starting problems 450r

[xc400ex]

I race the midsouth series an my 450r never starts off the line, they had to push me off this weekend. I'm not giving it gas or using the hotstart. When the hotstart is used there is absolutely no chance of it starting. The motor gets good an warm before the race. It died twice on me during the race battling and took atleast 10 kicks every time and I lost out big time. What size pilot does everyone run for a full exhaust, 13:1 piston and stage 2 cam and HRC lid? I also run it on 93 since it runs fine and gas is so high. Would 110 aid in starting?

[Silverfox@C&DRacing]

we run a 50 or 52 depending on altitude 190-200 main hrc needle on recommend clip, You might try cleaning your pilot jet it dies and doesn't want to start.

[xc400ex]

I'm thinking it has a 45 or 48 pilot in it. Everything is clean. The only time it died was when I got tangled up with other 4 wheelers. It had a 185 main and blew black smoke everytime it was started so I have switched to a 180. It has a somesort of needle different than stock (cr250) maybe I dunno I can't remember what the guy said when I bought it. That really wouldnt mess with starting though. It also has a ported head not exactly sure on the name of the shop who did it.

[xc400ex]

Ok It had a 48 pilot in it,but it was a really short one. I bought a 52 pilot (21 series which is longer). Now its 30-35 kicks before this thing starts. It starts on the 2nd or 3rd kick when its cold but after it warms up you can forget it. Couple people have told me they run the 21 series pilot, is this wrong or right?

[smorris]

When its cold you should have to pump the throttle two or three times and choke it to crank.This almost always cranks mine on first kick.Check the valve clearances too.

[Silverfox@C&DRacing]

have you checked your vavle clearance lately?

[xc400ex]

Yeah I check an adjust them every couple races to what Andy Lagzdins said in the xc 450 project. They were checked probably 3 or 4 hours of ride time ago. When its cold like you said I choke it and pump the gas 2nd kick it fires up. I wouldn't care if it was really hard to start when cold if it just start when hot.

[cals400ex]

use the hotstart when it is hot. either that or turn your fuel screw in some.

[royh]

Check your valves and decompression. I just rebuilt my 04. New crank, piston abd everything in between. It had been getting hard to start but only when it was hot. I had two valves that were snug and my decompression was way off.

[turboTony]

Last summer when the quad was new, even with the hot start it was a ***** to fire after it was warmed up. Sometimes 5-10 kicks.
This year it starts 1st kick every time when hot without even using the hot start.

[xc400ex]

The valves are adjusted to spec, the motor is in A-1 shape valves and piston have low hours, I really think this has to do with the pilot jet, I think the 48 was to small for it to start, but the right length an style, I think now the 52 would be ok but its a different style jet an longer. If anyone could measure their pilot jets length it would be greatly appreciated. The one in my bike now is roughly 1.115 inches long. The one that was in my bike was .931inches long. I really need to know which style of jet to use.

[xc400ex]

Oh yeah and when the bike is hot the hotstart makes no difference at all.

[Punk'd]

Maybe try a 50 pilot.

[kssandduner]

the 52 would be ok but its a different style jet an longer
I think this might be the problem. When I was dialing in my pilot I told the dealership I wanted a pilot for a 400ex, cause if I told them it was for a 450R I always ended up with a pilot for a CRF. A 52 is definitely NOT too small. My buddies and I that all run NMotion pipes all run between 55 and 58 pilots, and they are all 1 kick starters. I say get the correct 52 pilot, get your fuel mixture screw dialed in, and than see what happens.

Joe

[xc400ex]

Where do you guys get your pilot jets at? Because around here the short style pilot costs $12 bucks!

Also whats the stock setting for the fuel screw? I'm guessing somewhere between 2 1/4 - 2 1/2 turns out?