A few weeks ago I went to ride my raptor after it sat for 1 week, it fired up like regular, idled it to warm it up and set out on the trails, I got about 100 yards and it started sputtering and flat out cut off until I totally left off the gas and pull the clutch in. I havent done anything to it in the last 6 months and it allways ran great, I am not sure what the problem could be. it is a bitch to start once its warm and it will idle "ok" but when I go to hit the throttle it will sputter and die unless I let off.

I did some tooling around with it and went to try it out but it did the same thing again. I was able to get going then it would run fine for about 100yards and do the same thing again... It also seems like the exhaust pipes are very very hot, seems to smell hot if you know what I mean.

Another one I am not sure why my reverse light is staying on it has been doing that for months though. figured I would ask about it while I was at it.

Trying to go riding tomorrow, the only thing I can think of is the wd40 I sprayed all over after I cleaned the week before I went riding shorted something out.. it all would have evaporated though you would think..

 

It sounds like you may have a problem with the reverse switch. I never had it with my Warrior but many others have. I'd disconnect the wires from the reverse rev limiter switch & clean all contact point areas, especially the ground wire, and see whether that eliminates the problem

 

2001 Raptors do not have a reverse limiter.

 

Do you know where the wires are on the raptor that I should be looking at?

I was thinking there was an electrical problem at first, now others are saying fuel.. I dunno..

 

You can ignore my previous post as I thought you had a Warrior which has the rev limiter on the reverse. Your user name confused my tired brain.
You didnt maention what throttle opening this problem occurs..if it is just off idle, you may have some clogged pilot jets. In any case I'd pull the carb bowls and spray the insides with carb cleaner, let it sit a few minutes & blow it out with compressed air. A small jet like the pilot can easily collect varnish caused from sitting with old fuel in the carb, but just a week should not be a problem.

 

I tore the carbs off and found nothing but some gunk on the choke plunger. I drained the gas in the tank.. checked all the electrical connections, unplugged and replugged them in..

Its definitely not a fuel problem, I have ruled that out. It runs like a raped ape until I let off and go to hammer it again then it is completely dead until I come to an idle.. Its ridable but not more than 100 yards, then its hit or miss.

F'n pos has me miffed.

 

You say you haven't done anything to it in the last 6 months. When is the last time you checked your valve clearance? You need to do that about every 20 hours or so of riding time. This could be your problem. Once warm the valves expand. Thus the hard starting once warm. Give the valves a look see.

 

Sorry, I meant 6 months meaning the last time I did any kind of mods to it. I last checked the vavles in may, but it was only 8 or so hours riding time.. (been real busy with the kids and work lately)

I just put it back together and it did do the same thing again, shutoff under load.. I parked it and let it idle while I wiggled everything and didnt find anything. I let it idle for a while to get it nice and warm and gave it another spin. It stopped doing it, and ran pretty good. I will load it up on the truck and see how it fares tomorrow I guess.

I am still very open to suggestions and appreciate any input, I'm pretty sure it will come back tomorrow when Im riding. On another positive note my starter is going out since I started it about 100 times just now, huurraaay!

 

Check your carb needle...if it's not seated (broken clip) it will do as you describe.

 

I checked on it but having nothing to compare it against I thought it looked ok, the needle is there and only moves around slightly is it not supposed ot move around at all? When I look from the top of the carb where the slide is I can see that it goes past the hole and covers it but cant really tell it the needle is seating..

Is there a way to get the little bobber apart to check the needle?