Another trip back from the dunes and the lt80s back in the shop. This time it only lasted for about 2 hours. My 1st problem was the petcock no fuel getting to the carb. Fixed that by guting the vaccum junk inside and blocking off the vaccum hoses. So now I had a constant stream of fuel going through the in line filter to the carb, started it up and away it went. Brought it back to camp to fuel and get some lunch, and 30 min later no start. Thought it might be flooded because of there being no vaccum in the fuel line, so I removed the spark plug it was clean and dry, no fuel in the cylinder either. Tried to start a few more times and my starter all of a sudden just bogged way down, not like a dead battery, I don't know what was causing it the starter was really hot to the touch. Should I get a new one? Also I might have put premix in the tank and mine still uses injector oil, do you think that could have screwed it up? I quit there and my kids just dug holes in the sad the rest of the weekend, I felt so bad for them. I feel like getting something more reliable for them there were 2 other 80's in our camp and they both worked fine so I don't know what's up with ours. I just spend 500 bucks fixing it from last trip so I wouldn't have this problem. Please help

 

I think you just have bad luck. These LT80's have been about the most indestructible machines we have had and my son is pretty hard on them.

When it just died, were you in the middle of riding it and it just didn't have no power and eventually just quit? (all of this in a pretty short period of time).

I wonder about the piston/rings. If you have the injector and the premix, it would smoke pretty bad depending on the mix. If you know you are pre-mixing, just plug the oil injection line going to the injection pump.

The starters on these quads don't hold up well to consistent turning over. Do it too much (like trying to get a quad started that has another issue that isn't going to allow it to start) will kill the starters.

Go to the basics. Does it have fuel and spark?

 

I have fuel and spark. I'm wondering if i should even work on it though with all my bad luck. now that you mention it my lt500 also came home that trip with a problem[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

I'm going to check the piston and rings next, will let you know compression if any. and does anyone know if all those lt80 starters they sell on ebay are any good or should i go with oem?

 

Easy big fella, we'll help. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]
Considering that a zuki starter is like 3 times the ebay starters, I'd have to try one. It sounds like yours is well worn but it could have just got hot from trying to start it.
FYI: to run pre-mix, you MUST remove the lil black plastic piece that is on the end of the crankshaft. It turnes the pump. You don't want the pump turning with no oil going thru it. I don't think running premix w/the injector hurt much. A fouled plug if anything. You should try a new plug.
Let us know the compression (120+) but I'm leaning toward a simple carb cleaning. I can see a chunk of sand in the jets from PA. LOL
The carb vent line sucks air, thus dirt with it. The line needs a filter on it. Unifilter UP-101 can be made to work.
So what was done for $500.????

 

Alright i'll hook up the filter to the carb vent line. I just bought a new carb the old one was broke, one of those brass fittings came out. i bought a new chain and sprockets light kits new plastic a new exhuast pipe, and a bunch of cool stickers! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] my son really thinks it looks cool, maybe i'll just bring a tow strap next trip and drag it around camp...cheap fix!

serioulsy though i'll get a new spark plug check compression filter up the carb vent lines and clean out my new carb. also going to grab a banshee petcock and remove the black plastic thing to stop the injector and run pre mix, oh and a new starter maybe i'll see if it turns over good with out the spark plug and a good charge.

I bet i clogged the jet now that i think about it. i turned the petcock to reserve for a second, but then remembered that the filter fell off the reserve hole so any junk at the bottom of the tank probably just got sucked right in.... darn it. I hate clogged jets.

should there also be a filter on the gas cap breath hose then?
thanks for your help guys, and girls i guess

 

No need to filter the gas cap vent. It don't suck air like the carb vent. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Alright here's the updat.
My starter was trashed I took it off and there was no spring inside, that's why it always sounded like a bell was ringing when the kids drove by it never disengaged.
cleaned the carb, yes there was junk in it. So went on to a compression test to finish my disgnostic. Just wondering is 30 psi good?
Crap new top end, I open it up and something is not right, chuncks of metal are missing all over the place. Okay now I know its the bottom end, I have never attempted one of those before so I take it to suzuki. Yep motor is shot, they want to know if they should just give it back to me in a box.
No way I need it fix for our next trip, I get a call 2 days later, I'm bored to the max I need a new cylinder. Well I'm getting it fix so ill have to let you know how my next trip goes with these reliable machines.

P.s. I just picked up a 1990 lt80 off craigslist that won't run. Is a whole motor rebuild hard to do on the 80's?

 

You have to be careful to get the crank in. Other than that, it's easy.
So why is the motor shot? I've seen motors with pieces parts inside. As long as the crank bearings are good, I run em. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Well the rod bearings were gone, that's what the pieces of metal everywhere were. The shop is fixing that one.

The new 80 I got only has 30 psi as well, I'm going to pop the head off at lunch and see what I can find. I'm already guessing a new top end. I just hope the crank and rod bearings are still there cause I'm not sure I can do that my self. I only want to spend as much money as it takes to start and move its for my daughter and she doesn't like to go fast at all.
I live right by the beach and everything gets rusty so bad. On a side note don't try to grind off body bolts they just get hot and melt right throught the plastic. Opps!

Anyone know where I can get a lt80 manual?