[royalwulf]

I have a TRX 420TM. It wont start when i push the start button. Some background. It needed an oil change. So I changed the oil and filter. It sat around for a while before and after this. When i went to start it, it wouldn't work. It has a pull start so tried that and it worked. So thought it was the battery. Pull start worked several times and i put it in the shed. A while later i tried again but couldn't even pull start it.
Took the battery out, put it on a charger that wont over charge. It tried for a few minutes then said it had full charge. Tested with a multimeter and it was well over 12v.
Put battery back into bike. Still wouldn't start and no lights or numbers on dash.
There is no clicking (on this forum there are articles about clicking soleniods).
Fuses look good.
Head light works - full beam ok
horn works
back light works
Can't pull start it
What should I look at next?
Cheers

 

[royalwulf]

just noticed the neutral light flicks on then off just as i turn the key on the first time

 

[shadetree]

welcome to the forums. try this: turn the key, getting any lights to the dash at all ?, if not ?, then you have a bad ground ?, bad battery connection ?, or a blown fuse somewhere ?. you should get dash lights when the key is turned on ?, if your not ?, then this is a battery issue ( cables ) ?, or a fuse issue ?. in the past, I have found some small black boxes near the battery, inside this box is a thin metal fuse, it looks like a tiny wrench ?, held in with a screw at each in, this is a main fuse on some models, I do not know if yours has this ?, but worth a look !. if you do have it ?, there is a spare in the cap of the box.

 

[shadetree]

just noticed the neutral light flicks on then off just as i turn the key on the first time

bad battery ?, or lose connection between the battery and engine or ignition or ground .

 

[shadetree]

would like to add: until you get a neutral light on the dash ?, it won't fire the spark plug !.

 

[retro]

Welcome to the forums!

What is the year of your Rancher?

You may need a copy of the FSM to aid in troubleshooting and repair? Get one HERE.

I would begin by checking the fuses and cleaning the battery terminals. Then clean the cable connections to ground, both on the frame and motor. Verify that the neutral light is on and kill switch is in the run position. Then report back with symptoms and details...

If the machine sat for a while with fuel in it (Ethanol laced?) then that is probably degrading rapidly and will need to be flushed out and replaced. I'll wait to find out what you are working with...

Have fun with it,

 

[royalwulf]

thank you for the replys.
i think the battery is ok: shows over 12v, charger says full, headlights work - full beam ok, back light works, horn works.
fuses all look ok, pulled them out inspected, put them back in again.
checked battery connections and cleaned them with emery tape, kill switch in correct position.
the neutral flicked on for a split second and off again
fuel might be an issue but it was only off for a couple of weeks maybe 3, and shouldn't it turn over but not fire?

cheers

 

[retro]

....the neutral flicked on for a split second and off again
fuel might be an issue but it was only off for a couple of weeks maybe 3, and shouldn't it turn over but not fire?

cheers

Yeah it should turn over.... start with that neutral light and get that working and see if it cranks. The FSM is your best troubleshooting friend... indispensable. If ya got any questions along the way drop 'em here so we can help....

 

[SamUK]

420 rancher.... Neutral light stays on with ignition on, I'm sat on one right now typing this message ;-)
What your saying leads me to beleive you have a battery issue. Your multimeter may say the battery has 12v but it's amps required (cranking amps) to actually start your ATV. I would get your battery load tested (drop tested) or try a known good battery.

Hope this helps

 

[shadetree]

just a heads up, just because the battery shows 12 volts ?..does not mean it has the amps to crank your atv !. something is wrong with your battery, cables, ground, starter solenoid connections ?. try turning the key on, jump the starter solenoid post with an old screw driver, does it crank over then ?. a flickering neutral light tells me your battery is not good ?, or not hooked up to the engine/frame good ?, or just bad ?!.

 

[shadetree]

420 rancher.... Neutral light stays on with ignition on, I'm sat on one right now typing this message ;-)
What your saying leads me to beleive you have a battery issue. Your multimeter may say the battery has 12v but it's amps required (cranking amps) to actually start your ATV. I would get your battery load tested (drop tested) or try a known good battery.

Hope this helps

haha, you typed most of what I said, but you got it faster..you reading my mind now ?..wth !!..lol.

 

[royalwulf]

ok, will get battery load tested. Looked for the solenoid, not 100% sure what it looks like, lol, found something that looked the images i googled. one post was coming straight off battery +. Anyway crossed it with screw driver. It did nothing except spark a bit.
The FSM I just got from above link tells me some troubleshooting so i will do that tomorrow - dark here in NZ now.

 

[royalwulf]

if it is battery load problem, shouldn't the lights on the dash work but not kick the motor over?

 

[SamUK]

420 rancher.... Neutral light stays on with ignition on, I'm sat on one right now typing this message ;-)
What your saying leads me to beleive you have a battery issue. Your multimeter may say the battery has 12v but it's amps required (cranking amps) to actually start your ATV. I would get your battery load tested (drop tested) or try a known good battery.

Hope this helps

haha, you typed most of what I said, but you got it faster..you reading my mind now ?..wth !!..lol.

Haha.. I thought the same when I saw your post straight after mine!

 

[SamUK]

if it is battery load problem, shouldn't the lights on the dash work but not kick the motor over?

I honestly don't know on a rancher, I've not worked on them much, I only know as I was sat on one at the time I was reading this post so I tried it out.
On my 300 the neutral light stayed on but went dim when I hit the start button.

 

[retro]

if it is battery load problem, shouldn't the lights on the dash work but not kick the motor over?

Maybe... maybe not. Depending on how bad a battery might be.

You can diagnose your problem without a battery installed in the machine if you wish though.... the battery condition is irrelevant 100% of the time! Thats why I never recommend folks to run around wasting time and money load checking the battery... when they haven't even diagnosed their issue yet!!!

All you need is a cheap multimeter (everyone should own one, no matter their skills) to learn where you need to spend your time and money on.

Use the FSM to diagnose... ask questions... get answers... spend time and money on fixing it ONLY.... make sense...?

 

[royalwulf]

yep
have multimeter, will use FSM to diagnose this week
cheers

 

[retro]

@SamUK,

I step on shadetree's posts all the time! He types way faster than I do and my posts generally are much longer... so he always beats me to the thread and usually is saying much the same things as I am... I'm glad someone (you) have finally stepped up and beat him at his own game!!!! LOL

Read 'em and weep shadetree....

 

[retro]

yep
have multimeter, will use FSM to diagnose this week
cheers

Cool, looking forward to your updates or questions!

 

[shadetree]

@SamUK,

I step on shadetree's posts all the time! He types way faster than I do and my posts generally are much longer... so he always beats me to the thread and usually is saying much the same things as I am... I'm glad someone (you) have finally stepped up and beat him at his own game!!!! LOL

Read 'em and weep shadetree....

lmao. it's cool, I don't care who say's it ?, as long as we get the mesg to the OP ?, then it does not matter who says it !..lol.