HELP!

[Tweeked]

Hey,
I just came in from ATEMPING to start my Big Red. I've never had this happen to me, I won't start...I got it out, did the usual to get it ready to start (ign. switch-on, fuel-on, key switch-on, choke-fully open). I do the same things eveytime to start it, but this time....It wouldn't start! I spent an hour out there in 25 dergree weather trying to start it. I kept pushing the START botton over and over, for a long time. It would turn over fine and would occoationaly sputter for a SPLIT SECOND. But never truly started. So After 20 mins of Nothing. I took off the spark plug, and threw a tiny bit of gas in the cylinder, put the plug back in, and tried starting--but still the same story. So I removed the seat--air filter--and shot a little starting fluid in the carb--SAME STORY. So, I left it alone for a while, then came back and it still wouldn't start. I was thinking it might be flooded so I did the whole "flooded procedure" too. But nothing changed. OH YEAH, And YES I do have gas in the tank, lol. Anyways, like I said after about an hr. of fiddleing around, I couldn't get it started. I've ran it in temps lower than 25 before so I assume the temp. wouldn't be the problem...I was just out the other day riding around mostly in the mud and water, then I hosed it off and put it up. And today I go out and it won't start. I'm confuzed, one other thing to concider, although I doubt this could be a problem is--I ran out of gas the other day, so I Siphoned some out of our lawn tractor into the trike. It sputtered some after that so I added this red fuel stablizer stuff and after that it was fine, I don't know if it was sputtering because of the gas though. Anyways, I am in need of HELP. And would appriciate any all help given, Thanks!!


-Mike

[als250]

Hey Tweeked, did you check to see if it's getting spark? If it is, gotta be fuel related. I don't know if it means anything, but I put Sta-bil in my mower/snowblower gas can,all good. Decided to use it it in sx and within a week it was running like sh%t,wouldn't idle. Put carb. rebuild kit in, A O-K, haven't run Sta-bil through it since and no probs.(just coincidence....hhmmm) Maybe don't need choke on. Was plug wet when you pulled it? If not it's not getting fuel. How much gas did you put in it? Might need to be put on reserve. I'd check the fuel filter,running low on gas may allow dirt/rust to concentrate around filter(your trike sat for awhile, didn't it?) and plug it (my sx is in tank, need to pull petcock to get to it,it's on the stem.). Otherwise it will probably be an in-line filter. That's where I'd start. Hope you get her going!

Al

[Tweeked]

Hey,
Thanks for your input.
I haven't checked the spark, although when I took out the plug, it was wet. I don't think it would be the carb because 3 weeks ago I had it rebuilt and cleaned. I tried it allot without the choke on aswell. I tried it on reserve too, but it didn't change a thing. I took the fuel tube off (the one going from the tank to the carb) then turned the petcock-on and fuel ran out fine, so I doubt its the fuel filter. Tommorrow I hope to be able to get NEW gas, I'll drain the old and add the new gas. Although, it might just be that it was so cold it wouldn't start, but that shouldn't matter allot. I'm still confuzed, any other help? Thanks

-Mike

[wanta250r]

are you sure the main jet didn't get clogged, even though it is new? could the timing just go overnight? valves?

[Tweeked]

How would I "unclog" the main jet...Can it be ajusted and fixed? Do you think I should ajust the timing chain? Thats easy, but...It had to be idling to do it....I wonder if I can do it while its not running. I hope its not the valves or anything major, that would suck...I'm REALLY hoping its just the gas...Thanks

[wanta250r]

its probably is just gas or something, when i check a jet i stick it in my mouth and blow into it, it kinda blasts some stuff out of it. but thats probably not the problem either, my neighbor has a dirt bike that runs great but every once in a while it just won't start for some reason, it won't even try to start. He husts kicks it and kicks it until it starts again. I don't know what the problem is. Good luck

[TimSr]

I start simple, and change the plug first. Especially in the winter, if it gets started for short periods of time without getting warmed all the way up to normal temp, they are prone to foul plugs. My TRX250 was bad for that.

[Tweeked]

Thanks again for your help guys,
I believe its the gas. Back in the spring I was riding my gokart and ran out of gas...Well I went to our cars and siphoned some gas out of them...Well I poured it into my go-kart and from that point on it wouldn't start and it was crap! So we took it to the shop...Came back a week later and the guy said he got it running again, and the reason it was skrewed was because it had "very bad gas!"....I think I wont't siphone anymore gas from any of our vehicles anymore...It's always messing my things up, lol. I was hoping to drain the gas today and get new gas but its icy outside so we're stuck here for now. Maybe tommorrow, I'll keep you guys updated. If its not the gas...then I replace the spark plug. Thanks

-Mike

[Dan Tenn]

put in a new plug anyway, there cheap, and easy. I suspect bad gas, but you may have screwed the plug up in process of flooding it for an hour. Keep the old plug as a spare. Just my 2 cents.

[Tweeked]

Haha, ok, i'll try that. I hope advance auto parts has the right plug for what I need...If not, I gotta order from Dennis Kirk...See ya

[freaksfix]

Spark plug first, then gas. Just wondering did you re-jet when you removed the airbox lid?

[ATCkrazy]

Try a new plug, the correct plug is NGK DR8ES-L, then check compression.

[Tweeked]

:-D Shes A'runnin!
My Dad and I went and got a new spark plug (and an extra one)....Got new gas...Came home, I replaced the plug, cleaned my fuel filter (which had a little dirt in it), Rinsed out the gas tank and added new gas. She fired right up! Best sound I have heard all week ! I really appriciate your help guys, I think the plug did the trick...The guy at the shop agreed that it was fould...I wouldn't have guess that for a while without your help guys. Thanks again

-Mike