OK, I did too many modifications to my quad at one time, now Im trying to figure out why it is hard to start. In one week I did the following....

Snorkeled the air intake with 1 1/2 PVC pipe

cleaned and reoiled my K/N filter

Snorkeled the exhaust by cutting a hole in the back of the muffler to pipe out of, blocked off the original exit

installed 26" Goodyear Mudrunners

also snorkeled all vent lines

The quad has been hard to start ever since. I took it out to Fun Wheeler park with all these mods in place and a couple of times after shutting it off, it took FOREVER to get started. After that weekend I checked the spark plug(BTW it was new also) to find it black as coal. At this point I removed the exhaust snorkel, returning it to factory condition, and after a few hours riding the spark plug turned a tan color. I have ridden it since but havent checked the plug again. The quad runs good now but is still hard to start. Ive found that the best way to get it started is to start turning the motor over and simultaniously pump the throttle, it usually fires on the second or third pump where before just touch the starter and it fired up like a new car.

Is this common on snorkeled quads? Im thinking of "redoing" my snorkel job anyway, should I go to bigger pipe?
Any help would be appreciated

 

I thought about putting an air intake snorkel on my quad...is it worth it do you think?

What about an exhaust extension...do I need it also?

 

Pfelect,

I would think that the 1.5" pvc would be to small. What size is the exhaust pipe that you added? How much oil did you put on the K&N? If you put to much oil on the filter it will leave a trail of oil into the carb where the bike was sucking it up. It will also make the bike smoke some and it smells funny when it burns. The black plug is a definite indication that it cannot get enough air and when you pump the throttle it helping to get more air to start also. When I snorkle my bike I am going to use 2" pipe. Think about this. The bike has a 34mm or 1.4" carb. The inlet to the back of the carb is probaly at least 2" and if you are using 1.5" pipe, the pipe cannot flow enough air to feed the motor. Just my thoughts.

 

Pfelect,
First make sure your carb vent lines are open.
(Not Pinched) As far as what size PVC to use, it depends on the individual bike. For example...
My 98 SP500 would run with a 1.5"Pipe but I figured that a 500 needed more air and changed over to a two inch. Then it would not rev. My 2000SP500 will cut out at high rev with a 1.5" so I am going to have to build a 2".

Both have basically the same motor and K&N. ??

I think your problem is not related to your snorkel. The lack of air a snorkel might cause doesn't effect the bike at start up, only at high rpms.

If you ran your carb vent line into your airbox, you need to move it. Good luck and are you riding this weekend and where?

Greg

 

Pfelect,
First make sure your carb vent lines are open.
(Not Pinched) As far as what size PVC to use, it depends on the individual bike. For example...
My 98 SP500 would run with a 1.5"Pipe but I figured that a 500 needed more air and changed over to a two inch. Then it would not rev. My 2000SP500 will cut out at high rev with a 1.5" so I am going to have to build a 2".

Both have basically the same motor and K&N. ??

I think your problem is not related to your snorkel. The lack of air a snorkel might cause doesn't effect the bike at start up, only at high rpms.

If you ran your carb vent line into your airbox, you need to move it. Good luck and are you riding this weekend and where?

Greg

 

425Xpedition,
Thanks for the insight, Im new to the K/N filter thing and Im almost positive that I put too much oil on the filter. Before I started modifying, I had noticed a litle"bump?" when idling, which was right after clean/reoiling the filter. I took it to a friend of mine who told me I was too particular. We just ran some Polaris gas treatment stuff through it and it seemed to clear up.
Also note though in my original post that the plug turned tan color after removing the exhaust snorkel. Doesnt this mean its got enough air??
Since you have the performance kit in yours I could see you needing bigger pipe. Also, how do you like the Supertrapp, Im thinking about getting the kit for my Xped but would like to have it "problem free" before I do anything else to it.

gregsimms
Ive already experimented with the carb vent lines and have come to the conclusion that they are ok. I returned them to original and it made no difference. They are not in the airbox, just run up alongside the snorkel. The bike seems to run fine now that Ive removed the exhaust snorkel, it has the "pep" it used to but this hard starting is getting annoying. Im gonna pull the plug probably Saturday to see if its still tan in color. I rode last Sunday about 5 hours but didnt take time to check it then. Probably wont be riding this weekend.
Thanks for the input guys

 

One way or another it wasn't getting enough air. Either because the snorkel was too small or the exhaust snorkel wasn't allowing enough air flow. My guess is that the 1.5" is big enough for the intake so you are right the exhaust needed to go.

Greg

 

Pfelect,

The supertrapp is holding up fine. No problems out of it if ridden normal. The only problem I have had is when I submerge the exhuast the in mud pudding. If the bike dies for some reason it will stop up sometimes. Has only happened twice though. So it is not that big of a deal. Also on the hard starting problem have you tried to adjust the idle air screw? This may help it to start easier. If the plug changed after you took the exhuast snorkel off, then it is to restrictive. What size is the pipe? If it is small or has some real sharp bends then it might be choking the motor. It is probaly the problem. Let me know how it turns out. I need to get my snorkel done on my bike so I can play in deeper water.

 

I thought submersion in mud pudding WAS normal riding!
I have trashed the exhaust snorkel for now but I think it was 1 1/2 pipe also. I have returned it to factory for now. Theres not any "pudding" around here now anyway!

Where is the air mixture screw located? When I was looking at the carb earlier(before mods) I didnt see a mixture screw.

 

The mixture screw is on the front of the carb. Look at the bowl and in front of it there is metal tube. The screw is up inside the tube.