Hey guys...

I have a 2006 LTZ400 that will not turn over.
I was riding this past weekend for at least 8-10 hours Friday through Saturday evening, so my quad did get quite a workout. It seems that towards Saturday evening the quad was beginning to die ocassionally at an idle. Then becoming harder and harder to start. Now it refuses to start at all. It tries to but will not kick in. It keeps cranking and cranking with no signs of actually firing up and running.

I pulled the plug and replaced it with a new NGK CR8EIX plug, and tested it... there is a spark coming from it. I put it in and pulled it back out after a few more tries and the plug is wet, so I know fuel is getting to it.

I just had it in for a carb adjustment and rejetting. It ran very very well for the first 8-10 hours.

DO I need a new CDI Box, Stator, Ignition Coil, or could it be a compression problem?


Thoughts... Help please!

Specs: (not much yet..lol)
2006 Suzuki LTZ400
Yosh Exhaust
Uni Air filter

 

sounds like a compression problem... you got a gauge? most 4 strokes need atleast 90 psi to run.

also, check your valves.

hth

 

always look at the carb first, 9 times outta 10 when it comes to performance issues thats where its at. pull it off and do a quick clean to make sure nothing is in it and also inspect at the same time

 

Thanks for the replies...

I do not have a gauge unfortunatley, if this is the case I may have to take it into my local Motorsports shop/ I am really hoping to avoid this as it will cost me $75 right off for a mechanic to get involved. Or is checking the compression rather simple?

I don't know if it could be the carb. I just had them adjust and rejet the carb a day before I took it out riding. Could it go bad that quickly?

Since I am getting a spark, does this rule out a problem with my Stator, CDI Box and Ignition Coil?

Thanks.

 

being a mechanic and seeing some other peoples work i would automatically assume it was the carb since it has just been worked on. did it run well before the jetting? the fact that its getting spark does not totally rule out the ignition system, but it would make me look elsewhere

 

It was bogging down a little before having it rejetted. I bought the ATV from someone in California and now I ride at an altitude of about 9,000 ft. With that and the fact I added the Yosh pipe and Uni Air filter, I figured it needed to be rejetted and adjusted.

It ran great for about 8 hours straight, then all of a sudden it started slowly going downhill. Then boom.. wont even turn over.

 

If you have lost compression you will know it because the "turning over" will not sound at all right. If you can hear the piston "popping" as it compresses the fuel the compression should be enough to start it.

It does sound like a carb issue......have you checked your choke cable? I know it sounds silly but I've seen this before..... The z400 is warm blooded, and will almost never start without some choke unless it is 80 degrees outside or something......I've parked mine for a couple hours in the cool weather, and had to choke it to get it restarted. They don't like the cold much......

Beyond that, if the choke cable is not adjusted right it could be a slight "choke on" condition and that would cause issues too......

 

I am hoping this is a carb issue and nothing more serious. Not sure about the choke issue. I hardly ever have to use the choke, and when I was trying to start it, it was about 1 monute after I have been riding it for a couple hours... so it was surely warmed up.

It isn't really making a weird sound while I am trying to start that I can notice. However, when I took the air filter off and tried to start it, there was a slight popping sound every once in a while coming from the air box.

Think I can rule out a problem with my CDI, Stator or Ignition Coil now? I hope so.

Thanks for all the replies... keep them coming.

 

Well if you "never" have to use the choke, even when cold it could be running too rich. If it is too rich the carb will get gummed up in no time which would explain why you only got a few rides in before it clogged up.....

Also on these another problem I've seen is the petcock in the fuel take....there is a rubber piece in there that apparently can break down, and small rubber pieces can clog the carb intake......

Either way it sounds like the problem is indeed in the carb somewhere.....

 

Thanks for the info...
Guess I'll be taking my ATV back into the shop again for them to work on the carb.
There goes another $75.

Doubt if I want to tackle this myself. I am just glad it isn't another part I need to buy.... so far.