[sletterman20]

Never had a problem with my 08 rancher 420 until now. Rode last week and it ran for about 10 minutes then started sputtering as if i just kept repeatedly punching the throttle even though I was holding it steady. Didn't have enough power to go up a small hill. Took it home and changed out the spark plug and put some gas cleaner in it to clean out any dirt or whatever might be in the gas. Rode it for about 30 minutes and it ran fine, met up with some friends and had it idiling for a few minutes then as we started to driving off and it started doing it again except worse and it wouldn't stay cranked. I can let it sit for awhile and it will crank up fine but after a few minutes the problem starts again. What do I need to do?????? I want to ride tomorrow!

 

[Helmut]

My guess would be either the fuel filter or the fuel pump. The fuel filter is located in the fuel pump. Here is a link to the Honda EFI fuel filter replacement procedures.

http://www.hondaatvforums.net/forums/repair-maintenance/3949-honda-efi-fuel-filter-replacement.html

 

[sletterman20]

thank you helmut! will try my best! believe it or not, i'm a girl and have had this 4wheeler since feb of last year and have done all the regular maintenance on it myself, including when my friend hit me and bent my frame and changing my own brakes, but i wasn't planning on having to deal with something like this! argh!

 

[Helmut]

Well good luck, hope you get it fixed.

 

[80h4thephaze]

How did it go?

 

[shadetree]

sounds like you got a fuel/carb issue..try taking the carb off..and giving it a good cleaning..and as helmut stated..check the fuel filter..as your ridding it..some trash or something is getting sucked up into the jets..this is what it sounds like is going on to me.

 

[Helmut]

sounds like you got a fuel/carb issue..try taking the carb off..and giving it a good cleaning..and as helmut stated..check the fuel filter..as your ridding it..some trash or something is getting sucked up into the jets..this is what it sounds like is going on to me.

The 420 Rancher is fuel injected, don't have a carb.

 

[shadetree]

sounds like you got a fuel/carb issue..try taking the carb off..and giving it a good cleaning..and as helmut stated..check the fuel filter..as your ridding it..some trash or something is getting sucked up into the jets..this is what it sounds like is going on to me.

The 420 Rancher is fuel injected, don't have a carb.

lol..there's your problem..it's missing the carb !..lmfao...stupid fuel injection sucks..lol.

 

[staffmeister]

I have the same issue now... how hot is it? do you mud ride? Mine gets real hot now & does this. I'm gonna start by cleaning the radiator real good. then I'll look into the fuel filter.

 

[MudMat]

Ok my bike just started the same thing today, it was just after getting stuck for a while. The FI light wasn't on so I don't think its a fuel problem, seems like more of an ignition problem.

What did you guys have to do to fix this problem?

I went to my service manual and it says that its ignition but who knows.

Edit: It happened soon after a river crossing so I'm thinking of pulling all my electrical connections apart and putting dielectric grease in them.

 

[MudMat]

Greased and cleaned all connections and still did it. I noticed when it was doing it if I just turned the key without the bike running I could hear the fuel pump acting funny like if it is pumping then running out of fuel. Took the fuel pump assy apart and the filter was all black, I'm not sure if its supposed to be but I'll order a new one tomorrow. I also checked the fuel pump relay out and it doesn't seem to be kicking in and out.

I'll post my findings.

 

[Deeperinthabush]

is the filter plate itself white,or grey colored?

 

[MudMat]

I don't know what you mean by filter plate but the filter was black, not grey. I cut it in two and on the inside it was all black.

Here's a pic of the filter from the service manual showing the filter I'm talking about.

I've read that if the filter is clogging up the pump will overheat and will "surge" on and off causing the bike to act like I'm describing.

 

[Deeperinthabush]

It will,it will eventually burn up the pump itself in a fairly short period of time if it's bad enough,and the key is left on...I've seen some of the replaceable filters that were white/grey is why I asked that,seeing as you said the filter was black I was wondering if the whole filter was black,or just the filtering media/area itself...They're only like 10-15bux from the stealerships so it's cheap insurance to go ahead and change the filter now,n be done with it for a couple of years or so...

 

[MudMat]

That's what I figured, I ordered one from work today and it should be in tomorrow. I'll change it to be on the safe side anyway and if it fixes it then good, if not then atleast it will be done. I think that I'll be changing that filter once a year from now on.

 

[MudMat]

Put the new fuel filter in today and took it out for a ride. I think that was it.

 

[Deeperinthabush]

Shweeeeeeettt...Now all ya gotta do is add a few ounces of Seafoam once,twice,three times a year,and save having to change the gas filter again...

 

[hondatrx420]

Hi, my rancher looses power too, after a 5 or 10 min run. I already changed the fuel pump, clean the tank, but when I took off the petcock from the tank notice that the little line that goes inside the tank is cracked, I believe is copper, but notice another thing whem I press the throttle and is sputtering I put my mouth on the tank and blow air it runs fine. I think is either the cracked line in petcock and is losing pressure or is the feed line from inyector. Please help, dont wanna take to stealership....

 

[dirtdantootrill]

my 420 rancher is a 08 and the FI light started flashing and the next day it starting spitting and sputtering and kept getting worse to the point of not even running could anyone help me with this problem??? thank you and i dont get online much so could you text 2515892638 with your help. greatly appreciated

 

[swamper]

This seems like a common problem with the ranchers, I have a 2007 420 that is doing the same things. I found some wires to the CPU chewed up by mice, fixed that and the bike still kills and is hard to start up. So I changed the fuel filter, drained the gas tank added fresh gas with a touch of marvel oil and it still dies when ideling.
the bike runs fine for a while, once I stop and let it idle for a min. it dies and takes a few times before it starts, what ive noticed with mine is after trying to start it two or three times, it back fires and then starts up. but after riding a little bit the problem starts all over again.
any other ideas on what could be causing this.

I have a 2004 350 rancher that runs like a clock.