KymcoForum.com

    I have just hooked up with "Cyclepedia" for a service manual for the 450i.  They are continueing to work on a newer version but a service manual is now availiable for 49.99 for the lifetime access. The current manual is a conversion of the original manufacturers service manual with pics and worded description but does have all the specs needed.  When the latest version by Cyclepedia is completed it will replace the current version at no charge and will be an upgrade. For something like 29 bucks you can get a one year version but what the hey I am keeping this machine for awhile so I went with the lifetime....for 50 bucks that is still cheap compared to other service manuals. A printed version will be availiable when the newest issue comes out. For now I just download the manual onto my thumb drive.  Just thought I would let all the good folks out there know.....

   Mt new Kymco 450i is the first toy I have owned with EFI, all my previous toys have had carbs. I have never had a starting issue with my carbed engines however in the extreme cold, it did take a while sometimes, cranking and some extra pushing on the throttle to get her going.  This morning we hit -5 yep...below zero so I wanted to see how well my newest toy started in the cold. It is stored in my unheated barn and yes that seat was a bit nippy to sit on.  WOW  is all I can say....turned the key and waited for the start buzzer to stop, then turned to start and it started instantly.....yahoo.....engine probably didn't even make two revolutions before it was running and then just purred like a kitten without having to mess with anything. If this is how EFI is supposed to work then Amen I want it on all my toys.  Now just waiting for some warmer weather, while the UTV doesn't mind the cold, my old body sure doesn't like it!!

  Here is my new ride, the Kymco 450i side x side UTV. I get to use mine year round in snow and everything so you scooter guys can eat your heart out...LOL.. Bought the plow to go on it but wouldn't you know we have seen almost no snow this season.  Oh well can still ride around and play.  Well for some reason my pics won't load so mabey I can figure it out another day.

   After reading many posts on front end alignment problems I decided to check mine out.....yep sure enough...serious toe in, one side much more than the other.  I have had this same scenario on my ATV's and have created an easy way to align your front wheels. I use an 8' long pc of sq aluminum tubing but a really good straight piece of plywood or 2x4 works well also. You need to find something that will put your straight edge about in the center (elevation) of the tires and extend it to span the front and rear tires. Push your straight edge up to the rear tire while it extends just pass the front tire and check the parallism of the front tire to your straight edge. Adjust the tie rod end until your front tire is just a small amount further in the front of the tire than the rear of the front tire.  This should give you about an 1/8" toe in, or mabey a tiny bit less. then do the same thing to the other side then recheck both sides, some minor tweaking will be needed as one side adjustment may affect the opposite side. Once completed you should have less tha a quarter inch toe in, meaning that the front span of the front tires is a little closer than the rear span of the front tires. You need a small amount of toe in as the pressure on the tires from moving forward will cause them to spread out slightly. I had some serious understeer on mine but the new alignmenrt cured that. Not only that but the front tires now are aligned to the rear tires and steering is much more responsive. On my ATV's it also helped with tire life. I live out in the country where limited driving on the road side is permissible and as most of you already know, the paved roads do eat up the knobby tires much quicker, but this alignment will help slow down that wear. Interested to hear any other tidbits of info from other readers that has helped their side x side experience.