Polaris ATV Forum banner

Common Carb Issues

227905 Views 133 Replies 74 Participants Last post by  latebird
Just trying to get a list of common carb issues for a 2002 TB.

From what I was able to get from the parts guy from the dealer was the following.

- The needle and seat was a common part to wear out which hinders the carbs ability to prevent fuel from back-flowing out and getting into the air cleaner.

- The pilot jet. Mentioned that it can be cleaned but at $6 it is not a bad idea to replace it.

I am currently trying to resolve a car issue I have right now and would love the feedback.

Please let me know of any other common carb issues. Once I get a bunch of isses I can post the issues and cause.
61 - 80 of 134 Posts
hi all i have a 2003 Polaris predator 500 i need to know where the circuit breakers are i almost rolled it and it came down and died i need help to find out what it is i checked power to the starter switch and i have power to one line but not the other one not sure what to do all i want to do is ride lol thanks for taking the time to help :)
bump...anyone know the part# for a spark plug (94 300cc 2x4). Or are they all generic?
Generic, no.

My 250 and 400 2-strokes took an NGK BR8ES, I assume yours is the same. Available at Oreilly Auto.


bump...anyone know the part# for a spark plug (94 300cc 2x4). Or are they all generic?
My 94 300 2x4 bogs down when I give it throttle, sometimes it will be fine and sometimes ill be giving it half throttle and itll hardly be moving....would this be a main jet issue? Since it happens at half throttle and full ?
Did you get this fixed and if so how? I have a 2005 330 magnum and it cranks, runs good till it warms up then bogs at low end of throttle. At full throttle it runs great.
My 94 300 2x4 bogs down when I give it throttle, sometimes it will be fine and sometimes ill be giving it half throttle and itll hardly be moving....would this be a main jet issue? Since it happens at half throttle and full ?
Did you get this fixed and if so how? I have a 2005 330 magnum and it cranks, runs good till it warms up then bogs at low end of throttle. At full throttle it runs great.
I just changed the plug.....my carb needs to adjusted still it didnt want to idle at all. Actually it didnt like to start either I had to give her a little throttle to fire it up

Plug is cheap though like three bucks might as well change it...plus I read two strokes like new plugs :)
Appreciate all the info, I have a 250 that wouldn't start and when I got it I could see it fire so knew it had to be in the fuel. Rebuilt the carb and cleaned it up real good and the thing runs like a champ.

thanks again


Dave
This may be a little too specialized for an answer but I'll ask anyway:

Manaen's original post said
The stock setup of most idle circuits (98%) is to turn the screw in all the way. Not too hard or you will damage the screw. Then back the screw out 1 1/2 turns.
The service manual for my 2005 Sportsman 400 says
Pilot screws are calibrated at the factory.Each carburetor has a slightly differentpilot screw setting. The specifications be-low are the “base” recommended setting,and may require additional tuning toachieve the desired results. Pilot Screw Adjustment:Sportsman 400 -- 2 3/4 Turn Out
My atv won't crank atm, from sitting up for two years with fuel in it (I know now that I am an idiot). Tomorrow I'm going to pull out the carb and clean it and I was wondering if I should use the 1.5 turns out recommendation or go with the 2.75 recommendation of the manual.

Hopefully someone with experience with the Mikuni BST 34 carburetor (that of the 2005 Sportsman 400) can shed some light on this for me.

Thanks a lot for the help and thank you so much, Manaen, for the veeery informative post.
See less See more
I have a 1996 polaris sportsman 500 and the if the fourwheeler is turned off, and the fuel is still on, fuel runs out of the overflow, i dont know if it has a float or something that is messed up or what?
Most likely, the needle and seat are bad or gummed up. (Float needle). The needle is rubber tipped on mine, so it could just be old and the rubber is bad.

Before diving into it, you may wish to try and clean out the carb by adding seafoam to the fuel and running a couple of tanks of fuel through it. I suggest following the can. Don't overdo it, just run 1 or 2 tanks of fuel through the machine.

In the meantime, keep turning off fuel valve when you turn off machine. that will keep it from flooding the engine and running all over your floor.

If you still have the problem you will have to replace needle and seat.

