have been a big help. I will try your suggestions. Again thank you very much for your responses. Vin