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Posted by: Bing
Quote
Originally posted by: arctic375
Dirty pilot jet.
thats what popped into my head when I read the thread title
Pull the pilot jet,,,,inspect it,,blow air thru it,,,,(sometimes I even use a small strand of wire to run thru it)
could just be a grain of sand,,,or some sludge
Posted by: swampyjunior
You might also want the AC dealer to check the float level adjustment. I have heard of people knocking the float out of adjustment by running the carborator dry after putting the bike on a trailer and then the float just sits there and bounces all over with no fuel to float it. Knocking it out of adjustment.
Then again you may just need a different pilot jet. Good luck and I hope your dealer can get it back on the road again.
Service Manual says float Arm Height is 17mm (0.7 in)
Main jet 150
Slow jet 38
Needle jet 4.0/3.4
Jet Needle N8TV
Starter Jet 60
Also just to check to make sure its not sucking air around the intake or anything. Start it and spray WD40 or something similar around the carb and intake. It the RPM's change then you have an air leak.
Posted by: swampyjunior
Yes, you are right he probably would. I just always like to check everything to rule things out. Was thinking that if he hit something to crack the exhaust pipe he might have cracked something else.
Posted by: swampyjunior
I have always measured the float height by taking the bowl or float chamber off the carborator. Turning the carb upside down. Measure the distance between the flat part on the float where the float valve attaches to the float and the carborator body.
I have not had to do this on either of my AC's but have had to do it on an old 250 suzuki I owned. I am assuming that since the 400 is a suzuki engine its done this same way.
Posted by: swampyjunior
I ordered mine from my dealer in Washington State. It was about $45 and they shipped it to me for free. The manual I got was the paper version ofr all the 2004 models except the 650. They also make a computer CD version but I do not know how much it costs.
Even my dealer in Washington did not have the manual in stock. They ordered it from their wharehouse in Seattle I think. Still it was in my hands in Alaska 5 days after I ordered it! But, they are the best customer service dealer that I have found for AC.
Posted by: hondabuster
Yup, classic symptom of a plugged pilot jet.
Having the "choke" on, is really a starter jet or enrichener, and as soon as the choke is off, theres no more fuel coming in. The pilot jet has the smallest hole, in the carb, and thats why it plugs first and so easily. After the carb is clean, put an inline fuel filter on it.
Posted by: hondabuster
If you are at all mechanicly inclined, do it yourself. Its not that tough to do, and you already know what to clean, the pilot jet.
Look over these two articles, and see if you want to do it yourself.
carbclean
carb clean
Posted by: hondabuster
Youre almost done, dont give up now.
You just need to fine tune the mixture screw, and adjust the idle speed.
Lightly screw in the mixture screw, until its seated.Do this lightly, too much force and the seat will deform. From there, back out two turns. It should be able to start and idle here.
Turn the idle up, with the idle adjust screw, and have it slightly faster than normal.
Ride it until its warm then , slowly screw the mixture screw in until it drops rpm, then slowly go out, until you find the spot with the highest rpm. Then turn the idle adjust screw, until the idle speed is correct, and you should be done.
Thats all there is to it, dont take it in for this.
Posted by: MrTommy
Swampy, where did you get your "service manual"? I've been to that site that claims to have all the service manuals and they don't have one for the Arctic Cat 400's, at least not a 2004.
I think the dealers should have a rack with service manuals for everything he sells, but then that might cut into his "after sales" money huh...
Posted by: arctic375
Dirty pilot jet.
Posted by: RogerL
My 2003 400i 4x4 auto will run with choke on but dies when I switch the choke off. THought it was the air filer being dirty but after cleaning that I noticed a small crack in the exhaust pipe right where the muffler joins it. Would that caust it to do that?
I did haul butt off-road(dirt/gravel roads) for hours with the arctic cat on the trailer and the front strap broke allowing the cat to move around thus damaging the tail pipe.
Thanks,
Roger
Posted by: RogerL
I fixed the leak. Problem still there. Got a friend that is a expert at motorcycle carbs, might give a case of bud for him to look and clean the carb for me.
Thanks,
Roger
Posted by: RogerL
Roughtly, how much should a atv shop charge to "deep Clean" a carb? Also, what carb is on an 03 400I auto 4x4 cat? By friend went on leave for a month and I prefer not to wait.
Posted by: RogerL
I pulled the carb and went to my local motorcycle/atv repair shop and he cleaned it via air compressor. Charged only ten bucks. I reinstalled the carb and still doesn't run right. I upped the rpms (the hand adjuster on the carb) and ran it without the air filter for a minute. It will run now without the choke but still isn't right. Cleaning the air filter right now. I also pulled the spark plug (less than 20 miles on it...2 months old) and its totally black, alot of dry carbon telling me its too rich.
Now I lost on what to do next....
Roger
Could it be bad fuel causing this??
Posted by: RogerL
I think I do that after work monday. It runs now but just don't sound right. If really cleaning the jet don't work, I have to tow it to the dealer (2hr trip one way) on saturday.
I want to thank everyone for their help.
Roger
Posted by: RogerL
Well, I cleaned the jets (all three of them) It was easier than I thought. It runs just a little better but still rough slow idle (somewhat like a Hog). I notice black smoke from the muffler. Its Burning very rich. The spark plug that I cleaned sunday was really carbon fouled. I'm going to put the atv back together and take it to a local motorcycle shop then possible to the arctic cat dealer if the local guy can't help.
Thanks
Roger
Posted by: RogerL
Well, that was $45 down the drain. Had the local shop adjust the carb, idle and blow out the muffler (been over a year and every close to 500 miles without ever being done.) Isn't as rich burning but still won't idle without the choke and alittle gas. Talking to my father, telling him it almost like a vacuum leak on a older car. No hissing but won't run at idle but give it gas and it almost smooths out. Mine idles good and sounds good at half choke.
Got the atv on the trailer and strap down for the 2 hr ride (one way) to the cat dealer. I really hope he can fix it without costing too much money.
Thinking out loud: could the pilot jet go bad but still looks ok?
Roger
Posted by: RogerL
Had to work overtime today but just started on checking the float of the carb and got my first question...
how do I measure the distance. I know its 17mm (0.7in) but how to place the carb on the table and from what to what do I measure?
Roger
Posted by: RogerL
the small crack in the exhause pipe wasn't a real crack, it was where the pipe slips into the muffler.
Posted by: atvnut00
I had the same problem on my Mikuni carb. The reason was that the main jet needle got disconnected from it's clip and fell into it's hole. Don't know if this will help, but check it out.
Posted by: vrz500tbx
did you have them pull the pilot jet out of the carb and clean the PILOT JET?
just blowing air through the carb will not clean it.......
Posted by: cFhDimebag
If he had an air leak wouldn't it be running to lean right now, not the symptoms he is talking about??? I know on my dirt bike if there is an air leak it runs like a raped ape, because it gets to much air. Just my 2 cents.
