Hello everyone,
I had a slight problem occur this past weekend while riding. Keep in mind this is my first ever quad, so I'm a newbie.
While riding the weather was a bit cold, 45 deg , but after gettin quad warmed up it ran like normal. Then as we climbed up the mountain it got much colder and there was a cloudy misty fog. It was cold enough to put an ice glaze on tree limbs.
As we rode the bruin never quit , but felt severly underpowered. It was like it could stall if I didn't keep on throttle 1/2 or more. I assume that the carb was gettin starved for "dry air". maybe the cold wet air did this. I thought quads were made to play in cold, snow , whatever you could throw at them. As we went back down to better conditions things went back to normal. I have rode this same area in summer with no problems. Is there something to do, to prevent this from happening? add somethin to gas? run different plug? If you have any ideas it sure would help, as I cant wait till the snow flies to go ridin. Thanks , Bill

 

what was the elevation, because if ur high up ur quad won't have the same power.

 

dont know the exact elevation, but have rode there many , many times spring, summer etc... and had no problem . the power remained strong. but last time it was real cold, and had a foggy mist. So when it bogged down on power i assumed it was cause of weather. So im wondering if this is normal on non efi quads?

 

I dont' know squat about ATVs but that sounds a lot like carb ice. A fairly common problem with boats among us duck hunters.

 

Sounds like an elevation & weather problem. Its a known fact that colder temperatures "lean" your quad out. This means youre not getting enough fuel for the amount of air your carb is pulling in. Then, as you go to higher elevations, the air gets thinner which will also affect your fuel/air ratio. Not sure what to do about your situation...maybe dont ride higher elevations in the snow. Or if thats not an option, buy a fuel injected bike, or try pulling your choke a little when it loses power, or you may have to change jets depending on your riding situation that day. I seriously dought it would be ice, because ive never had that happen to me, and the heat coming off your motor would keep any ice from forming on anything around it. If theres any question about the foggy mist, you could buy a $10 outerwears for your filter. They are supposed to keep out water but let air thru.

 

I have a bruin and I have ran it in weather that was atleast 90 degrees and 10 degrees (probably lower too)...there was no difference in performance. It may have been harder to start when cold, but once it was warmed up it would run fine. Maybe you are running too lean and this cold air is letting you know that. Try turning your fuel screw a little bit. If you want more power and to try to fix this problem maybe buy a k/n filter and jet kit, or just a jet kit if the fuel screw does not work for you.

Good luck....next weekend I have to tackle my rear drum, pain in the @ss when I have to put a heater on it to unlock it (water got in, and its freezing [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img] )

 

Sounds like an elevation & weather problem. Its a known fact that colder temperatures "lean" your quad out. This means youre not getting enough fuel for the amount of air your carb is pulling in. Then, as you go to higher elevations, the air gets thinner which will also affect your fuel/air ratio.

Colder=denser air= leaner
higher=thinner air=richer... They don't combine to get even leaner. They work to cancel each other out. My guess would be to try some gasline antifreeze.