Sometimes, quad bikes have technicalities, and some of them may lead to issues that cause the bikes not to start. A number of issues might be the cause of this. At first when the bike refuses to start, try again and again, adding more energy. If the bike Does not show any change after a series of trials, that would mean that the bike has a more serious issue that needs to be addressed. It is important to know the possible causes of the bike not starting and how to address each one of them separately. That would help a long way before you think of inviting a second person, probably an expert to do it for you. Our focus is on how to start a quad bike when not starting. Some issues would however need a mechanic to help you fix them.
Can Doing Wheelies on a Quad Bike Cause It to Not Start?
Mastering quad wheelies could lead to unexpected consequences, including damage to the quad’s engine. The significant strain applied while performing the stunt might result in mechanical issues, potentially hindering the bike’s ability to start. Understanding the risks involved before attempting this challenging maneuver is essential.
Common Issues That Cause a Quad Bike Not to Start
There are several issues that might cause a quad bike not to start but these are some of the most common ones. Fixing these issues will help you know how to start a quad bike when not starting.
They all revolve around the ignition and the fuel transfer systems. So if you know what these entail, it might be easier for you to get to where the problem is and fix it. Each one of them is discussed separately with the possible measures to fix it.
1. A bad battery or a battery that’s not charged well
The battery is a very important part of the ignition system. The battery gives the power that is necessary for creating a spark in the engine for it to start. The main thing that shouldn’t be checked on the battery is the voltage drop. The voltage drop should be around 12.8-12.6 when fully charged. It should drop a little bit when the starter is cranked. Most likely if the battery is bad, a drop of up to 11.5 would read on the multimeter when the bike is cranked and obviously it won’t start. If this happens and the battery was fully charged, that would mean that the battery needs to be changed. To fix this, there are two things that need to be done, either changing the battery or recharging the battery if it’s not bad.
2. The solenoid not getting power
The solenoid is the main channel of power transmission from the battery to the ignition power. If the solenoid is not getting power, that means that the engine won’t start. In order to know if the solenoid is working or not, if the solenoid is working, you should be able to hear a click sound when you turn the ignition key to start the bike or when you push the starter switch. If there is no audible click sound, you should immediately check the solenoid. With the multimeter, try to read the voltage across the solenoid. The red lead should point at t e battery while the black lead should point at the earthing. The total current across the solenoid should be 12v for us to be sure that the bike could start. If not, trace back the wiring to the battery and make sure the power is flowing all again.
3. The bike might not be getting fuel
There are two main forms of fuel transmission to the bike’s engine, both of which when working properly, it would mean that the system is not clogged anywhere when the fuel injectors or the carburetor system would be clean enough and the vent cap would not be clogged. Make sure you check thoroughly with the fuel supply system using the elimination method. Check every part of the system while eliminating the options until you find the possible problem.
The problem should be fixed within the shortest time to have the bike running. If for example some fuel is gummed up on the vent cap, that would mean that the problem is possibly on many more areas of the fuel transmission and that would mean that a wholesome clean of the engine would help to fix the problem better.
4. A blown-up fuse
When the fuse is blown up, the engine wouldn’t start, which means that the power transmission is completely cut off. You would need to replace the fuse in order to have the power running across again. Be sure to check the fuse immediately if the starter button does not respond, this should be the next problem. If after fixing the fuse the bike still does not start, the problem should be elsewhere.
5. The bike is not getting a spark
The spark plug might be worn out and this may cause the bike not to get a spark in the cylinder. The best thing to do is to try and confirm if the spark plug is making the spark, if not, you can opt to replace the spark plug. After the replacement, the bike should start if the problem was on the spark plugs.
6. The gear is not neutral
When the gear is not in neutral, the bike would not start. Many bikes are designed not to start when in gear. This is just a safety precaution. This should be the very first problem to check when the bike would not start.
Final Word: How to Start a Quad Bike When Not Starting
As we have seen, so many things could be a problem that would make the quad bike not start. Each one of them has a different way of addressing them to get the bike starting again. There might be more to learn on how to start a quad bike when not starting since the problem could be more complex and could last for so long. If the problem persists, however, you might need to call in a mechanic to deal with it.
Some problems would need complex fixing which can be done by an expert only. Not all quad bikes are the same and each of them might have a problem but due to different technicalities and fixing them would need different approaches. This is why you should call a mechanic when the basic trials won’t fix the problem.
