I bought a used 2004 Ltz 400. The guy I bought it from said it was his son's and wasn't familiar with the controls (i.e. choke lever) I asked him if he had the owners manual He said " Nah" aked him which way appies the choke he said "Dunno?" I bought this bike at a good price as paper work was all f..ed up (now OK) and didn't Idle gas smelled sweet like varnish, so I'm guessing it set awhile. I went throught the carb and cleaned it up flushed the fuel system including cleaning out the tank, and installed a fuel filter, set everything to specs according to the factory repair manual( which does not say which way aplies the choke). Now it stars and runs for a few seconds then, dies. and won't restart until it sets for awhile. Other things I did was new plug and cleand air filter. may be going to the dealer if I can't figure this out. Oh ya lots of crud in fuel system when started now nice and clean. My backround ex ASC certified wrench! Also have always rode red in the past!

 

Did you look at the gas tank valve? Its vacumn operated, and it may also be plugged up with crap.
Choke is on when the lever is rotated down (arrow points toware ON position). Choke is off when the lever is rotated up.
And its not really a choke, but an enrichener circuit, which you probably already discovered when you had it apart.
Have you tried bump starting, to see if itll run? Does it make a difference if the gas tank valve is on 'pri', which is the prime position.
Welcome to the forums

 

Ya I cleaned the valve when I flushed the fuel tank/system flows great. It will start witt he starter but loads up and dies, won't idle. I've set floats to factory specs. I do have the factory repair manual, I'm gonna guess the valves are too tight time to take it to the dealer, the service is not that expensive and covers alot of other things I was going to do anyway. I do apppreciate the Heads up on how the choke/starter circuit/enricher works, the manual is good but doesn't have normal operating instructions!

Thanx
Joe

 

by what you have done to it sounds like a carb problem, maybe a plugged jet. and who's to say it wasnt messed up before you bought it, and thats why they got rid of it

 

when you push the level DOWN the choke is ON ..... UP obviously is OFF .......

 

For a follow up on this it was the petcock or fuel valve, thanx all!