Well, I picked up the last of the refurbs on Friday. Took it for the first real ride on Saturday. The bike was already broke in and first service completed by the dealer, so it was supposedly ready to Rock! And rock it did for the first hour. I was riding with another Cannondale(my brother whose had his for about 8 months), a Warrior, and a Raptor. The suspension was a little stiff over small stuff, and I wasn't comfortable enough to get any bigger air. I didn't want to roll or flip my new bably on the first trip out. After about an hour of riding, I hit a jump, maybe 2+ feet of air, landed, and it died. That was the beginning. It started right back up, no problem. But, the stalling repeated itself 3 or 4 more times. The last of which, we were a ways back in a sandpit when a couple friends on EX's had showed up. The 'dale had stalled and wouldn't start back up this time. The battery was too weak. We pulled it off and it ran about 1 more minute before it shut off, not to restart for the day. I was towed back to the truck and we hauled it home, recharged the battery. Used the 2 amp rate fguring the dealer had done a quick charge. It started right up with a fresh battery. While doing that, I noticed the battery terminals may have been a little loose. I hoped the battery was just poorly charged and the loose terminals were responsible for the stalling.
We went riding again today. The stalling started up again and after about 2 hours, the battery was once again too weak to start it or run the ECU. It probably stalled about 4 times unexplicably. I'm just riding along, steady on the throttle, maybe having just hit some bumps or whoops(but not every time) and the motor dies like you turned the ignition off. Same thing every time it has stalled. it the starter, and it will start right back up, until the battery goes dead. Day 2 and the quad is again pulled back to the truck, this time with lots of Warrior roost all over the front of it from the mile long tow through the woods. The weak battery isn't due to the stalling and restarting-that only happened about 4 or so times each day.
It appears at this point, I have a stalling problem that I'm thinking may need a remap to fix and I have a charging problem. The mapping thing puzzles me since this quad only left the factory about a week and half ago. The charging thing.... I don't know. This is all real convenient since I drove a long ways to pick the thing up and my nearest dealer is about 2 hours from home. I definitely have to say I didn't expect any problems since it just left the factory.
My bro's 'dale is sweeeeet, though!! With near 200 hours, that thing rips. the suspension is awesome and the motor is very smooth. He hasn't any of the same problems I'm having. Time for dinner. Any suggestions?? My serial is #888.

 

I don't have a refurb but I do have #885. When I first got it after about 2hrs. on it fouled a plug. About an hour after that "riding time" the battery died and then the stalling problem started. Battery recharged no problem, plug no problem, stalling problem didn't get fixed until 2 months later. Dealer sucks so I ordered the HMF and remap and they did the stalling update for free.

 

I don't know I haven't had the stalling problem. I have had to adjust the way I operate the quad though. Compared to other quads I have ridden this is very different and as I have gotten used to riding it I have not stalled nearly as much.

 

NRATH,

That sounds almost like part of my problem. I got a Stars and Stripes Cannibal Saturday, and the battery was junk Sunday. A recharge DID NOT HELP. KNOWSALOT says that the dealer should have put acid in mine. Anyway, I got a new battery today, put it in and put a voltmeter on it. With engine stopped, it had 12.85 volts. Started and at 3/4 throttle it has 14.4 volts. Obviously mine doesn't have a charging problem, so I think KNOWSALOT is right. It might be something to check, your battery may be shot.

 

Unfortunately I feel pretty confident the stalling isn't operator error. I killed it a couple times because of the different clutch feel, but the stalling was quite a bit different than killing it with the clutch or because of slow engine speed. Most of the time I was on the gas midway through the revs or so and it just falls off. I will hit the gas a couple times and there's is no response, just buhhh, until I pull in the clutch to let the motor stop spinning over because I'm rolling. It seemed to happen more when going through some whoops or rough stuff or jumps, but I can't say for sure that it was related to that. I'm feeling that I need an update for the stalling. Problem is as I mentioned- no local dealer. Time for another road trip.

 

We had one do the same thing about a month ago.
We sold it on a Saturday morning and that evening, the customer called about the stalling. He said the same as you....not bogging the motor down, but actually just "dying" when in the upper revs while riding.

He was going to bring it back in that Tuesday for us to look at. He called me that Tuesday and said that he continued to ride it Sunday and the stalling just stopped. No explanation and he hasn't had the problem since. We looked at it when we did the first oil change and nothing appeared wrong. It's something we haven't seen since that time.

The first thing I would look at is the battery level to make sure the battery has enough electrolyte. Whether it does or not, take it back to your dealer and have them look at it.

Refurb or not...it shouldn't be doing this. The stalling update should have already been added to the quad. Ask for verification to be on the safe side.

 

I will check the electrolyte in the battery. As for stalling, day two had the same results. I got about 3 hours of riding the first day and about 2 today. I did notice a backfire, maybe twice. Not loud through the exhaust, but I'd say through the carb if it had one. So I guess it was through the intake. I asked specifically about the stalling update when I picked it up because I knew of my problem with the distance to a dealer. Dealer said it was all updated at the factory. We also had to readjust the clutch to get the distance between the clutch arm and cable holder correct. It was about half what the manual said it was supposed to be. Also the chain was way too tight. My bro' had corrected that adjustment while I was recuperating from the drive to get the quad and then to his house. 17 hours total. TOO MUCH!! And then to have the quad not make it for a day of riding.

 

Silly question but what the hell,

Does your refub have the new Gas Tank, there is supposed to be a clunk weight to keep the tube at the bottom of the tank. Could this be the problem??? You will know by looking at the back of the tank if there is no fuel line than you have the new one, you fuel filter should also be up on the left hand side next to the fuel pump. Is it clean??

Just my thoughts.

Smitty

 

NRATH: Is your battery charging? It sound as if your battery is shot or your machine isnt keeping it charged. Check out the Cannondale web site for info on the stator wire shielding and charge problems. Good luck

 

Another thing to check is the ground wires at the fuel regulator.