Trouble starting a wr426f

[sp43]

Can someone please tell me the drill on starting my 2001 wr426f. I just bought the bike and can't seem to figure out the best way to start it. I ruined a pair of danner boots after kicking on this thing all day and I am about to junk the whole thing. I seem to have good luck starting it cold but I have alot of trouble starting the bike after it has warmed up. I am new to the whole compression release idea. All the bikes I have ridden in the pas just kick over. Any advise would be appreicated.

[Bryce_Senff]

Let me be the 1st to welcome you to this fine forum. Let me be the 1st to take the bike off your hands when you junk it! ?

Do a search on "starting procedure" Also let us know what has been done to the bike in terms of mods. I would 1st clean the carb out if your following the correct starting procedures. Usually just pull out the hot start knob, kick it through 3 times with the compression release in, go past tdc about 20-30 degrees and 1 kick should lite her up. I have gone through times when the stubborn mule won't budge, cold or hot.

if so compression start it using by holding clutch and comp. lever in and roll bike down hill and let out clutch,then comp. lever as you slap your ass down on the rear part of seat.

Good luck!

Bryce

[ThumperWR450F]

i think the correct starting procedure is as follows:

1.sell your 426

2.go to your nearest yamaha dealership

3.put a down payment on a "03" WR450F

4.WAIT FOR IT TO ARRIVE!!!

5.WAIT SOME MORE !!

6.JUST A LITTLE MORE WAITING !!

7.dealership calls and tells you it arrived

8.drive as fast as you can without getting pulled over

9.pay for the WR

10.rush home "see step 8"

11.unload the WR

12.call all your buddies over with the 426's

13.push the magic button and say "that's alot easier than kickin"

14. "VROOOOOM VROOOOOOM" she's running

but that's just my 2 cents everyone else might have there own ways to start your bike !! ? :D :D :D

:D :D ?? :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:

[tctrailrider]

SP, think you will find it easy to start once you figure out the process. Stroke the kickstart until it stops, pull in compression release and move the kicker 1 more inch. Release comp. release, let kicker ratchet back up to the top and kick it all the way through. Thumpers like a long stroke. If you flood it pull in comp. release and kick it through a fiew times to clean it out. While kicking do not touch the throttle until it fires or it will flood. Good luck.

[Richard56]

Do a search on the yamaha website... I've seen a video on "Starting the bike" just a while ago... It really helps, because when I got the bike, I don't know how to start either... ?

[woodsrider426]

DR D has a starting procedure video on Yamaha web site how to start it, before I purchased my wr I watched it. First few hours I couldn't start it my friend who owns a thumper was over my house when i picked the bike up, he got on it and he started it right up. That was about 6 months ago now it starts 1 to 2 kicks every time. If the bike was not started in a while turn gas on, give full throttle twice and let it return, Next choke it, kick starter to tdc use decompression,push about 20 degrees or 1.5 inches past tdc, let it go to the top and kick hard no gas. Hot you may have to use the hot start install a remote one especially with a (yz ims tank) same procedure except no choke and no gas while you kick it to start. Open the hot start to lean it out. Also if you have the power now manifold you dont need the hot start except if the bike goes over. Hope this helps. It may seem like a pain but its real easy once you know it. If the bike is even slightly modified you will have a grin ear to ear when you ride and you will forget about the starting problem.

[ThumperWR450F]

COLD ENGINE STARTING:

1. Make sure the bike has fuel, then turn on fuel petcock.

2. Pull out choke knob (black knob on left side of the carburetor).

3. Prime the engine by giving the throttle two full turns (only if the bike has not been started in a day or two).

4. Apply firm pressure to the kick-starter with your foot until you hit distinct resistance (this is the compression stroke/hard spot).

5. While keeping pressure on the kick-starter, pull in the compression release lever and push the kick-starter past the compression stroke/hard spot. The kick-starter needs to only move about 1 to 2 inches past the hard spot. That is all!

6. Release the compression release lever and return the kick-starter to the top

7. Now, kick to start. Do not touch the throttle, as the engine will start and idle on it's own

8. If the bike does not start, repeat steps 4 through 7 only until the engine starts.

HOT ENGINE STARTING

1. Pull out the hot start knob (red knob on the left side of the carburetor).

2. Follow steps 4 through 7 until engine starts.

3. You may have to apply some throttle after the engine starts until you get the hot start knob pushed back in because the carburetor is sending a lean mixture while the hot start knob is out.

The only difference between hot and cold starting is which knob you use, choke or hot start. There is no need to deviate from these simple steps. Remember, DO NOT touch the throttle during hot or cold starting. Also, there is no reason to prime the engine again on the same day of riding.

[sp43]

I really appreciate your help. I will try your suggestions. I am sure it will be a great bike as soon as I figure out how to start it. As fas as mods go it is pretty much stock. It does have renthal bars and bark busters.

[MN_Kevin]

Posted from an article in MXA magazine:

Step one: With the transmission in neutral, turn the gas on and pull the choke out.

Step two: Kick the engine through slowly until you come to the hard spot (where the kickstarter will not move). This is called "bringing it up on compression."

Step three: Once you have brought it up on compression, follow these three steps:

(1) Pull the compression release in.

(2) Move the kickstarter about one inch past compression. Do not move the kickstarter so far that the piston goes through compression and moves too far down into its intake stroke. A little dab will do ya.

(3) Once you have nudged the piston over top dead center, allow the kickstarter to return to the top of its arc.

Step four: Release the compression release.

