When it does not start is the plug wet or dry? I still think you should do a compression test. Low compression can make any engine hard to start at normal cranking speeds. When you use ether it may be volatile enough to fire and the initial firing gets the crankshaft speed up enough to carry it. Then as the engine warms the parts will expand, tightening up clearances and allowing the engine to run ok. Do you find your engine is noisier when it is first started compared to when it is warm? It sounds to me anyway that you can eliminate spark as a problem, if it fires as soon as you add ether. That leaves yo with only two possibilities left, fuel and compression.

 

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For some reason the engine is not developing enough vacuum to draw fuel into the combustion chamber.

Check the following:

Is the carb properly mounted on the rubber intake boot?

Are the connection clamps tight?

Is the intake boot torn?

If the carb is mounted correctly and there are no tears in the boot you may have a broken or stuck reed petal.

If the reeds are good, take a deep breath because this is going to get expensive.

Like BobCulp said, you may be down on compression which can be caused by a leaking crank seal or a partially seized/worn piston and scuffed cylinder walls, or your rings could be stuck. ;( Hopefully this is not the case.

 

No reeds on a TrailBlazer Thor.

 

Aha! A piston port design. I was assuming the induction system was similar to the 400 Fuji but I was wrong. But aside from the reeds the rest of the information is accurate.

We also forgot to ask him if the machine idles once it starts.

 

If this was a compression problem would the quad run as well and strong as it does once I get it started with the ether i can get on it and go and it runs as good as the day I bought it. Its just the starting thats the problem. When i took the carb to the dealer to be cleaned and set they didn/t change any of the hoses and they are all very dark if one of these were cloged or ripped could that be a problem, I am not so sure what all the hoses are for I would assume overflow and vaccume.

 

I think the best advice in your case is, take the whole quad to the shop. Good luck

 

Yes Thor, the 250's are a piston port design. And you are right about everything else, but we still don't know if the plug is wet or dry when it won't start. Taking it to a shop should look after it. But I'm really curious as to what the problem is.

 

epithelium
Senior Member
bENSALEM, PA, US
Date Posted: Jan 12, 2001 11:51 AM

I have a 96 Trailblazer that wont start if I shoot starting fluid in the carb it will start and run fine after its warm, but once I shut it off it wont start without starting fluid. I have tried new spark plug, cleaned the carb, new oil, new battery, new crankcase oil. Nothing works please help.

RESPONSE

motorman
Senior Member
delmont, PA, US
Date Posted: Jan 12, 2001 2:50 PM

Check the compression, if under 100# it will be a bear to start.

Clem in PA

400 xplorer, 250 trailblazer for the wife

 

IT WILL IDLE AFTER IT IS WARM. I HAVENT CHECKED THE PLUG YET. I ASSUME IT WILL BE DRY. I HAVE ORDERED PARTS TO REPAIR THE STARTER AS SOON AS THEY COME IN AND I FIX THAT PROBLEM I AM GOING TO DROP THE QUAD OFF AT THE DEALER TO FIX THE CARBARATION PROBLEM I WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED OF WHAT THEY SAY BUT KEEP UP THE GOOD ADVICE MAYBEE SOMEONE WILL SAY SOMETHING THAT MIGHT WORK.