how to get a Honda dirtbike to start?

Question

bought the Honda dirtbike in 2003 in Colorado (high altitude). rode it in the mountains.

moved to California (sea level) in 2005; started it and rode it once on the street in the subdivision. could not start it again a few months later. has been sitting in the garage since.

the dealer that sold it in CO said it would need to be adjusted for lower altitude, if I ever moved.

do I need to take it to a Honda dealer, or is there something I can do to adjust/fix it here? how do you 'adjust' it to lower altitude? someone told me the old gas might be a problem...is that true?
thanks!

Answer 1

Probably got clogged up with old gas and oil. Drain the gas tank and change the oil and use some gas treatment and other liquids like oil treatment and carb-cleaner, STP products. Try and get it started and let it run for a few minutes.

Answer 2

The altitude adjustment is the mixture. I believe it's set leaner for high altitude to compensate for the thinner air. But it shouldn't be enough to prevent the bike from running completely. that kind of setting is to make it run smoothly. So I'd guess the old gas is causing some trouble. Change the gas in the tank, then double check that the fuel valve it turned on. It's also possible that while it was sitting the carburator jets got clogged with sediment or something and fuel isn't getting through. I wouldn't recommend taking apart the carb unless you know what you're doing.

Good luck.

Answer 3

You can buy a jet for 4 bucks. Take out the idle jet and main jet and check the number on the side. Now go to your dealer and buy the next 2 sizes bigger. You have to run leaner jets at higher altitudes. (richer at lower alts.) When you change jets just change one at a time and see how it runs. Never go more that one size at a time either. I change jets from morning to afternoon in the fall here because it gets so much warmer in the afternoon and it makes a difference. It's not too hard to pull the bottom off the carb and unscrew the jets. Fresh gas is always a must: By pulling the bottom off the carb you will drain the old fuel out of the carb and you can check the jets for clean also. I frequently get a little water in the float bowl in the really cold weather from condensation. You could have some of that going on too. Either way you'll get it out of the carb when you change the jets up.

DO NOT USE fuel treatments or drygas or injector cleanor on a 2-stroke because washes the oil from your bearings, piston. You didn't say what it was but I saw someone mentioned fuel treatment.

Answer 4

I'm with pmk, I had to laugh at a few answers also, especially the one about gas "losing octanes"! While it's true gasoline usually contains some octane as well as heptane, pentane and a million other constituants, the word octane we all know and love is used as a measure of the resistance a fuel has to burning. The lower octane number, the more easily ignited the fuel is. Higher octane fuels aren't necessarily better, it's just that some engines with high compression ratios or poor combustion chamber design will "knock" without it. The cause of engine knock or ping is when the combustion mixture explodes suddenly rather than progressively burning across the combustion chamber with an even flame front. Kind of like the difference between lighting a campfire and setting off a firecracker. And believe it or not, using a super high octane fuel in an engine with an effecient combustion chamber design can actually depress performance in the same way throwing water on a campfire derpesses heat production.

Answer 5

It's been two years, completely clean your fuel system and re-fill with clean fuel.
I would definetely adjust your carburettor as a change in altitude like that will upset the running of your machine. I would say the reason why it wont start though is because of the stale fuel!
If you go onto the honda website you should be able to download your manual straight form the net. If not order one through your dealer.
In your manual it will give you a step by step instruction on how to adjust your carb to get the best throttle response right through the rev range.
I have a YZ 250 and I got a manual with the bike to my surprise but had already downloaded one from Yamaha so have a look at Honda first.


Good luck,

Troy

Answer 6

While the gas may have gone bad(I think it probably did), you will need to get the carb adjusted. If you have never dine this before I would take it in to a shop and have them do it since it can at time be a pain especially if the carb is gummed up from the old gas, they will clean that out for you while they adjust your carb.

Answer 7

I had to chuckle at several of the earlier replies!!!

Rider ZX10R & Jimbob are spot on ... thumbs up to them!!!

another idea is merely call or go by your favorite local dealer and ask them what jetting is needed for the current altitude for your specific bike. they will hand you probably 2 sizes for you to try (only $4-6 apiece). removal and installing - it's a simple task, by merely unscrewing the little bowl on the bottom of your carb (turn gas off first), using a short straight blade screwdriver (or a 90 degree straight blade) feel around until you feal the slot in the main jet and unscrew it. replace in reverse order with one you got from the area dealer. you will probably have to play with the needle clip settings too along with air screw.

first thing is drain the fuel system and replace with fresh gas if it's been sitting for any length of time as the gas will evaporate leaving a residue (commonly called varnish) which will clog jets.

wouldn't hurt to throw a fresh spark plug in too while at it.

my old XR600, I had to jump 5-7 sizes going from Central TX (~800 ft above sea level) up to Colorado (7K-9K ft above sea level), so might be more than a one or two step jump.

good luck!

Answer 8

Old gas can go bad, check and maybe change it. To get the carb a little richer, remove the carb slide and take it off the throttle cable. Then pull out the needle and move the clip on it so the needle goes 1 step higher in the jet. If still too lean, try one more notch it should have enough fuel by then.

Answer 9

I dont see how altitude would have anything to do with it , because, on most vehicles there are computers that act up. Not on dirt bikes. Try adjusting the floats in the carb and better gas. best of luck.

Answer 10

yeah, empty the gas tank, the gasoline loses octanes when the bike sits still

when you last rode it you should have closed the gas valve so the carburetor would have been empty

try filling the gas tank with gasoline freshly bought at a lower altitude

maybe the carburetor should be cleaned

i would help ya with that bar I'm in Italy, in Rome, I'm a little too far

anyway if you're a girl who rides a dirt bike, my compliments,

all my female friends in Italy are scared by my dirt bike
(suzuki dr350 se)