Quad bike idling problem ....

deejaycee_2000

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hi guys, I won a 200cc water cooled 4-stroke chinese quad ...... it is hard to start when it's been sitting for a while, and from when I got it it always had a bit of a mis on it ..... it has never idled well, and i have never seen the radiator fan come on ever, I still ride it as it is ... and run fine as long as you keep your thumb well on the throttle ...... I just left it alone as I don't wanto fiddle with a 4-stroke as I am a 2-stroke kind guy ...... but now this thing is bothering me .... any ideas on how to improve this thing and to get the fan to come on? Any advice will be appreciated .... please no comments on how bad a chinese quad bike is, I won it, free stuff is always nice ...... :)
 

Bob_VT

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Re: Quad bike idling problem ....

No idea about the fan unless you direct wire it to stay on. You might to check the fan and send 12V to it and see if it even works and work the process backwards to the thermostat.

As far as the starting .... try a few various brand spark plugs. I worked in a cycledealership and the spark plugs were always a key.

As far as the quality...................................

but WOW what a great price!! :)
 

deejaycee_2000

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Re: Quad bike idling problem ....

thanx for the info .... should I not try and adust the carb a little? I read somewhere else that I should try removing the airfilter and see how it runs without, if it runs better I should get a K&N or something ....
 

Bob_VT

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Re: Quad bike idling problem ....

If this is "new" just clean everything. Make certain the air filter does NOT have too much oil on it or it will choke out that small engine.

There should me heat at both ends of the cooler ...... make sure there is coolant and it is not air locked. Have you found the thermostat wires?
 

deejaycee_2000

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Re: Quad bike idling problem ....

you mean the fan wires .... the bike is at my holiday house so only going there next weekend to see what I can do ... thanks for the help I appreciate it ....
 

sailsmanship

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Re: Quad bike idling problem ....

You might want to try and adjust the idle air screw which is usually on the side of the carb just above the bowl mating surface. If you remove the air filter and it runs better, then it needs to be leaned out a little, if it runs worse, then it needs to be richened a little.
 

GlasstronJim

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Re: Quad bike idling problem ....

What is the quad a (Honda,suzuki,yamaha,kawasaki, polaris) What year,what model. Polaris is oil cooled they won't kick the fan on until they are very warm. Do you ride it in the sand? NGK are the only plugs I will run in jap. motors. If you ride it in the sand you need a good k/n filter with a sock over that.
 

deejaycee_2000

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Re: Quad bike idling problem ....

It is a chinese quad, one of these cheap imports 2005 model, so it has no name ..... I took the carb off this weekend and found it to be quite dirty and cleaned it, it runs the same with or without the air filter ....... but cleaned it anyway ... I don't ride in the sand only on a little dirt road ..... I still need to change the oil and change the spark plug and fuel filter ....... but after I put the carb back and adjusted the air/fuel mix a bit it ran much better, I tested the fan with putting 12v directly on it and found it doesn't work at all .... so now I need to find a new fan ....
 

GlasstronJim

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Re: Quad bike idling problem ....

Yes, those are notorious for eating fans. In my past experiences, I would clean it up, sell it and buy a Honda. I have a 1981-185s that has never failed me.A carb kit, spark plug, and cleaning air filter is all I have ever had to do to it. I have had every make ever made and sold them all but the Honda.
(THE MAXIMUM HORSE POWER IS NEVER ENOUGH) did you know that thing is only putting out about 5.5 hp
 

deejaycee_2000

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Re: Quad bike idling problem ....

hehehehe ... my sig "the maximum horsepower is never enough" goes for my boats only hehehehehehe, my friends all have the 400cc hondas and they are good quads, I agree ..... but I'm not really into quad biking, I won it for free so ... nothing wrong with free stuff ... hehe
 

GlasstronJim

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Re: Quad bike idling problem ....

So you will eat there dirt. And they will eat your wake. The moral is you can't win all the time!!
 

QuadManiac

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Re: Quad bike idling problem ....

I've seen many Chinese and Taiwanese quads that are of relatively good quality and a few that are absolute junk. For instance, Kymco is quickly getting a following in the US as a quality Taiwanese manufacturer - they make some great, reliable machines. In your case, can't look a gift horse in the mouth. There is no 'brand name' for yours? (example, Kizuma) Nothing mentioned in the owners manual?

Fans and their thermostatic switches are there to assist in cooling if the flow over the radiator isn't sufficient. Some quads have enough cooling without the fan. My Polaris 400's fan comes on regularly. My Yamaha Raptor 660's almost never turns on, even when riding in the desert at 100F. They both work properly, just different design. I've never heard either of my Honda 400ex's fans turn on (joke, they're air cooled)

If you can, get a shop manual for your machine and figure out how to 'hot wire' the thermostatic fan switch to verify fan operation, after you replace what you have identifed as a bad fan. In most cases, this just means removing the connector from the switch (often mounted at the bottom of the radiator) and shorting across the two contacts in the cable's connector; or if it only has one contact, shorting the wire to ground.

My $0.02, anyway.

Good luck.
 
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