This is a 2002 right? Then why doesnt it start! Help!

[RideRed04]

Ok, I am getting right pissed off here! (sorry for the redneck slang, i dont know where that came from).
1. Buy 2002 400ex.
2. Fall in love with power and handling
3. Dislike hard starting, figure it is the fault of the misadjusted valves
4. Bring quad in for 10 hour tune up, get charged $80 to adjust valves, dont thing they are in spec yet.
5. Go to school for 8 hours, and then have to go to work for another 5 bagging groceries (ahhhh! talk about stress!)
6. Get home from work, NEED to ride the good ole 400
7. 2000 Sportsmen starts up with quick jab of starter
8. 400ex starts with quick jab of starter, but is bearly hanging on, and kills
9. 400 will not come back.
10. I have to ride a 99 sportsman with shocks that are wasted, squeek, and need to be replaced, while my 2002!!!! 400ex sits at home.

ok, now do you see why I am pissed? I dont know what it is. could it be the idle speed? It has always done this! It is alittle better sence the dealer adjusted the valves, but I dont know if they are to spec yet, there is still some noise coming from the valve train at idle (normal?). I really need help here! If it isnt fixed by labor day, I dont know what I am going to do!

[Guy400]

Welcome to the 400EX, it's a cold blooded SOB and that's just the way it is. Are you setting the choke when trying to start it? I know my cousin has to feather the throttle the first minute or so and then once the engine gets a little temp in it it's fine. Your valves have nothing to do with the hard starting. Also, a little valvetrain noise is normal.

[RideRed04]

Yeah, I know it is cold blooded, but I have to use the choke when it is 80 degrees out, and it flat out refused to start when it is below 70. This is nuts! There is no way it is going to start this winter! I have done the feather the throttle thing, but only when I can get it started. I was getting really pissed one time, The kill swich got bumped off, I think you can figure the rest out... Its turning over, what the hell! hehe, I felt dumb.

[Guy400]

I've got to use the choke on my Raptor despite the temp on every first start. What we found on my cousin's bike was that the throttle cable was disgustingly loose. We tightened the cable and then gave it an extra little turn. This upped his base idle just a hair and the bike starts and idles a bunch better.

[RideRed04]

yeah, I already adjusted the cable, but not to the point of upping the idle. The higher idle speed made it start easier?

[Guy400]

Yep. I know the bike is new but you may also want to try replacing the plug. Maybe you got a dud or something.

[RideRed04]

Could be, Ill check that. Thanks a bunch, you have given me a shimmer of light... hehe

[nakomis0]

Dude I never have starting problems. I live in Michigan, its like 0 degrees out, with a wind chill of -10, and my 400 still starts.

Red don't choke it. your floooding the thing. Go your bike, turn everything in the on position, give it a couple squirts of gas with the thumb throttle. Start the bike, keep her running by bliping the thumb throttle or holding the rpms at a steady speed where it doesn't die. Do that for a minute, than slowly let off the gas, if it feels like its gonna die, or is idling very low, give it a few throttle blips, reach onto the side of your carb and turn your idle up, make it idle fast. than get off and let it warm up.

Or even just turn the idle up a couple turns before you even try and start it. And of course once its warmed up you can turn the idle down.

[RideRed04]

Yeah, I usually give it a few squirts, and dont use the choke, just because I want to see if it starts if I took the choke off. I was just wondering if I was doing everything right. I guess I just need to be more patiant lol.

[400exRacerX]

on a average day were i live its from 85 degrees + and my 400 is a firggin pain to start, i half choke it sometimes. like yesterday it took me like 1 1/2 mins to get it started because it sat in the garage for a week. its just a cold blooded machine that gives you trouble to get it started.