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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
not really sure what to do on a forum or how to post a thread,but here goes. i need some help or advice on a 97'400 foreman 4x4. it will not start, it belongs to my step-son.we had it brought here from ky after he came to live with us. we have very limited income and are desperate to repair it for him. he has had a very heart breaking year. he had found his grandmother dead on Dec.2 and then his mother commited suicide on Dec.6 and she did this in front of him . so enough of a sob story could any one help me and my husband with any ideas on why it might not be running it was running about a year ago. but that is all i really know.we had a friend tell us that this model has a lot of electrical wiring problems
 

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Agree^^^^!!If it sat for a year there could have been mice in the air box to.Meaning chewed filter and crap in the carb.
 

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Agree^^^ let's get it cleaned up first and foremost then we need to get the battery charged up or replaced. get the tank drained out and fresh fuel. the carb will more than likely need to come off but that's not a big deal and completely cleaned. What state do you live in? other than confusion rightnow. Welcome to the forums...and i am terribly sorry to hear such sad news i couldn't fatham what this kid is going through, but one day at a time is alll we can do.
 

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Agree with the above. I would check and see if it is getting fire at the plug, first. If it is, then the carb probably needs to be cleaned, as this is what is usually wrong with them when they have been sitting a while. The gas evaporates and leaves deposits behind. The needle valve is probably corroded up or covered with gas deposits, debris, etc. This won't allow any gas into the carb and cylinder. A simple test for this is to pour about a teaspoon or so of gas into the spark plug hole. Quickly, put the spark plug back in, before the gas evaporates. Put the spark plug wire back on and try to start it. If it's firing, it should start and run for maybe 1-3 seconds. If it does, then, the carb is stopped up and needs to be took off and cleaned real good.
 

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Discussion Starter · #6 ·
thank you i will try to check that out tomorrow. i did go to school for golf cart repair years ago when in worked at clemson university's golf course. so i was certified as a golf cart tech. but that was years ago. i will let you know what i find.
 

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Good luck.
 

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Discussion Starter · #8 ·
i thank all of you so much i will check all of these things out tomorrow and get back with you all. i was really grasping at straws, when i kind of accidentally came across your forum. i have never in my life done any thing like this before. but i think i am getting the hang of it i hope. i will do about anything i can for my children. i can say in response to my step-son's terrible ordeal that he is doing great.He is a joy and i normally do not address him as a step-child because i love him as if he were my own. my children and he are so close it is unreal.again thank you all so much for helping me.
 

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Glad to here he's dealing ok.
 

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Yeah he deserves this fourwheeler.Fix it quick.lol just joking take your time and do it right.
 

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Discussion Starter · #12 ·
also to answer the question as to what state do i live in, it is a state of confusion???? seriously though south carolina. but thanks for the humor, its nice to have a laugh.and again i can not tell you all enough how greatful i am for all your response.i have written it all down and will work on it tomorrow.maybe i will have it fixed by the time my husband gets up tomorrow(he works night shift 7-7). or when my son gets home from school.
 

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That would be a nice suprise for him.
 

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Discussion Starter · #14 ·
he is an amazing child.it was one of those mom took him and left one day when he was only a baby,and my husband searched for years for them.when he would find them she would leave again.she was using the child support money for drugs and god knows what else.Her mother would help to hide where they were.it had been 10 years since he had seen his son,when we got the call from my neice who found him crying in a game room she had just started working at that day. she recognized him and ask him what was wrong.and here we are.we were disgusted at the fact the child had never had a bed to sleep in,but he had wanted to come live with his dad ,so that is why she bought the four wheeler,as a pawn. you know,it is strange how things work out some times.and it is amazing how children view things they should not even have to ponder about .but he told us he knew all this happened for a reason,i ask him what he thought that reason was, he smiled and said so i could have a better life,now i can be a kid,and i don't have to wonder what it's really like to be a kid,now i don't have to move and i can have friends. i smiled back and said yes son,you can have all of these things and more.because you deserve it,no strings attached
 

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Man.He never had a bed.His mother should have been put in jail long ago.That way he could have been with you all a long.It sounds like he atleast has a mother that cares now.
 

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Discussion Starter · #16 ·
sorry guys,for all the sob story,i just wanted to let you know a little about this whole situation.alittle about the here lately,he is an honor roll student,joined the basketball teamand has signed up for football this next season.has a little girlfriend(im not suppose to know about her though)and is now the new usher at church that helps collect the offering plates.we are so proud of him,when we get this four wheeler fixed then i will turn my spot on this forum over to him,and you guys can help him along with all his atv questions.as you see his father is a great man,but is more computer illiterate than i,so he will not know how to find you guys to ask questions about how to fix this and that on his atv.his mother may have given it to him as a pawn to keep him from his father,but i want to repair it for him so he and his father can have something to enjoy together.
 

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Discussion Starter · #17 ·
thank you for the compliment,and we did try to get him numerous times but as i said she always got away.i have realized that you really never know what a lot of children have to go through in life.i just dont understand how anyone, especially a mother can be so careless,and not try to do right by there child.i mean i had 4 children,one of which died at birth she was a twin to my oldest son,who by the way is a miracle (14 brain surg.,has cerebral palsy,deaf,and just survived a hemorage to the brain)is a honor roll student and lets nothing slow him down,daughter who has two babies herself,and then my youngest son(if he had been first there would have been no more)ha ha.and then here i was with another son,someone elses child to raise.but i did not mind at all,he is a child,a person with feelings and i could just feel his hurt,anger,confusion.i knew he needed help,but he needed love more.we made sure he had a dr. to talk to just to make sure he was ok.but i still cant understand how anyone can end their life the way she did.i will never know how can you do that,how can you look at your child and truely say im going to kill myself and go though with it while he is watching. what kind of parent could do that? boggles my mind,i mean when they told me i had cancer 2 yrs ago,all i could think of was i cant tell my kids,i dont want them to worry or be sad.life should be just that,life. hey you can tell me to shut up any time,can you tell the kids are asleep and my husbands at work? nobody to talk to but the dog,and she just dont seem to be learning how to talk.
 

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South Carolina.. I pass through there whe I go to Ga. to see my dad, this kids always ask " are we going to see the watertower that looks like a butt-crack? (the peach on interstate 95) they are so funny, I love all my kids I only have 1 that is mine but 3 step my daughter is 18 and my oldest step son is 15 and another boy and girl 9 and 10. South Carolina isn't that far from Busco Beach you should come up with the kid and his 4 wheeler and ride with us this summer. look for the thread Bucso Beach Trip.


:icon_ worthless::icon_ worthless:
 

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Thats a good idea moose.
 

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Discussion Starter · #20 ·
thanks for the invite moose,i remember when they were building that butt-crack,it took me most of my childhood to realize it was a peach. sorry i took so long to reply back to you guys,but here is a rundown on what i worked on today,i charged the battery last night,and i drained the gas tank put a little fresh fuel in and drained it out,put more fuel in,the old fuel looked clean and then i found out later my youngest son had put fuel in it last week,but any way i checked all the wires i could follow i did not see any mice marks or any thing,so maybe they are ok. i had my dad come over to help me check out the carb. i thought since he raced go carts and did a little drag racing when i was little he might could help.turns out racing he did the racing and my grandpa did the fixing so that did not turn out the way i planned.grandpa took all the engine repair skills with him i guess, but hey if i need a toilet repaired or something built dad can do that. he just cant build a carb.
 
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