87 quadzilla starting problems

87 quadzilla starting problems
Posted by QuadThriLLa on 05 Jun, 2014 01:01
im having trouble with my 87 quadzilla its hard as hell to start and occasionally backfires and kicks back HARD. Ive got a lrd adjustable pipe and silencer on it v force3 reeds with reed spacer using vp 110 fuel with klotz oil im just kinda curious as to weather its jetting timing or electrical problems it will start easilly with a tow in 5th gear

#1 Reply
Posted by Q2W on 05 Jun, 2014 06:14
Check your timing - for the kick back. Make sure the mark on the stator lines up with the mark on the motor. If they do, then maybe the arrows on the gears aren't lined up.

Jetting is the usual suspect for hard to start zillas but electrical can be the issue too. What is your elevation? What pilot jet do you run? what is your air/fuel screw and slide height set to?

#2 Reply
Posted by QuadThriLLa on 06 Jun, 2014 02:58
timing marks are all good on stator and balance gear pilot jet is the stock 30 air fuel at 1.5 turns needle in middle clip as far as slide hight im unsure on that one

#3 Reply
Posted by MotorGeek - Jerry Hall on 06 Jun, 2014 07:35
Quote from: QuadThriLLa on 05 Jun, 2014 01:01
im having trouble with my 87 quadzilla its hard as hell to start and occasionally backfires and kicks back HARD. Ive got a lrd adjustable pipe and silencer on it v force3 reeds with reed spacer using vp 110 fuel with klotz oil im just kinda curious as to weather its jetting timing or electrical problems it will start easilly with a tow in 5th gear

Check the air gap between the flywheel and pickup. If it is greater than .035" sometimes it will not generate a pulse at kicking speeds.

I find most starting problems are directly related to carburetion and starting technique.

#4 Reply
Posted by Q2W on 06 Jun, 2014 09:13
will your zilla idle after you pull start?

Also, 22.5 is the stock pilot.

Try setting your slide height first. First let out all the slack in the throttle cable by adjusting it at the handle bars. Basically, there needs to be slack in the throttle cable so when you lower the slide height, the slide will actually go with it. You have to remove the tube between airbox and the carb. looking into the carb, adjust the thumb screw - big screw with a spring on it - out until the slide is all the way down. from there, raise the slide about 3mm. adjust the throttle cable at the handlebars so that there is no slack and the slide moves as soon as you press the thumb throttle. Then never touch the thumb screw again.

Any idle adjustments from here need to be made with the air/fuel screw. I usually do 1/4 turns at a time so i can keep up with how my turns out i am.

you didnt mention what air filter or if you are running without the airbox lid. But, assuming you are running a K&N or UNI without the lid, by guess a 27.5 pilot will be the max. Most likey a 25 but always start rich and work your way down.

Also, i don't know if you're familiar with the zilla start procedure but from a cold start, turn the ignition off and moderately kick through about 3 times to prime the motor. On the next kick, turn ignition on, set the piston at TDC and kick it like it owes you money from the top of the crank. If you dont know how to tell if it's at TDC, slowly push the kicker down until it feels like it sets in a notch. that will be TDC.

I know it seems like a lot of work but if you use this procedure and your zilla is jetted correctly, it will start 1-3 kicks every time.

#5 Reply
Posted by Rider414 on 07 Jun, 2014 07:34
Good stuff to start with has be posted -

Does it idle after you get it started? The 500 should never be that hard to start. Plus it's hillbilly to pull start a quad.

#6 Reply
Posted by QuadThriLLa on 07 Jun, 2014 13:07
well its got a twin air filter 30 pilot jet lid removed and yes i know tow starting is hillbilly but it works when ur in a pinch and that bastard kicker has already damn near broke ur ankle and made u teer up

thanks for the info on carb setup and start procedure

#7 Reply
Posted by QuadThriLLa on 18 Jun, 2014 01:36
well it turns out i have a really weak spark so im just gonna replace the whole ignition system and i was looking into a pvl setup and was wondering if any of you have used them and if they are worth the money

#8 Reply
Posted by LT500Kid on 18 Jun, 2014 04:33
I've heard nothing but bad about the pvl for the zilla's. Maybe someone who has used them on a 500 can chime in about their experience before you purchase one

#9 Reply
Posted by GrkGuy on 18 Jun, 2014 06:24
just get the oem stuff, dont waste your money on the pvl.
check ground for the weak spark

#10 Reply
Posted by MotorGeek - Jerry Hall on 18 Jun, 2014 07:32
The shape of the PVL ignition timing curve is not right for the LT500. The PVL will blow your foot off trying to kick start the engine.

The small light-weight PVL flywheel is hard on transmissions, chains and clutches

#11 Reply
Posted by QuadThriLLa on 19 Jun, 2014 01:47
wel im glad i asked about pvl system before i wasted 500 bux on it. I will check ground out but either way im prolly just gonna replace everything. I know why they guy i got this quad from was so willing to trade it to me for a 01 400 ex now. I havent done nothing but throw money at it since i got it repacked the silencer when i got it home took it for a ride and started hearing all kinds of noise in the motor pulled the topend off piston was wore slap out popped the clutch cover off the crank nut for the drive gears had spunn off somehow and ate the threads off the crank and chewed the clutch basket to peices luckily it hadent flew apart yet got it all replaced and topend bored and put new v-force reeds in first kick almost made me cry like a little girl