05 Outlander 400 downtime

[Flagtailhunter]

Last night my wife warmed up the quad before I was home, planning to open up the driveway so she could get the car in. She said it started ok, she warmed it up, moved it out of the garage and had it idling while she went to close the garage door, and it stalled on her. She couldn't get it started and thought it was out of gas. When I got home I went to fill it with gas and noted that it was not empty. It had maybe an eighth of a tank left. I filled it up anyway and tried to start it. No go...It turns over...fires very weakly once in a while, but won't start. I let it rest, then turned it over quite a bit with the same results. It backfired twice on me while attempting to start it.

I am no mechanic...and a worst trouble shooter...so any help I can get would be greatly appreciated. Some thoughts I have are:

-Bad gas...The fuel level was low and maybe there was some water in it. I will put some additives in the fuel as it can't hurt...It does have fresh gas now though.
-Another possible problem: This fall, at the lake while fueling up, my niece dropped a couple of acorns into the fuel tank before we could stop her. I suppose that it is quite possible that they are now breaking down and maybe causing some fuel blockage/contamination.

Thanks for any and all help.

[yamarider]

I'd start with taking the tank out and cleaning it, as well as the fuel lines, change the fuel filter and spark plug while your at it, sounds like those acorns are your problem.

[vinnie]

Try The Spark Plug First It The Easiest Place To Start

[mailman]

With the backfiring, I'd definitley say you've got dirt (acorns) in the carb. Time to take it apart and clean it.

[Wolf]

Ironically I was just talking with a friend at work (400HObomb on here) tonight about these bikes, he had a similar problem. Mailman's right about the carb, seems they have a tendency to let crap in past the filter, his was full of seeds. His dealer told him they have seen several bikes like this....check there and the plug to start with.


PS: Those acorns can't be doing any good in the tank either....

[Taz107]

Try starting again, then change plug, note if wet or dry...put in new plug, if old was wet, should be good to go.
If old plug is dry, with choke on, means fuel restriction, start at tank and work towards carb, with first step being to try running on reserve on the fuel switch...usually has a seperate pickup in the tank...

It is easy to foul a plug if choke is left on any more than needed on Bomb's......