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Foreman won't start

60496 Views 21 Replies 15 Participants Last post by  Rileysmith
First off, I am new to the forum, but have been reading it now for several months. I have gained alot of knowledge from some of the posts that I have read.
I have a 2004 Foreman ES. It won't start. I have checked the kill switch to make sure it is alright. I have also replaced the spark plug and checked that there is good gas flow to the carb. I am not that familiar with ATV repair, some I am kind of at a loss as to what could be the problem. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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welcome to the forum
1st off does it have spark?
will it run if you spray some starting fluid in the carb?
how long has it sat ?
the more info you give us the quicker we can get you riding again.......RICH
Thanks for the quick reply. It has spark, it had spark with the old plug, but I just wanted to be sure that it wasn't the plug so I replaced it. It has been about 4-5 weeks since it was last started. Went on a 25 mile ride the last time it was ran, and it ran fine. I have'nt tried spraying the carb. Like I said I know very little about ATV repair. Not to sound dumb, but how do you get spray into the carb?.
i use a straw (yes a drinking straw )and spray it into carb or pull the spark plug and spray it in there
try turning the idle up a little (little black knob on side of carb )
just put a little gas in the cylinder to see if it fires
Welcome Dude !!! Hey before you do that check to make sure that someone didn't turn off the switch on the left handle bar!!!
Thanks for the quick reply. It has spark, it had spark with the old plug, but I just wanted to be sure that it wasn't the plug so I replaced it. It has been about 4-5 weeks since it was last started. Went on a 25 mile ride the last time it was ran, and it ran fine. I have'nt tried spraying the carb. Like I said I know very little about ATV repair. Not to sound dumb, but how do you get spray into the carb?.
5 wks shouldn't be enough to warrant a carb cleaning job...but if you wanna try the starting fluid, take off the seat, remove the cover from the air intake box, and just spray the air filter and quickly turn the engine over with your starter button. also, check your fuel valve on the side of the tank, check the on/off switch on the left handlebar, and try pumping the primer button on the side of the carb. basically, if you're getting air and spark, then it is lacking fuel. may have to get the carb rebuilt...not a major deal, just take it to your closest motorcycle shop.
also...i think there is a switch(for the "start-in-gear" feature) located on the right brake lever, if it is bad, it will keep your foreman from starting.
also...i think there is a switch(for the "start-in-gear" feature) located on the right brake lever, if it is bad, it will keep your foreman from starting.
the 450 doesnt have that opption as far as i know
450 problems

Well, I tried spraying starter fluid into the carb and that didn't help. I was told that the ethanol in gasoline nowadays gums up a carb pretty fast. So I drained out the old gasoline and put in new along with some seafoam, and it still won't start.
I would suggest actually removing the carb and cleaning it out.

Are you using a starter or pull start?
I am having a similar problem and can't get the carb out easily. What am I missing? I have taken the tank off, removed the fuel line, know about the air box just not sure of the cables and electronics.
Unless I missed the info, what exactly happens when you hit the start button? Is it turning over? Have you tried pull starting? Also verify that the gas isn't turned off and that it is in neutral.
I am having a similar problem and can't get the carb out easily. What am I missing? I have taken the tank off, removed the fuel line, know about the air box just not sure of the cables and electronics.
welcome to the forum
about the electronics just unclip it (it only goes 1 way)
just unscrew the plastic nut to undo the choke
and unscrew the screws on the side plastic cover ,undo the jam nut on the throutle cable and undo the cable. thats it!
Finally got the old girl running. With the help of a friend, we took the carb out and cleaned it. Put it back in, and it started right up. Thanks for all the replys and help.
I found this thread via google and signed up for the forum because I have a similar problem with my '03 Foreman 450. I'm not sure if I should have started a new thread (well I probably couldn't anyway since this is my first post).

I recently got back form school and have been riding her almost every day for the past two weeks. It's been very cold up here in Northern Arizona so she takes a few tries to get started with the choke but idles nicely.

Today I rode about 2-3 miles and she was running fine and luckily nothing happened until I got to my destination. I was cruising in 4th gear and when I let off the throttle I felt the quad bog down and lose power. I shifted down into 3rd and gave some gas but there was little to no throttle response so I shifted to 2nd and 1st with the same result. As soon as i completely let off the throttle and came to a stop the quad shut off by itself and refused to start back up. It felt as if I were running out of gas, and I've only done that once, two weeks ago.


I got her to a buddy's garage and tried numerous things. First I took off the filter and sprayed starter fluid into the carb while trying to turn the engine over. No dice. Next, I tested the wire to see if it was firing. It produced a spark and I turned off the kill switch and tried again and there was no spark (just to check the switch itself). I pulled the spark plug, cleaned it off and tested the plug with it in the wire and there was spark. Also checked the fuses and they're all good.
Then I drained the bowl of the carb, primed it and it still wouldn't turn over. I unhooked the hose from the gas tank to the carb and there is gas flowing. There is also gas getting to the inside of the filter tube where the primer pumps it in.
I'm kind of at a loss of what to do.

Right now when I try to start it I can hear the engine cranking but nothing else. I'm not sure what would cause it to die on me like this. Luckily this didn't happen last night when I was coming home from a night ride.