Step five: Kick with a steady but full stroke (from the top of the kickstarter’s arc all the way until the kickstarter hits the footpeg). If you did everything as prescribed, the YZ-F will start. However, if you touched the throttle, it will not.

Throttle tip: instead of holding onto the throttle with your right hand, hold onto the brake master cylinder.

Hot starting tip: Pull the hot start button out and follow steps one through five. Push the hot start button in as soon as the engine starts.

Cold start tip: Before you start the YZ-F for the first time, give the throttle two little blips. This will put a small dose of fuel into the top-end. No more than two blips. Never blip the throttle before starting a hot or warm engine.

Enemy tip: If you don’t own a YZ-F but want to ruin the day of a YZ-F rider who you don’t particularly like, go over to his unstarted YZ and give the throttle four or five healthy twists. The accelerator pump will fill the engine with fuel and it won’t start until the following Thursday.

The word: The Yamaha YZ-F isn’t the easiest starting full-size four-stroke engine made--that honor goes to the KTM 520SX or anything with an electric starter, but the YZ-F will start every time--if you follow the drill..

[andy4157]

Having to kickstart your bike instead of pushing a button adds character!

[dr x]

Posted from an article in MXA magazine:

Step one: With the transmission in neutral, turn the gas on and pull the choke out.

Step two: Kick the engine through slowly until you come to the hard spot (where the kickstarter will not move). This is called "bringing it up on compression."

Step three: Once you have brought it up on compression, follow these three steps:

(1) Pull the compression release in.

(2) Move the kickstarter about one inch past compression. Do not move the kickstarter so far that the piston goes through compression and moves too far down into its intake stroke. A little dab will do ya.

(3) Once you have nudged the piston over top dead center, allow the kickstarter to return to the top of its arc.

Step four: Release the compression release.

Step five: Kick with a steady but full stroke (from the top of the kickstarter’s arc all the way until the kickstarter hits the footpeg). If you did everything as prescribed, the YZ-F will start. However, if you touched the throttle, it will not.

Throttle tip: instead of holding onto the throttle with your right hand, hold onto the brake master cylinder.

Hot starting tip: Pull the hot start button out and follow steps one through five. Push the hot start button in as soon as the engine starts.

Cold start tip: Before you start the YZ-F for the first time, give the throttle two little blips. This will put a small dose of fuel into the top-end. No more than two blips. Never blip the throttle before starting a hot or warm engine.

Enemy tip: If you don’t own a YZ-F but want to ruin the day of a YZ-F rider who you don’t particularly like, go over to his unstarted YZ and give the throttle four or five healthy twists. The accelerator pump will fill the engine with fuel and it won’t start until the following Thursday.

The word: The Yamaha YZ-F isn’t the easiest starting full-size four-stroke engine made--that honor goes to the KTM 520SX or anything with an electric starter, but the YZ-F will start every time--if you follow the drill..

i second that mine starts first kick cold or hot ...three or four if its been on its side though!!...?

[CoryD12]

I have a WR-426 01...it just takes some time and lots of practice.....if your buddy, who owns a four stroke cant get it started, check your spark plug...if that dont work get your valves adjusted.

[kevingraves]

COLD ENGINE STARTING:

1. Make sure the bike has fuel, then turn on fuel petcock.

2. Pull out choke knob (black knob on left side of the carburetor).

3. Prime the engine by giving the throttle two full turns (only if the bike has not been started in a day or two).

4. Apply firm pressure to the kick-starter with your foot until you hit distinct resistance (this is the compression stroke/hard spot).

5. While keeping pressure on the kick-starter, pull in the compression release lever and push the kick-starter past the compression stroke/hard spot. The kick-starter needs to only move about 1 to 2 inches past the hard spot. That is all!

6. Release the compression release lever and return the kick-starter to the top

7. Now, kick to start. Do not touch the throttle, as the engine will start and idle on it's own

8. If the bike does not start, repeat steps 4 through 7 only until the engine starts.

HOT ENGINE STARTING

1. Pull out the hot start knob (red knob on the left side of the carburetor).

2. Follow steps 4 through 7 until engine starts.

3. You may have to apply some throttle after the engine starts until you get the hot start knob pushed back in because the carburetor is sending a lean mixture while the hot start knob is out.

The only difference between hot and cold starting is which knob you use, choke or hot start. There is no need to deviate from these simple steps. Remember, DO NOT touch the throttle during hot or cold starting. Also, there is no reason to prime the engine again on the same day of riding.

Thanks a bunch on the tip about two grabbing two throttle fulls before you start kicking a cold bike. The manual doesn't mention it and you just cut my start time in 1/2!

[rufusz]

Do yourself a favor and before buying any bling or other parts, buy an auto-decompression cam from HotCams. Best spent 100$. Best MOD for the 426 IMO.

[kevingraves]

Thanks for the post! I checked HotCams and from what I can tell, it will cost you $199 for the exhaust cam which won't help with power but will help remove the decompression issue on start and another $199 for the intake cam which should get you a power increase of 9%. Is this consistent with what you know or am I missing something?

http://www.hotcamsinc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=cProducts.view&productid=488

[jffsnlsn]

Thread was started in 2002, revived in 2007, then again in 2010.

Get a 450 auto-decomp cam

[rufusz]

I saw in other threads on the YZ450 forum that people bought HotCams cheaper or at the same price as normal 450 decomp cams. And with the HotCams unit, you don't have any timing issues.

I've only bought the exhaust cam to make starting easier, didn't have problems powerwise