I have a 2000 scrambler it is a 400 and when i start it up and run it for about 3-4 minutes it wants to die. when i let off the throtle it will start to die so i pull the choke and come to a stop then let the choke back in it will idle fine. what is the problem? I changed the spark plug and fuel filter whats next? PLEASE HELP

 

check the vent lines for the tank and carb. it sounds like one of these two is pinched or clogged.

 

verify that your throttle cable hasn't streched. Pop off the cover on the throttle lever box. There are two contacts in there that have to touch otherwise it will kill the engine after a few seconds of not touching. If there is a gap adjust the throttle cable adjuster right by the handle bars until the two contacts touch.

That's what kept mine from staying running at idle. Took me a while to figure this out until I realized that the same basic thing was going on my g/f's 97 until her cable snapped.

 

when u say touching do u mean at and idle and into the throtle ?

 

Yes, there should be two contacts in there, in the event that your throttle cable breaks the two contacts will sperate and it will kill the engine. You can test it by popping the top off the throttle lever box and seperate the contacts, the engine will run for a few seconds and then die. If you hold them together it will idle forever or until you turn it off.

Watch how it operates when you have the cover open. The thumb lever is connected to one side the cable the other, when you apply pressure to the thumb lever it will force the contacts together allowing you to accelerate the engine, but if the cable is stretched out, then in the idle position the spring loaded throttle cable side will take up the slack and pull the contacts apart and it puts the engine in a rev limiter mode, kinda like when your in reverse only the rev limit is a lot lower and the overide switch won't overide the throttle rev limit so you can't just pull on a broken cable to get your bike back on the truck. In this mode the engine will eventually just shut off. it took me a while to figure this all out, I didn't realize what was going on until after I had to install a new cable on my g/f's scrammy.

 

i just tested my atv and the two wires stay connected until i get into the throttle. how are you supposed to keepthe two wires connected ? the spring holds the top wire from touching the bottom while into the throttle? i dont understand?

 

do this unplug the connector going into the throttle housing. if the contacts are the problem it should diagnose it. only I was under the impression they cut the motor when they made contact. I could be wrong I removed that feature over a year ago.