74 jdx4

[Popcorn popper]

My son bought a Jdx4 1974 with I believe the kohler engine. Very tough starting to say least. Is that normal with these? Takes at least 5-6 pulls with full choke. One guy I know said to put a marine primer inline to get fuel to carb. Have you guys heard of this? Or is skidoo primer better option?

[400brian]

5 or 6 pulls warm or cold?

I personally do not use a marine squeeze bulb because it is just another possible failure point, but to each his own. I have tried the plunge primers that shoot gas into the intake, but I found they rarely lasted more than one season.

[Matt]

Make sure it has the check valve on the intake fuel line inside the tank. If not, then fuel will just drain back down. Although I would call 5-6 pulls an easy start if it's cold.

[AirborneX4Special]

I recall 5-6 pulls on mine using the plunger style primer during a cold start. It would be more like 20 or better without a primer.

[400brian]

One other thing that I recall is that it helps to have the check ball fuel fitting hanging straight down in the tank rather than laying horizontal in the bottom. Another thing I really enjoy is electric start.

Fired up the 72 400 last night for the first time in 9 years. Squirted a bit of fuel down each plug hole, puller it over and it fired. Put the plugs back in and cranked it with the e-start, but it wasn't pulling fuel, ( nothing odd there ). So I pulled the return line off the tank fitting, slid a piece of fuel line on and while holding my finger over the vent in the gauge, I blew into the line, pressurizing the tank and pushing fuel down the supply line. When I saw fuel coming down the return line I put it back on the tank fitting. I then pulled the choke, held half throttle, and turned the key. About 15 seconds later it was running!

[Popcorn popper]

Yes thats warm. Cold its alot more don’t keep track. Terrible to start. Usually give it a little sniff of ether to save the agony.

[Popcorn popper]

Took the jdx8 and 4 on tour. About 35km. Both ran decent. The jdx4 struggles to hang with 440 of jdx8. But we enjoyed the run.

[AirborneX4Special]

Be very careful with ether. The X4 would only be a 295 with the bogie wheel suspension so keeping up to the Big Dog would be difficult.

[Popcorn popper]

We cruised down small river. I was cruising 1/2 throttle at about 35-40 mph. Jason said he was near wide open lol.So i dialed it back a bit. The 440 is breaking in now getting stronger more i ride it. At one point on open road i hit 60 it was still climbing but i let out. Kinda impressed how it works.

[Rabbit]

I am looking to install CDI set up in my JDX8 do you know where I can find timing spec