All of a sudden hard starting

[Orangeman64]

Help please, all of a sudden the bike has become almost impossible to start. I have an 03 WR450. It has a yz cam, rekluse clutch, all free mods complete. I just switched from yamalube to Delo 400. I also switched from the blue to red needle(4th position) JD jet kit( for the winter). I am wondering if I should go back to the blue, or switch back to the yamalube oil. I am in South Carolina by the way(for elevation purposes). And forget about the e button, it has never worked when starting cold, after the bike is warm it will start with it (sometimes). Kicking used to always be a breeze but now it's a night mare, 20-30 kicks to get this thing to fire now. Any suggestions would be "greatly" appreciated. I won't even ride as much as I'd like to because of the pain in the neck to get the bike started, and I just finished building a 1/4 mile track in my back yard. Thanks.

[clark4131]

Check your valves, I'll bet you have some tight ones. Hard starting is a tell tale sign...SC

[PumpkinHumper]

Orange man, Is the outside temps pretty cold right now??

Does it start and stall like 10-15x before finially staying running?

If so you need a bigger starter jet. Its a little sucker right next to the main and pilot. I go from a 65 to a 72 on my YZ400 in the winter when the temps get below 30deg. Makes a HUGE differance for cold starting.

Some will say to just give it a few more squirts of gas. But that is just a bandaid for a lean choke circuit. The bigger starter jet will fix that. You can easily fowl a plug by giving it too many squirts of gas in the winter months. The starter jet is a better cure.

[Indy_WR450]

I also switched from the blue to red needle(4th position) JD jet kit( for the winter). I am wondering if I should go back to the blue, or switch back to the yamalube oil.

Blue needle is for winter. The red needle is for summer!

Delo 400 oil is what I use and there are no issues. Cold weather try a 72 starter jet as well. Blue needle in clip #4. ?

[clark4131]

The part about the needle switch didn't register with me ? .

Go back to the blue until the swallows return to Capistrano...SC

[Strattos]

When was the last time you changed your plug? I've noticed they can slowly lose their kick, and then all of a sudden they die.

[djv5]

Get a valve adjustment. I had the same problem last fall with my '03 WR450. Since the valve adjust she fires right away.

Also, try getting a replacement battery from AutoZone. It was only $29.00 and cranks alot better, and you get a warranty on the battery. Search the forums here for the battery part #.

[TARFELE]

Get a valve adjustment. I had the same problem last fall with my '03 WR450. Since the valve adjust she fires right away.

Also, try getting a replacement battery from AutoZone. It was only $29.00 and cranks alot better, and you get a warranty on the battery. Search the forums here for the battery part #.

$29.00 I will take two to go with a large Diet Coke, No Ice.

Damn that is cheap.

[Dan_Lorenze]

Check your valves........ ?