Hard starting 01 660

[tazz001]

Recently bought a used 660 for one of the boys. It was suppose to have rebuilt engine (bored and freshened up). It was a hard starting beast when we looked at it but was reasonably priced. Had to grab it.

So, the kid wants to run his bike with dad and siblings but foesn't go cuz it takes forever to start if at all. Usually he starts it by pulling it with a 4wd model. When it starts it runs great. once running it will start all day w/o any issues.

Raptor has great spark, lots of fuel and yes the vavle lash was just checked and readjusted. When cranking it sputters and coughs but no firing up. Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on what else to look at.

At this point we are looking into the cam/crank timing and wondering if its of a tooth or 2 as when cranking it occasionally sounds like firing in the exhaust.

Thanks for these forums...they are a great tool to track down issues with problem bikes

[Peelz]

spark plug okay? Could be carb related. THe idle a/f screws below each carb may be way off. Been awhile...but I think they should be 2-2.5 turns out. That and having the idle set low could cause hard starting. THe carbs are not terribly difficult to work on the 660 should you have to..

one of the Other issues with them: intake boot between carb and head could be leaking. Mine had that.

Are there any modifications done?

[Mad Dog]

Try adjusting the valve lash, intake and exhaust.

[AJ RAPTOR]

when mine was hard to start (it would try to turn over then give up and act like the batt. was dead till it got to tdc then it would fire up really easy when it got warmed up most of the time) but it turned out to be my auto decompressure was sticking and not working right aswell as hydro locking at the same time ofcourse i found that out after it went flying out of the head.

[tazz001]

Yep valve lash was checked and dbl checked. as for what mods have been done....we are unsure about that as we have never touched the engine. It does have an aftermarket exhaust and Uni filter assembly. Its been bored out .60 over. Cam...couldn't tell you. Compression...again couldn't tell you.

The guys ae looking at the decompression stuff and crank/valve timing. This isn't anything that just started...it's been a hard starter since we got it. Usually end up pull starting it and then will start all day but not easily.

Thanks for the replies. I will get hubby to check the ait/fuel screws. I am going to get some new plugs for it anyway....better safe than sorry there.