I don't know if there is gas getting to the engine.
Maybe the carb is clogged? I ran across this thread and am going back to the shop to take apart the carb to see if that is the culprit. I'll do what Rich mentioned in another thread and boil the thing in lemon juice.
I have fire, I have gas, I have air. It seems like something electrical might be preventing this from starting since it worked well the past few days.
I just recently changed the oil, if that is of any question. I know some honda small engines like my generator have an automatic shutoff when there is no oil.

I will let yall know what happens when I tear apart the carb. I have never done it before but if I just take everything off and remember where it goes I should be fine right? Maybe i'll do a quick search to make sure.
Thanks in advance for any ideas, tips etc! I love forums!
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I would check the compression, that was one thing missing from the list.
Did you try pouring some gas in the spark plug hole then putting plug back in and try starting it??
Did u find issue
I found this thread via google and signed up for the forum because I have a similar problem with my '03 Foreman 450. I'm not sure if I should have started a new thread (well I probably couldn't anyway since this is my first post).

I recently got back form school and have been riding her almost every day for the past two weeks. It's been very cold up here in Northern Arizona so she takes a few tries to get started with the choke but idles nicely.

Today I rode about 2-3 miles and she was running fine and luckily nothing happened until I got to my destination. I was cruising in 4th gear and when I let off the throttle I felt the quad bog down and lose power. I shifted down into 3rd and gave some gas but there was little to no throttle response so I shifted to 2nd and 1st with the same result. As soon as i completely let off the throttle and came to a stop the quad shut off by itself and refused to start back up. It felt as if I were running out of gas, and I've only done that once, two weeks ago.


I got her to a buddy's garage and tried numerous things. First I took off the filter and sprayed starter fluid into the carb while trying to turn the engine over. No dice. Next, I tested the wire to see if it was firing. It produced a spark and I turned off the kill switch and tried again and there was no spark (just to check the switch itself). I pulled the spark plug, cleaned it off and tested the plug with it in the wire and there was spark. Also checked the fuses and they're all good.
Then I drained the bowl of the carb, primed it and it still wouldn't turn over. I unhooked the hose from the gas tank to the carb and there is gas flowing. There is also gas getting to the inside of the filter tube where the primer pumps it in.
I'm kind of at a loss of what to do.

Right now when I try to start it I can hear the engine cranking but nothing else. I'm not sure what would cause it to die on me like this. Luckily this didn't happen last night when I was coming home from a night ride.

I don't know if there is gas getting to the engine.
Maybe the carb is clogged? I ran across this thread and am going back to the shop to take apart the carb to see if that is the culprit. I'll do what Rich mentioned in another thread and boil the thing in lemon juice.
I have fire, I have gas, I have air. It seems like something electrical might be preventing this from starting since it worked well the past few days.
I just recently changed the oil, if that is of any question. I know some honda small engines like my generator have an automatic shutoff when there is no oil.

I will let yall know what happens when I tear apart the carb. I have never done it before but if I just take everything off and remember where it goes I should be fine right? Maybe i'll do a quick search to make sure.
Thanks in advance for any ideas, tips etc! I love forums!
Did u find issue
I found this thread via google and signed up for the forum because I have a similar problem with my '03 Foreman 450. I'm not sure if I should have started a new thread (well I probably couldn't anyway since this is my first post).

I recently got back form school and have been riding her almost every day for the past two weeks. It's been very cold up here in Northern Arizona so she takes a few tries to get started with the choke but idles nicely.

Today I rode about 2-3 miles and she was running fine and luckily nothing happened until I got to my destination. I was cruising in 4th gear and when I let off the throttle I felt the quad bog down and lose power. I shifted down into 3rd and gave some gas but there was little to no throttle response so I shifted to 2nd and 1st with the same result. As soon as i completely let off the throttle and came to a stop the quad shut off by itself and refused to start back up. It felt as if I were running out of gas, and I've only done that once, two weeks ago.


I got her to a buddy's garage and tried numerous things. First I took off the filter and sprayed starter fluid into the carb while trying to turn the engine over. No dice. Next, I tested the wire to see if it was firing. It produced a spark and I turned off the kill switch and tried again and there was no spark (just to check the switch itself). I pulled the spark plug, cleaned it off and tested the plug with it in the wire and there was spark. Also checked the fuses and they're all good.
Then I drained the bowl of the carb, primed it and it still wouldn't turn over. I unhooked the hose from the gas tank to the carb and there is gas flowing. There is also gas getting to the inside of the filter tube where the primer pumps it in.
I'm kind of at a loss of what to do.

Right now when I try to start it I can hear the engine cranking but nothing else. I'm not sure what would cause it to die on me like this. Luckily this didn't happen last night when I was coming home from a night ride.

I don't know if there is gas getting to the engine.
Maybe the carb is clogged? I ran across this thread and am going back to the shop to take apart the carb to see if that is the culprit. I'll do what Rich mentioned in another thread and boil the thing in lemon juice.
I have fire, I have gas, I have air. It seems like something electrical might be preventing this from starting since it worked well the past few days.
I just recently changed the oil, if that is of any question. I know some honda small engines like my generator have an automatic shutoff when there is no oil.

I will let yall know what happens when I tear apart the carb. I have never done it before but if I just take everything off and remember where it goes I should be fine right? Maybe i'll do a quick search to make sure.
Thanks in advance for any ideas, tips etc! I love forums!
Mine is doing the exact same thing-to the letter. Compression is good…idk
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