I have a pair of 2000 scrambler 500s I just bought from my brother-in-law and am having issues starting one of them. If I turn the key & hold the start button up, it will crank and crank, then backfire, then crank some more, then backfire. However, if I put the battery charger on it, it will crank a couple times and start right up, no backfiring. Once it starts, runs fine, no backfiring at all when running. Any ideas? Weak battery? Haven't tested anything yet.

 

welcome to the forum. i would check the battery voltage to see if indeed it is at 12.5 volts for a good battery. did you check to see if the pull start would fire it right up? once it's started check the out put voltage at the battery w/ the bike reved up a little. it should be at least a high 13.5 + volts. if not the bike isn't charging.

 

I had mine not start with the electric starter cranking but would start with the pull start,turned out the pulse coil was dirty and needed to re gapped with the flywheel.

 

I am tearing them both down next month to get ready for riding season, so I will definately give those a try! Thanks!

 

Replaced the starter on one of the quads cuz it was shot. It did start with the charger now. I charged the battery & it read 14v before I tried to start it again. It cranked a long time, finally starting. Also, the starter will spin for a while before engaging the flywheel. Not sure how long it spins, only let it go about a second, then let go of the button. Pushed it again and it engaged right away.

 

sounds like there is some sticking going on starter maybe causing it not to engage to the flywheel?

 

Sounds like your bendix drive needs to be cleaned and lubed also .

 

had this problem on mine where it would pull start but not electric start. take off your pull start cover and check the distance the coil is away from the pickup on the OUTSIDE of the flywheel. mine was like a 1/4 inch away from the pickup and its supposed to be really close, but i forget the spec.. put mine back to spec and it electric starts great.. good luck