I am new to the forum so I hope I am posting this in the right place.
I recently purchased an 88 quadracer, haven't owned a 2-stroke quad in I'd guess 10 years maybe more. Been slow cruising on 4-strokes for the last decade ; )

Anyway, here's my problem. I bought the bike 2 weeks ago. I started it 4 or 5 times and rode it the night I picked it up, the guy I got it from started it a couple times at that time also. So I load the thing up haul it home, stick it in the garage, leave for vacation. When I got back I drained all the fuel, dumped fresh in. Drained the tranny oil and put new in. Installed a new clutch cable & throttle cable. Then put bearings in the rear axle housing and needle bearings in the swing arm. Now the thing won't start. I have put in three plugs (all three have great spark) all the plugs are slightly coated with fuel also and I can smell fuel on them when I take them out, but I can't get the bike to fire. It doesn't even sound like it is trying to start. It doesn't have a kill switch (the factory inigtion switch is in the run position : )
I even disconnected the clutch cable thinking it may have sometype of switch inside the clutch not allowing it to start (which I don't remember any quadracer having anything like this). The only other thing I did was clean the air filter, which needs replaced, but I haven't picked one up yet. So I am at a lose with ideas, sure hope someone can point me in the right direction, I sure would appreciate it.

The problem seems to me like it maybe with the timing, but I can't figure out how or why that could happen since it ran when I picked it up and it was never started since that.
Thanks!!!

 

Sounds to me like there's junk in the carb. Try dumpin a small amount (20oz. bottle cap full) of mixed fuel into the carb air intake and see if it will kick (please be careful and don't burn your garage down). If it does then it's in your fuel delivery system. Alternatively, you can use WD40 as 2stroke starting fluid. What condition is the tank in? Is it full of rust? You could also have some garbage plugging up the petcock on your tank.

 

Make sure you have the correct plug as long as your getting a good spark and fuel it has to run. Unless your timing is off, unless you had the stator off you should still be good sometimes they can be hell to start after sitting for a long while. Do yourself a favor and try pull starting it pull it with another quad or vehicle put it in second or third and make sure ignition is turned on an let out the clutch I bet she fires up...

 

Thanks for the input guys!!!

MeYHymN, I tried spraying normal starting fluid into the air intake side of the card, thought a high amount of ether might help, but it didn't. I dumped a cap full of mixed 110 octane fuel straight into the cylinder and that didn't even get a bark out of it. I'll try WD40, Thanks!
The tank is plastic, no rust. The carb is very clean, it had a little sludge around the top of the slide when I installed the new throttle cable, but I cleaned that off with carb cleaner. The jet and needle are clean also. Fuel flows free through the petcock in the on or reserve position.
ps: I'll burn the bike up before I burn up my garage. ; )


rooster123, plug I am running is B8ES NGK, I believe that one of my old manuals called out, but I will double check that. The timing is what it seems like to me, but I never messed with the stator. I tried getting my wife to pull me up and down the rode tonight with my 500 quadrunner, but she wouldn't (thought we'd look silly). You believe that? I said, but I need to ride this weekend hun! : )
I'll try taking it down to a buddies this weekend and have him drag me around, sure hope that works because I am out of ideas.

Someone told me today the slide in the carb was installed backwards causing it not to start, check that tonight. The slide only goes in one way so it can't be installed wrong. The bevealed edge is towards the air cleaner and the flat side is towards that carb.

Thanks for all the help!!!!

 

Quadracer tell your wife not to be a big meanie. Save yourself alot of trouble and make sure you try to pull start it before going crazy with the motor. I have been there many times when only pull starting would get it going then it will kick fine good luck

 

if you put gas down the sparkplug hole it should have done something. check the compression.

 

That's good you didn't use starting fluid. Regular starting fluid (ether) will do some serious damage as it's made for four strokes. The lack of lubrication could burn your rings. Only takes three things to make an engine run. Fuel, spark, timing. Sounds like you're on the right track. I wish I could be more help. Keep us posted on your progress. Does the intake/carb gasket seem to be in good shape? I wonder if you've got an air leak somewhere.

 

rooster123, LOL, I'll tell her (doubt it'll help though) [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]
I went and picked up my trailer tonight from my dads so I'll haul both my bikes this weekend and try pulling it awhile to see what that does for it.

sblt500r, I sorta figured that it would at least make a cough or something, but it didn't. I haven't tested the compression, but it feels like it has plenty. I can feel my leg getting tired after 5 or 6 kicks, when I take the plug out and turn it over by hand I can't keep my finger over the cylinder hole. I assume from that it has good compression..?? I'll see if anyone I know has a compression tester and I'll throw that on it quick.

MeYHymN, the carb boots aren't the best, but they seem to be sealed up. I had a quadzilla that had a intake boot cracked and I could here it suck air when I tried starting it.

My next step maybe selling it. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

Thanks everyone!

 

So there is spark? remember the big end of the carb goes to the air box...your bike should work, if it doesn't start after you jump it I would trade you for mines...lol

 

You say you have spark, so my guess is you are flooding it out. I know if I accidently touch the throttle on my banshee while trying to start it, I flood it. Try to pull start it.