[bjordan]

Howdy Folks. Brand new 1998 Honda Recon 250 owner here. Just picked it up at night. Its not running, but, according to the PO, it was a few months ago and was running when parked. This may be a problem of the idiot behind the trigger (me) and not knowing this ATV. Repair and service manuals are on the way. The bike is in very nice condition and adult owned and maintained.

When I put power to it and turn the key to the on position, only the headlights come one. Nothing else - the neutral light is off and the started does nothing, not even a click. Just dead. Is there another action I am not doing? Is there a peculiar issue with these models?

I thought I would check before taking body panels off. The wiring harnesses look good, nothing cut. There has been nothing added to the system (winch, extra lights, etc).

Any place I should start poking around?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Melatv]

Hi: Is the run switch in the center??

 

[bjordan]

Hi: Is the run switch in the center??

Yes it is. But, I found the problem and as I thought, it turned out to be the idiot behind the trigger (me).:big-grin It started up fine.

Problem solved.

 

[_Wilson_]

Kill switch funnies..... I've done that, and the fuel petcock .......lol, glad it's solved, thx for the update

 

[shadetree]

just for chits and giggles, what was the problem ? ( other than you !..lol ).

 

[AlabamaDan]

Hi: Is the run switch in the center??

That's been my problem before. lol

 

[_Wilson_]

And there's always living it in gear......lol

 

[LedFTed]

Snookered

snookered by kill switch. when i got the 2000, in 08, that kill switch gave me many problems.i even had to get my brother to tow me back to the house once:blush:, only i killed it. i am lucky now, that slide switch is frozen.
im still not sure when you need that switch any, unless the atv is on the side or upside down, been there. i just turn off the key. im not sure why its there, unless you dont want the little ones, starting your atv, when you leave the key in. i think getting snookered by that switch is, to tell you, you need to bone up on the operation, of what you got. //ed

 

[Hilldweller]

Hi: Is the run switch in the center??

Yes it is. But, I found the problem and as I thought, it turned out to be the idiot behind the trigger (me).:big-grin It started up fine.

Problem solved.

We could start a thread on dumb stuff. I killed batteries (dead and deader) this past winter on my Rancher and my mower by leaving the master switch in the on position. That was a $150 "oops."

Last year on my annual fishing trip to Canada, fishing buddies in another boat called over the radio that their boat was dead in the water. NO reaction at all from the motor when turning the key. We came over from one bay over, hooked up the tow rope, and pulled them into the lodge. When we got back to the dock, the deck hand got in the boat, and fired it right up. The problem? Transmission in gear when my buddy tried to start the boat; safety system won't let that happen.

I can go on....

 

[bjordan]

And there's always living it in gear......lol

Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

I have over 20 years of owning, working on and racing vintage Honda SOHC4 bikes. Never worked on or been on a modern bike. I never would have dreamed that Honda switched their shift pattern from 1st, neutral, 2nd, etc.

I finally googled the shift pattern and bingo - stomp on the shifter enough and the green neutral light came on... Live and learn I guess.

Heading out to take the carb off and clean it - this is something I have infinite amounts of experience with and why I bought an ultra sonic cleaner years ago.