Honda 4-wheeler

[kyle in NY]

I know this is off topic but I am going crazy with this quad that I just picked up. It runs great when choked but as soon as I turn off the choke she dies unless I keep the throttle going. I have adjusted the carb numerous times as well as pulled out the needle and cleaned it out. It is a 1991 Honda TRX 250cc. Thanks in adavance for any help.
Kyle

 

[Anonymous-0]

Kyle,

I have a Honda XRT250 4-wheeler that's about a 1987 model. I had a problem a few years ago where it wouldn't run well. I pulled the fuel line off the carburetor and blew compressed air back up into the gas tank. That seemed to fix the problem and I haven't had any more problems with it since then. You might try that just for fun.

Good luck,

Tom in TN

 

[glennster]

try toms suggestion first, could be fuel shut off valve plugged, there may be a screen in there. otherwise you will need to pull the carb apart and clean all the passages, maybe with a tip cleaner set for a cutting torch, good size assortment. also blow all the passages out. seems like the gas nowadays goes bad pretty quick , and especially in bikes and atv's really pluggs em up. also check for vaccuum leak around where the carb monts to the cylinder head. there should be an o-ring at the base off the intake where it bolts to the head.

 

[UncleTom]

It sounds like to me it has a plugged idle jet or the idle jet is not adjusted correctly. Id say if it runs when you give it throttle that you are then running off of the main jet and when you close the throttle it then depends on the idle jet and its not getting fuel from that jet. You could try and remove the idle jet needle and blow air in there first. The idle jet is the smallest jet in the carb and doesnt take much to plug them. This link may help you.
carb

 

[Anonymous-0]

Is the vent plugged in the gas cap? My Honda ATC 200X did that one time. On that model there was a hose attached to the gas cap. This hose went down through a hole in the steering neck. Some how it got plugged and wouldn't let the tank vent. All fuel tanks need to vent in some way.

 

[C.bailey]

I'm a Quad mech. And yes any of these other answers you've received could be accurate, but let me ask, Does this thing have any aftermarket parts like a Pipe or muffler? If it run's well on the chock, check the spark plug. If it's appears clean , then you need to rejet the carb. It's very common. I've seen totaly stock machines that needed rejeted. Otherwise it's probably the idle circuit. Oh one more thing you didn't mention if this is two stroke.

 

[Ryan - WI]

I had a similar issue with my Suzuki. It turned out that the intake boot going from the carb to the cylinder was explanded and would not tighten. This caused the engine to run so lean it would not run without the choke or WOT. To check if this is your issue, start it up and spray WD-40 on the boot/carb and boot/cylinder connections. If is speeds up the engine (or kills it) you have a vacuum leak there causing the problem.

 

[Roy in georgia]

this may be a simple answer but what do you think would cause a 86 suzuki 125 to fill the breather with the crank case oil it's a 4 cycle and I think it might be a ventilation problem but not sure where to look for a pcv type fitting

 

[Mark]

well....while talking about honda 4 wheelers....I need some help. i have a 2001 or 02 350 rancher with electric shift. it shifts up 1-2-3 and once on 3rd gear...gets stuck there and refuses to up or down shift. i bought and installed a new angle position sensor and a speed sensor...no luck. There must be a short somewhere. the electric shift motor seems fine as it shifts the gears fine until 3 rd gear.....when the machine is cold..like when first started...it will go through all 5 gears...5 minutes later, it will stick at 3rd. Only shutting off and resetting the thing will get it shifting again. I bought a repair manual..now if I knew how to use a volt meter I could start checking circuits.

 

[kyle in NY]

The idle jet makes the most sense. can anybody tell me where it is located and how to adjust it. Thanks, Kyle

 

[UncleTom]

Mark, I have a ES honda also. I have read that the battery must be in good shape. The ES system must have good voltage to operate. You said it works fine when cold. Then the cooling fan kicks on ill bet and takes most of the votage away from the ES system. I have seen ranchers like this and changed the battery and problem gone. We like follow-up on your problem.

 

[Mark]

Uncle Tom,

Do you have a cabin? LOL!

By cold, I mean fresh after starting and within 3 minutes..it quits shifting. For example; I can start it up, pull out....1-2-3-4-5 maybe travel 100 yards, downshift 5-4-3 and there it's stuck. OR, I can start up, mosey out and shift 1-2-3..still travel maybe 100-200 yards, reach for 4th and nothing. I don't think the battery is bad...but it might be. It seems to have plenty of cranking power.

One thing about this machine...it has lived a charmed life. It might have 1700 miles on it. I bought it new to use in the deer woods, and soon thereafter, suffered a knee injury on the job. I haven't hunted since! It has been nothing but a toy around the place to ride the children around in the pasture. It's never been run in mudholes and the creek...I'm 49 and grew up a long time ago! The only thing wrong with it is the speedometer lense is broken and so it doesn't work any longer.

 

[UncleTom]

Well im no expert on these hondas, but here is a place to ask about your problem. I have used them before and it is a great place. Some of these guys are honda tech's.
honda help

 

[UncleTom]

Sorry for the thread Hijack

 

[Mark]

Uncle tom,

Thanks very much....I'm going there now!

 

[Gary in Mozarks]

(quoted from post at 14:13:55 08/20/07) I know this is off topic but I am going crazy with this quad that I just picked up. It runs great when choked but as soon as I turn off the choke she dies unless I keep the throttle going. I have adjusted the carb numerous times as well as pulled out the needle and cleaned it out. It is a 1991 Honda TRX 250cc. Thanks in adavance for any help.
Kyle

if it only runs when choked then its not getting enough gas to balance the air at the idle jet I usually use a old lawn mowre tank gravity can directly to the carb to see if its in the carb or in the fuel line system If it runs ok with a gravity tank the problem is in the delivery system. So you know which end of the thing to look at