[munlin]

The only way i can get my bike to start from cold is to pull the air filter off and completely close off the air flow to the carb, once the bike starts and is warmed up it will start fine, trying to figure out why it has to be completely choked off to start and also why the choke on this bike doesn't work to cut off the air supply completely.

2004 Rancher 400 AT

 

[FloatingForeman]

if it is not fuel injected and has a carb try the priming button on the carb not sure about the choke

 

[Helmut]

The choke plunger could be seized in the carb body. They tend to do that a lot, especially if it isn't used often. I agree with FloatingForeman, you should be able to just push that primer button a few times and start it.

 

[munlin]

I don't think its a fuel issue, I think its getting to much air, cause if I close off the carb it will start but if I don't it wont fire.

 

[Helmut]

I don't think its a fuel issue, I think its getting to much air, cause if I close off the carb it will start but if I don't it wont fire.

When you close off the carb, it just sucks more fuel into the cylinder. You're just making the air/fuel mixture richer. That's the same thing the choke plunger (starter enrichment valve) does. Try the primer anyway and see if it doesn't start.

 

[munlin]

once i get it started if i choke it with the choke cable it will kill so i think the choke cable is working, I just dont understand who the choke works on these bikes as on any other carb has a disk that closes off the airflow where as this one doesn't, i cant for the life of me figure this choke system out on this bike

 

[munlin]

i will try that in the morning and see if that works out,

 

[munlin]

how many times should i press the plunger before i try starting it

 

[Helmut]

A choke plate works by closing off the back of the carb, creating a vacuum that sucks extra fuel up through the jets into the cylinder for cold starts. The choke plunger (starter enrichment valve) is like an extra jet that is normally cut off. When you activate the choke, the plunger raises, opening the extra jet to let extra fuel into the cylinder for cold starts. It does the same thing, it just makes the air/fuel mixture richer, but it just does it in a different way. No matter which choke you have, it richens the mixture.

 

[Helmut]

how many times should i press the plunger before i try starting it

Just try 3 or 4 times.

 

[munlin]

gotcha im pretty slow when it comes to lean or rich, but would that be the same as taking off the air filter and completely covering the whole in theory making it richer

 

[Helmut]

The advantage of the starter enrichment valve is that it vaporizes the fuel better, because you still have the airflow going through the carb and with the choke plate, you don't.

 

[Helmut]

gotcha im pretty slow when it comes to lean or rich, but would that be the same as taking off the air filter and completely covering the whole in theory making it richer

Yeah, when you close the back of the carb off with your hand, you are making the mixture richer.

Pushing the primer richens the mixture by drawing fuel from the bowl and shooting it through the carb to be sucked into the cylinder.

 

[munlin]

thanks man i really appreciate your help tonight hopefully that will do the trick, is there any way to avoid having to do this everytime on a cold start or am i pretty much stuck doing it everytime, im in the process of selling the bike and im hoping its not a deal breaker for the older gentleman that is looking at it

 

[Helmut]

thanks man i really appreciate your help tonight hopefully that will do the trick, is there any way to avoid having to do this everytime on a cold start or am i pretty much stuck doing it everytime, im in the process of selling the bike and im hoping its not a deal breaker for the older gentleman that is looking at it

If your choke is working, you shouldn't have to use the primer unless the temps are extremely cold. The way you said that the choke kills the engine after it's started, makes me think the choke is working and there's another problem. I just saw where you said that. Your valves may need adjusting, they may be to tight causing a loss of compression when cold. That will cause it to be hard to start and then be OK after it warms up.

 

[munlin]

im calling it a cold start but not literally cold, just meaning a fresh crank after the bike has set for a day are so.

 

[Helmut]

im calling it a cold start but not literally cold, just meaning a fresh crank after the bike has set for a day are so.

After thinking about it, I believe your valves need adjusting. I believe they're too tight. If it runs good after you get it started, there's not much wrong with it. Tight valves will make them hard to start like that when they're cold. By cold, I mean when the engine has cooled down, no matter what the temp is outside. Using the primer button may still make it start easier, but I would say your valves need adjusting. Sometimes, they loosen up and make a tapping noise and sometimes they tighten up and get hard to start. I think yours have tightened up.

 

[munlin]

again thanks alot man, hopefully he will understand and give me some time to put it in the shop to get it fixed up

 

[cazona529]

Any resolve to this choke issue? I have a 2004 Foremen Rubicon and I don't have too much history on the bike. I know the seller had someone work on the carburetor and replace the choke cable. I have the same issue, won't or is hard to start cold. Remove the air cleaner, place your hand over the intake and she starts right up. Use the choke pull, she won't start at all. Pull the choke just after she starts, she dies instantly. Use the squirt button, limited success in starting but having to remove a cover and have limited success is not the fix. My choke cable should do the trick in 40 degree temps. I checked the plunger, it sits down all the way and pulls right up. Any help would be appreciated!