can't get ex started

[400exbiggun]

I am having the HARDEST time getting this started. The light turn on, the battery is fine, i tried to pop start it and still nothing. it smells of gas (duh) but like it might be flooded. But i tried to start it for 20min. it turns over, but won't run. It ran a week ago, then i didn't ride it. then today it still won't run. I had it going for 15sec, (ran like crap) then died, and never came to life again. And yes it has gas. The only thing i did not do is check the plug, since none of the wrenches fit it. ANY SUGESTIONS????? PLEASE HELP i plan on dragracing a z-400 this weekend if i get it started.

[JOEX]

Spark plug is 18mm deep well, might as well replace it when you get it out.
Clean the air filter recently?

Joe

[400exbiggun]

thanks:D
yep filter is as clean as a whistle. K&N

well one of the reasons a 400ex is so hard to start neway is cuz the carb setting sux really bad...my battery has died on me 2 times and take forever to start...this is y i bought a sparks x-6 and got a new air filter and rejeted my dang carb...otherwise they are jus too hard to start...u may want to clean your spark plug or swap it out...unflood it...and maybe charge ur battery...then u should be good to go....kick the z-400's @$$ for me:D

[400exbiggun]

XxHonda_RacerxX, my carb is jetted, battery died while trying to start it, so i was trying to jump start it and it still won't work. will a jump start work even if the battery is gone, well not gone but dead.

And trust me XxHonda_RacerxX I will toast the z-400. :macho It's going to be a big race between a kfx400, z-400, my 400ex, and possibly a warrior (might race a v-force soon also):D

[White_Knuckles]

You need to varify spark, you know, pull the plug lay it on engine ground and watch the spark show. Sometimes the kill switch is the culprit and holds fire to ground.

Don't grind on the starter more then a few seconds, let it cool down for 5 seconds & try again. I've seen guys smoke their starter being frustrated and not letting up on the button.

Good luck!

[400exbiggun]

yeah, i will pull the plug tomorrow. i know about the starter, i ran it a little, then waited 2min, then tried again.

ya the kick starter will work without the battery haveing power...i never heard of nothin like this but i would do like he said and test ur spark plug and if it works and the problem persists then i dunno what to do...do u have a CDI box that is modified...sometimes that is the problem but if u dont then no idea

[400exbiggun]

400ex's don't have kickstarters, at least not as far as i know, only mods are in sig, (THAT i KNOW of:confused: )

mine has 1...i think...better go check lol....brb

ya ur right they dont...i was gettin our lil 90 confused with my 400

[400exbiggun]

where did you get your battery from? How much?

the battery was in my 400 when i bought it...never bougth a new 1

[400exbiggun]

oh....ok.....never mind.....:(

hrmm....i still dunno what the problem would be unless ur spark plug was no good...im tryin to think...u may need to clean your carb?

[phatswinn]

im bettin its ur plug

[400exbiggun]

i hope its the plug, i don't know if this means anything, but i got it started YESTERDAY for 30 sec, ran like cr@p then died, it also blew smoke, never has been this retarted before. Ran fine last friday.

[400exbiggun]

would it blow smoke if it was flooded?

sounds like u need to clean ur carb...cuz if u got it running i dont think it is ur spark plug

ya

[400exbiggun]

the only thing i can do is pull the plug tomorrow:confused:

well ya u could check ur carb and jets to make sure everything is ok in there

[400exbiggun]

if the plug is good, i will do that next. i am signing off now, so i'll talk latr

cya man

[cals400ex]

first off, you need to change the plug. i have had bad ones before that looked good. second, put a 42 pilot jet in and see if that helps.

[F-16Guy]

Smells like gas? Sounds like it's flooded. Is the smoke black or blue (black is excess fuel)? Are you pumping the throttle when you try to start it? Try this: turn your gas off, make sure the kill switch is in run, put the choke on half if cold, hold the throttle wide open and try to start it. Don't pump it, every time you press the throttle, the accelerator pump squirts gas into your intake, flooding it more. If it starts, keep it running until it runs itself out of gas. If there's a piece of junk in the needle/seat, the rush of fuel after you turn the gas back on will sometimes dislodge it. Good luck.

[L.Vegas400]

if it ran like crap and died, try new fuel. had many problems with gas going bad in just a week and a half to to weeks. and like everybody else said, a new plug never hurts.

[400exbiggun]

ok, i am leaving to get a new plug now, it does have spark, and i will put fresh gas in. i don't like doing carb work, but if it needs it, i guess i have no choice.
tell ya what i find

[400exbiggun]

thanks all of you guys, it was my plug, and it was flooded also. Started up after 5min:D . but this is the third time in two weeks it has done this ......so......(sorry for the stupid post)
last question, what is the best aftermarket battery that won't cost a arm and a leg, and where can i get it?

y would u want an aftermarket battery?

[400exbiggun]

well, i really don't care, but i have heard that some last longer than other.