08 Tank Conversion = Hard to Start?!

[AtvKid4Eva]

Hey guys i just got done converting my 05' 450r gas tank to one i picked up off an 08 450er. I bought the tank with the petcock. I then bought all the other stuff needed to be able to run the white cover. I used the 05 fuel line on the 08 tank and it seemed to fit fine. When i put the tank on the bike and hooked up the fuel line it took literally 40 kicks to get it started. Like it wasnt getting gas at all. The bike has always started on the first or second kick at the worst even a day before i installed the new tank. Once the bike starts if you immediately shut it off it will start right back up first kick. Its almost like there is an air bubble or something that is forming when the bike sits for a little bit in the fuel line preventing the fuel to get to the carb. It took me about 5 or 6 kicks to start it today and once again one it starts once you can immediately shut it off and it will start perfect first kick if you try again. Maybe the petcock is kind of clogged or something from the previous owner? What do you guys think? Thanks!

[01boneless]

clean the petcock out real good and check for maybe a leak or kink in the line.

[AtvKid4Eva]

no leaks, and no kinks that i can see. Its the pre bent 04/05 Honda line.

[Hetrick300]

Drain the gas and put new stuff in. It happened to me when I got a new tank.

[AtvKid4Eva]

i drained it the best i could before i installed it.

[crlt250r]

Check the screen on the petcock?

[AtvKid4Eva]

I will have to check the petcock. I'm worried about trying to take the petcock off because if the bolt inserts spin inside the tank like I've had happen before I'm going to be mad

[crlt250r]

I'm not sure about the 450, but both of my 250r's had on and reserve on the valve, did you try switching from on to reserve? If its better in reserve, then the screen is your problem.

[AtvKid4Eva]

I will try to switch it to reserve and try to start it

[AtvKid4Eva]

Any other ideas guys?

[AtvKid4Eva]

i just took the tank back off..i checked to see if gas came out when i turned the gas on. It poured out both on ON and RES. I took the petcock off and blew air threw it and made sure there was no debris in the filter. Reinstalled it and it still seems to be taking more kicks than usual to start. THIS IS CRAZY. any other ideas?

[01boneless]

wtf?

[AtvKid4Eva]

yeah..i have no idea whats going on. It run and idles fine when it starts. has anyone else had this happen to them?

[Rohr397]

Makes me wonder if there was some dirt or something in the tank that made its way into your carburetor and clogged it up?

[Rohr397]

The only thing I can think of would be that there was dirt or something in the new tank and it made it's way into the carburetor and clogged a jet. When my pilot jet got clogged on my 04 it did the exact same thing you're describing.

[AtvKid4Eva]

hmm..very well could have. It seemed like it started better yesterday. If it keeps it up i will take the float off the carb and clean it out. I ran some good gas through the tank before i installed it to clean it so idk. And the bike idles perfect and runs perfect once it does start. Wouldnt a clogged pilot affect the idle?

[01boneless]

Originally posted by AtvKid4Eva
hmm..very well could have. It seemed like it started better yesterday. If it keeps it up i will take the float off the carb and clean it out. I ran some good gas through the tank before i installed it to clean it so idk. And the bike idles perfect and runs perfect once it does start. Wouldnt a clogged pilot affect the idle?
yes a clogged pilot will make the idle choppy normally but stranger things have happend id go ahead and clean the carb.

[AtvKid4Eva]

The bike has sat about a week. And yesterday i started it on the first kick. Must of had an air bubble or something in the fuel line from taking it off. Who knows seems to be back to normal tho.