I have a 1996 polaris sportsman 500 and the if the fourwheeler is turned off, and the fuel is still on, fuel runs out of the overflow, i dont know if it has a float or something that is messed up or what?
Hey guys, my 1996 poalris sportsman 500 will idle for 2-5 minutes, how do you adjust the idle speed, is it the long thumb screw or is it something else?
Hey guys, my 1996 poalris sportsman 500 will idle for 2-5 minutes, how do you adjust the idle speed, is it the long thumb screw or is it something else?
On my 2005 sportsman 400 the idle adjustment screw is a large thumb screw sticking down from the carb.
04 predator 500 carburator problems

i have an 04 predator 500 with a pure polaris slip on exhaust and its been having problems, the airbox got too full with oil and the carb sucked it in so i cleanded the carb and it bogged on low throttle, i re-adjusted the carb and it ran better but not perfect, after taking the carb apart for the third time and putting it back together it ran perfect for about 5 minutes of riding then it just suddenly died and never started. is there any suggestions for me?
i have an 04 predator 500 with a pure polaris slip on exhaust and its been having problems, the airbox got too full with oil and the carb sucked it in so i cleanded the carb and it bogged on low throttle, i re-adjusted the carb and it ran better but not perfect, after taking the carb apart for the third time and putting it back together it ran perfect for about 5 minutes of riding then it just suddenly died and never started. is there any suggestions for me?
Bogging down on no through low throttle sounds like a pilot jet issue. Try taking it out, cleaning it with carb cleaner and blowing it out with compressed air (hold on tight, it's easy to lose).
hard start and stumble / die at higher rpm

My problem rough idle and when reving a miss has developed. (2 days later results were)
cleaned carb and found sticky choke slide in carb.
found broken spark plug insulator when changing plug (developed smooth start and smooth idle, yet only ran for short time at higher RPM)
Replaced a white clean air filter with an new one. Yee haa runs like a champ.
To all that read this:
The bad filter was WHITE blown out with compressed air and no dust (did this before). When the air box and rubber boot was removed the ATV still stumbeled yet when the air box + lid with snorkel were attached without an air cleaner the Polaris ran great. Change your stock AIR FILTER or clean your after market air cleaner even if you think it looks good. It may save you 2 days of grief...
Ive got a wierd problem with my carb. 2001 sportsman 500 4-stroke (friends bike). The bike runs great at idle, half throttle, full throttle, all the time, no issue's. The problem that we are having is that while the bike is running it constantly pours gas out of the overflow (tube coming from bottum of carb). Cut the bike off and it will eventually stop or if you cut the petcock off it will stop. He did state that the bike was very hard to get started when cold the other morning. Im thinking it could be the float bowl or needle and seat. Planning on tearing it down this week so any input is appreciated. Thanks!
Ive got a wierd problem with my carb. 2001 sportsman 500 4-stroke (friends bike). The bike runs great at idle, half throttle, full throttle, all the time, no issue's. The problem that we are having is that while the bike is running it constantly pours gas out of the overflow (tube coming from bottum of carb). Cut the bike off and it will eventually stop or if you cut the petcock off it will stop. He did state that the bike was very hard to get started when cold the other morning. Im thinking it could be the float bowl or needle and seat. Planning on tearing it down this week so any input is appreciated. Thanks!
Absolute right track, thank etenol, cheap to rebuild do it all
Ive got a wierd problem with my carb. 2001 sportsman 500 4-stroke (friends bike). The bike runs great at idle, half throttle, full throttle, all the time, no issue's. The problem that we are having is that while the bike is running it constantly pours gas out of the overflow (tube coming from bottum of carb). Cut the bike off and it will eventually stop or if you cut the petcock off it will stop. He did state that the bike was very hard to get started when cold the other morning. Im thinking it could be the float bowl or needle and seat. Planning on tearing it down this week so any input is appreciated. Thanks!
Same problem for me was fixed by a new needle valve.
Mikuni vm 30 SS

I am in the middle of rebuilding this carb, and be darned if I did not lose one of the float pin caps. Are they really necessary??

Thanks, and this is a very nice forum!!
Fuel leaking from exhaust Sportsman 700

I installed a new carb on my 05 Sportsman 700, MV7. It is leaking a good amount of a fuel out of the exhaust as well spewing some pretty grey smoke. Any thoughts. Have video, attachment would not work
I installed a new carb on my 05 Sportsman 700, MV7. It is leaking a good amount of a fuel out of the exhaust as well spewing some pretty grey smoke. Any thoughts. Have video, attachment would not work
Sounds like you need to replace the needle valve. Your oil will need changing as well, after you replace the needle valve.
61 - 80 of 134 Posts
Top