XR400 - I think it is an offspring of Satan

[ibeme1]

I need someone to come and sprinkle holy water on my '04 XR400. I am ready to throw a match on her and watch her burn.

[sailah]

Plenty of talented mechanics here how about a description of problems?

[ibeme1]

I need someone to come and sprinkle holy water on my '04 XR400. I am ready to throw a match on her and watch her burn.

[larryboy]

Let's torch it!!

[ibeme1]

Originally Posted by sailah

Plenty of talented mechanics here how about a description of problems?

The owner is a wuss and did not have any luck starting her. I kicked and kicked aaannnd kicked and she wont start. This is my first (last?) and I am 99.9% certain its operator error. =)

[dirtybike]

First start of day, I push mine up small hill and bump start it. Kind of weird, maybe due to the automatic compression release, but I can never get a good feeling if it is going to catch or not when kicking. Maybe insure for fire and theft so I can buy a bike with an electric leg.

[ibeme1]

[QUOTE=larryboy;20373354]Let's torch it!!

[/QUOTE


Fire Fiiiiiire!!!

[whisperquiet]

My '98 XR400R was the hardest starting bike I ever owned. I started the bike when cold by turning the fuel petcock on, leaning the bike over to the left until fuel ran out of the carb overflow tube, then kicked when just past top center on the compression stroke...............it usually started. Then, I would fall and it was a bitch to start when hot/flooded.

[knobbyjoe]

Just saying, I had a XR 400 that was a beast to kick over when hot. When I decided to sell it, I tuned it up. Found out that the honda guy at the counter had given me the wrong plugs! After changing plugs it started like a dream. Still sold it cause I bought a KTM!

[Boon Booni]

A quick Google search turned up this thread...

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=281120

Lean carb from the factory means hard cold starts. That thread has a good technique for kicking it over.


...and don't touch the throttle while kicking it.

Assuming you've gone through the carbs or are confident they are clean and flowing well. Valves in spec and good spark.

[Switchblade315]

you need to find someone one that can ajust the valves the right way. this will fix 99% of the cranking problems. I fought a 96 for years when i raced. I fixed it the week i sold it because I learned this trick on that same motor on the quads. you want to know it PM me. I cant type how to do it good enough for it to be easy to understand but I can give you my cell number and tell you how. it's quite easy.

[D.T.]

Put gas in it.

Or on it and light it on fire.

I have a big single kicker too that won't start well in cold weather. Starts fine in warm hot weather. I tried modifying the choke circuit and richened up the pilot circuit which helped.

[ibeme1]

Thanks everyone. I thought for sure I was going to catch soooo much grief about how terrible a bike owner I am.

I will some more reading (using the link on this thread). I did some research before I bought the XR but I figured it couldnt be that hard to start.

[freetors]

Ship it out to me. I'll dispose of it properly

[Switchblade315]

Originally Posted by ibeme1

Thanks everyone. I thought for sure I was going to catch soooo much grief about how terrible a bike owner I am.

I will some more reading (using the link on this thread). I did some research before I bought the XR but I figured it couldnt be that hard to start.

Nope yours in not the first XR400 to have this problem, but before you throw money at it trying to fix a carb problem adjust the valves the right way. on 400EX quads if they are right they crank as soon as the starter button is touched, if they are wrong they have to turn over 3 to 5 times before they crank.