Trouble shooting 450i

[2015uxv450]

So went to start the 450i today. Dead battery. We charged it enough to start it. Now every time I touch the gas just a little, it dies as soon as you let off. Checked the spark plug. It was a little dirty, so we cleaned it up and checked the gap. Made no change. In order to start it you had to give it throttle. The. As soon as you let off it dies again. So we thought it had bad fuel. Put some stabilizer in it, then took for a ride down the road to mix it up. It started skipping at 20 mph and cutting out. After that it died and wouldn't start. So we used and come a long and loaded it on the trailer to bring it home. Once I got there I started it for sh**s and giggles. Damn thing runs like a champ now. Drive it for 15 minutes and it stalled 2 times. Not perfect obviously but considerably better.

So I am geussing it is bad gas, tomorrow I will siphon it all out and replace with fresh super and stabilizer. Unless anyone has any better ideas

Thanks

[randyo]

sounds like a charging system issue, not enuf power to operate the fuel pump properly

[2015uxv450]

Maybe because the battery wasnt charged enough?

[randyo]

why was your battery dead to begin with ?

even with a dead/low battery, the charging system should put out enuf power

the reason I suggested failing charging system is that is exactly how my V-Strom acted when the charging system failed

[2015uxv450]

 It only has 138 miles on it I should hope the charging system isn't failing.  It did sit for about a month and a half with no use and maybe my winch caused a drain somehow

[randyo]

have you been using the winch without the engine running or other accessories ?

had mine just a year now, just over 800 miles, no issues at all except 2 nearly bald rear and front tires @ 50% or less (95% street use) and had to replace my rear brake rotor cause it got dinged when I loaned it to one of my employees to take to Jericho and the read skid pan got ripped off

[airshot]

   Well it does sound like it might be an electrical issue. If you can get it started put a voltmeter across the battery terminals and see what voltage your getting. If low that might be your issue.. is your battery capable of holding a charge?  I have seen batteries with a shorted cell cause electrical problems in vehicles many times. This sucks on a new machine but hopefully it will turnout to be something simple.  I would test your battery first  as these machines are now all electrical gizmos and any change in electrical current can cause things to go whacky.  If your still under warranty you might consider returning it to your dealer, however you will still need to check the battery first as these are probably not covered under warranty.

[2015uxv450]

No I disconnected the positive in the winch because it was malfunctioning. It may have drained it enough before I parked it I guess. But now that the battery has a full charge it is running better. I talked with my cousin who is a marine mechanic, and he said it is most definitely bad gas as I thought. And that the battery being dead was just a coincidence. Although being dead and just boosted may have not allowed enough power for the fuel pump to work correctly

[2015uxv450]

I have had it on my trickle charger since last night, it's saying it is a full charge and that the battery is good. Didn't get home until 8 tonight from work. So it will have to wait until tomorrow to work on it more.

I hope I don't have to bring it to the dealer. The one 10 minutes from me dropped kymco and the next closest is 2 hours away

[2015uxv450]

UPDATE. Evacuated all the old fuel out of the 450i. Replaced it with new SUPER with stabilizer. Runs like a champ. No problems. Ran steady for about 45 minutes tonight. Hopefully that is the end of the issue

[airshot]

    Glad to hear you have is fixed!!  The factory does say it can run on regular fuel 87 octane, but I use the midgrade (89) in all my toys just to be safe.  today you can get bad gas or water in the gas just about anywhere, no safe places anymore. I do throw some fuel stabilizer in the tank every once in a while in all my toys just to be safe. I would keep an eye on your battery as these small batteries can go to hell real quick when drawn down to low as they are not made for that. If it is not a deep cycle battery and these are not, the mfg recommends not dropping below 60% charge or internal damage can occur just like a standard automotive battery.

[2015uxv450]

I a set up a quick disconnect for my battery maintainer so whenever the 450i is in the garage it will be plugged in

[Coach]

    Glad to hear you have is fixed!!  The factory does say it can run on regular fuel 87 octane, but I use the midgrade (89) in all my toys just to be safe.  today you can get bad gas or water in the gas just about anywhere, no safe places anymore. I do throw some fuel stabilizer in the tank every once in a while in all my toys just to be safe. I would keep an eye on your battery as these small batteries can go to hell real quick when drawn down to low as they are not made for that. If it is not a deep cycle battery and these are not, the mfg recommends not dropping below 60% charge or internal damage can occur just like a standard automotive battery.

I have only used non-ethanol rec 90 in mine since new. Never had a problem. Ethanol will eventually cause a problem in any small engine. Love my 450i. 👍🏻😃

[randyo]

Ethanol will eventually cause a problem in any small engine. Love my 450i. 👍🏻😃

no, lack of use is what causes the problem, I have been using e-10 for years, even using stabilizer does not prevent gasoline, e10 or e15 from  gunking up fuel tanks and lines that are not used for a period of time,  the ethanol (or any other solvent for that matter) loosens the gunk that is build up and moves it to the carb or fuel injectors that have fine passages and plugs them up

if you use your small engines regularly  and never let fuel sit in the tank for more than a month you will never have a problem

[airshot]

no, lack of use is what causes the problem, I have been using e-10 for years, even using stabilizer does not prevent gasoline, e10 or e15 from  gunking up fuel tanks and lines that are not used for a period of time,  the ethanol (or any other solvent for that matter) loosens the gunk that is build up and moves it to the carb or fuel injectors that have fine passages and plugs them up

if you use your small engines regularly  and never let fuel sit in the tank for more than a month you will never have a problem

With a new machine there should not be any gunk inside just yet, however I do agree with sitting for a long time. Whether gas is treated or not any long term sitting will cause fuel problems.  I make sure that doesn't happen so I use that as an excuse to ride mine almost every day even for a short ride. I also keep the fuel tank low until I know I am going for a really long ride so that I keep adding small amounts of fresh fuel every couple weeks. Same thing on my lawn mower, holds 10 gallons but only fill half way so I have to add fresh fuel more often, never had any issues this way.