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'94 sportsman 400 won't start

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Old Mar 5, 2006 | 06:50 PM
  #1  
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Default '94 sportsman 400 won't start

I bought this sportsman thinking it only needed a starter drive, but I still cant get it to start. It sat for about four years, but everything seems to be working. Has spark, so so comp., and it getting fuel into the cylinder. I tried switching the cdi and the coil for a known good one and still nothing. Won't even fire with either. Any ideas?
 
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Old Mar 5, 2006 | 07:18 PM
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Default '94 sportsman 400 won't start

I don't know that the following information will be of any value. Quite a few years ago I was given a Suzuki that had set for a number of years. The owner said it ran the last time he parked it. I could not get it to start. I, like you, tried everything. Then somone suggested I take the exhaust pipe loose from the head... I did and it started. While it was running I began tighting up the bolts of the exhaust pipe to the head and I hit the muffler and tail pipe with a hammer and all sorts of stuff flew out it. It was then that I was told that if you push the core of a potatoe up a tail pipe the vehicle won't run. For it is worth that was my experience. Oh by the way it never failed me after that. Good luck with getting it running.
 
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Old Mar 5, 2006 | 07:55 PM
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Don't let the hp numbers fool you. Its all in how you get it to the ground. Clutching clutching clutching!
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Default '94 sportsman 400 won't start

The bare mininmum compression is 100psi but really needs 110+
 
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Old Mar 5, 2006 | 10:14 PM
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Default '94 sportsman 400 won't start

The compression is only at 90psi but I would think it should still fire with either. I'm hopeing the rings will reset if I can ever get it going to get the compresssion back up to were it should be. I know it ran when it was parked. I'll try the tailpipe thing tomarrow.
 
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Old Mar 6, 2006 | 03:45 PM
  #5  
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Default '94 sportsman 400 won't start

Still no go. I didn't take the exhaust loose as it is a PITA, but it isn't plugged up. I just put my hand over the end and turned it over. It is definately pumping air.
 
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Old Mar 6, 2006 | 08:46 PM
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Default '94 sportsman 400 won't start

Put a cap full of engine oil in the cyl. and turn over be hand a couple of times and recheck the compression and post it back.
 
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Old Mar 8, 2006 | 08:40 AM
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Default '94 sportsman 400 won't start

I had tried that the other day with no success, but yesterday I pulled the carb off and opened it up. What a mess. The jets and other moving parts were all gummed shut. Started right up after a rebuild. Now the only thing I can find is it dies when you put it in reverse. Something with the revlimiter because if you hold in the override it is fine. Where is the limiter located?
 
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Old Mar 8, 2006 | 09:24 AM
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Default '94 sportsman 400 won't start

do a search on here for reverse overide and just unhook it, youl like it better without it.
 
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Old Mar 8, 2006 | 08:46 PM
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Don't let the hp numbers fool you. Its all in how you get it to the ground. Clutching clutching clutching!
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Default '94 sportsman 400 won't start

Follow the reverslimiter black wire to the wire block and unplug it.
 
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