PDA

View Full Version : cold starting


dasheek
11-06-2003, 06:34 PM
now that it has gotten kind of cold here in michigan my 400ex won't start. carb and bike is all stock... i have herd people say to put a 42 pilot jet in...thing is it was really not even all that cold today when i tried starting it it was only like about 32degres that is really not that all cold. you guys think the 42 pilot will fix it???
tprender
11-06-2003, 06:43 PM
32 is not that cold to you, but to the 400 it is cold. The 42 is what you will need. And remember the starting rutine that you have to use or you will flood the carb or kill the battery. Make sure that you warm the engine(oil) up before you try to ride.
dasheek
11-07-2003, 11:04 AM
she still does not want to start I put the 42 pilot in today and she just cranked and cranked. im at loss don't know......
airheadedduner
11-07-2003, 11:05 AM
Hows your battery?? I keep mine on a floating charger all the time. Mine starts okay and thats with cold weather, wb box, and an fcr with no choke.
dasheek
11-07-2003, 11:07 AM
i even tried fireing her while she was on the charger and still no go
UglyMotha™
11-07-2003, 12:12 PM
Originally posted by dasheek
she still does not want to start I put the 42 pilot in today and she just cranked and cranked. im at loss don't know......



its too late you've fouled your plug, replace it and it should fire right up
dasheek
11-07-2003, 12:18 PM
yep stupid plug...time to make another trip down the road for one....
cals400ex
11-08-2003, 06:25 PM
try not hitting the gas when starting it. if anything, pump the gas a couple times before hitting the start button.
Chanman420q
11-08-2003, 09:09 PM
take a hair dryer and warm the cylender up a little bit, i used to do that, just hold it on the side for like 3-4 mins til it feels noticably warm. Then try cranking her over with some choke
DamageInc
11-09-2003, 03:22 AM
Has it been sitting a while? Sometimes your needle will stick to it's seat after sitting and won't let any gas in.
dasheek
11-09-2003, 07:56 AM
42 pilot solved the cold start problem
cals400ex
11-10-2003, 08:42 AM
mine hasn't been wanting to start lately either. i am using a 45 pilot. i am guessing it has to do with my ignition box or lack of the decompressor on my hotcam. i think i may remove the ignition box and see if that helps. the wierd thing is that it starts great in 45 degrees and above. the last two times i tried to start it, it just cranked. the battery is good and i also put in a new plug with no luck. the old plug wasn't even fouled. it was about 30 degrees and i just jump started it, and it fired right up both times. i bet its the ignition box.
dasheek
11-10-2003, 10:17 AM
what brand of ignition box do you have? Is it a "high rev one"?
tprender
11-10-2003, 10:33 AM
It is getting that time of the year and people that have been using the high rev boxes will find that the 400 will be hard to start in the cold weather. The reason for this is that the CDI boxers are for the xr400, which is a kick start engine and the 400ex is electric start as we all know. This is the one disavantage of have the high rev CDI boxes. What you can do is keep the quad warm or start it will the reg box and get it arm and then change boxes if you can reach it easy. Or just take the box off for the winter.
cals400ex
11-10-2003, 03:11 PM
i am going to remove the box and see if that works. it is a curtis sparks box. its weird because it seemed to start just as good if not better in the warmer months.