Last time I rode my Scrambler was right before Thanksgiving and my thumb throttle jammed on me and the quad died. While I was layed up with kidney stones last week my son got the Scrambler out and got the throttle working. I put a new plug in it and poured some gas in it today and it will not start. I'm thinking the gas was bought when I rode last back before Thanksgiving so I'm starting to think maybe the gas has just gone bad. Does anyone know about what the life of gas is without any treatments or additives?

 

Your gas should be OK for the most part. You may have got some with water in it. Try draining your carburator bowl before starting again. There should be a small set screw at the very bottom of the carb. Just loosen the screw about 1-2 turns with the gas turned to off. The carb bowl gas should empty out on the ground via the small drain tube attached to the bowl close to the set screw. When the drainage is complete retighten the set screw, turn the gas to on and try to start. If it still won't start make sure your choke is working. If it still won't start make sure your getting fire through the spark plug. You can do this by taking the plug out, attaching the wire, and hold the metal part of the plug (where the socket fits) firmly to the motor to ground it. Then turn the motor over and watch for a blue spark between the spark plug air gap. NOTE: If you hold the plug to a good ground it will not shock you.
Hope this helps.

 

I've used gas over a month old...if the ATV seems to die down, put some gasline-antifreeze in it.

 

I had some gas once that lasted for two days!

I'm pretty sure though that, the Mexican food I had for dinner the night before had something to do with it.

 

A400L, that's what I call some high octane gas.

 

My Eltigre ran this weekend...on gas that was way over a year sitting in it's tank, with STABIL in it.

The Zirt gas was in the tank without STABIL since February. Smell it, bad gas smells bad.

 

Crawdad,

Remember the safety feature we have built into the throttle assembly at the thumblever. That little micro switch that shuts the engine down when the throttle sticks. Maybe the microswitch is still keeping you from firing up.

Fuel goes "stale" pretty quick but, it won't prevent the machine from running unless it was really old. Fuel that is a year old or more would have me more worried. Old fuel is less volatile but it would have to be pretty old before it would do what you are describing. I store my seasonal equipment (cars, tractors, snowblowers, lawnmowers etc etc) over the summer/winter. Sometimes I get around to adding Stabil (fuel stabilizer - life extender), sometimes I do not. So far I have never had a problem. Top up with fresh fuel and away we go.

Good Luck,

DJ

 

My Scrambler had the same problem this weekend. It sat for a couple of months, and wouldn't start. Found out that the needle valve in the carb was stuck. Just blew some air into the carb drain. Fixed it right up.

Dave

 

Deej is right, pop the lid on your ETC box and make sure the contacts aren’t touching. It’ll be obvious when you get the lid off. Proper adjustment is 1/8” between the contacts, although I always disable this “feature” on our machines. It just complicates an otherwise simple system and is overkill on safety in my opinion. If the contacts aren’t touching then drain your float bowl and tap on it with something that won’t damage it. If your needle valve is stuck this may free it.

 

Thanks for the tip on the throttle micro switch but that was the 1st thing I checked after switching plugs didn't help. The switch is fine. I pulled the plug and cranked it over and the plug is getting plenty of juice to it. I just pulled the carb out and it's due for a good cleaning anyway so I'm thinking that has to be where the problem lies if it's getting spark to the plug. I'll give it a good cleaning and hopefully be back in action. If it warms up at all this weekend I may go riding cause I have some serious cabin fever.