Our 03 rancher sputters and cuts out at higher RPM's. Do these machines have some kind of RPM limiter? It runs fine unless we try to rev it up past a certain point. It has about 2000 miles on it, and it has a .142 jet installed. When we went to Pitkin, I jetted it down to about a .130, and that really didnt seem to make much difference while in colorado anyway. The local dealer said that the stock jet is supposed to be a .125. Anybody got any ideas? I have tinkered with the carb settings just a bit, by turning the "black knob"

arcticrancher Welcome to the ATVQuadSquad.

There are rev limiters in most machines, but it maybe you have some dirt in the carb or fuel, or maybe old gas.

Can you give us some more information to be able to help you figure out the problem you are having.

What elevation do you normally ride at? How old is the gas in the machine, and did you buy the gas in Colorado then take it to a lower elevation?

What if any modifications are done to the machine? Exhaust? air filter..?

What size is the engine a 350?

Trouble shooting engine problems is tough enough when you are standing next to the machine, even harder across the internet, but with enough information it can be done..

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arcticrancher

You should read the plugs see where they are at.

Well lets see. It is a 350 (329cc) engine. It does have a k/n filter (cone type) and as far as i know, no other engine mods. I hadnt thought of looking at the plug (duh) I get used to something working correctly and then when it acts up, I seem to forget everything I know about engines. We live in eastern KS near topeka, so I think its about 1000 feet in elevation. The engine pulls well in any gear, just as long as you dont push the go button too hard and then it starts to sputter. I am an old fart and it is just a run of the mill utility rancher, so its not like we are racing or turning high RPM generally, just like to goose it and not have the sputter cutting out event. When I bought it, it had the 142 jet in it, but when i went to honda to lean it out they said the stock jet should be a 125. It seems to me like it runs a bit rich, can that be responsible for cutting out under hard throttle?

I just looked at an online micro fiche and it shows a 130 jet with a 125 as an option, usually the smaller jet is the high altitude jet. I wonder why a 142 is in the carb??

A fouled plug can cause problems, as well as being too rich.

Is the air filter clean and oiled properly?
A dirty air filter or too much oil on the air filter can cause a rich mixture problem.

articrancher..,
Has the machine gotten wet or drowned out?? One of my ridin' buddies has a 350 rancher and we do go on some creek ridin' and about everytime he gets a little water in it it sputters and misses. Which any machine would do though his is a little excessive. think he's gotta leak somewhere...
From around Topeka? I stayed upin independence Ks. for a god while.. been to topeka quite a bit..

would the 125 jet be appriate for 5000-10000ft riding an 06 rancher??

1953greg
Welcome to the 'squad..

What are the CC's of the engine? 350 400 ??

The 350es is 329cc
The 400at is 397cc

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What are the CC's of the engine? 350 400

350/329cc. im headed to utah this summer. also, does the carb have to be removed to change the jet?

Hey Welcome, yes the carb has to be removed to change any of the jets!

Articrancher, I would put the 130 jet in, it sounds like it is running rich. We're in OK and run the standard 130 jet here and I think it's a 110 jet(whatever the Honda manual recommends) for Colorado, which works fine.

1953greg, you don't have to "remove" the carb to re-jet. I just disconnect it front and back from the rubber boots and rotate it upside down. You can leave all the linkage connected. You can then remove the float bowl and get to the jet. Doing it this way takes only about 10-15min. to change.