Fuel Problem with NEW 29 HP Kawasaki

[smithder]

I believe the fuel pump theory may be correct. When this machine was delivered from the factory last week I had a heck of a time getting it primed enough to run. It would start and die just like it did yesterday. When it would not run yesterday you could hear the pump run but the filter was not filling up. The slight hesitation could also be cause from low fuel pressure. Being that this is a brand new machine we are going to have to call Max tomorrow and see how they want us to go about getting this problem corrected.

Anyone have smooth instant throttle responce from the 29 Kawasaki? My 18 vangaurd does not have near the power but has smoother responce to throttle input. I've never been around another Max with EFI to compare it to but expected not to have starting/performance issues related to fuel delivery with the EFI.

[fmints]

I'm pretty sure that Max will take care of this situation with ease. You will see that your 29 Kawi is an abolute monster when you drop the hammer on it, and as smooth as a Caddy with the response. This is probably a needle in a haystack to have an issue like this from the factory, and the Kawasaki's are pretty reputable if I may say so myself. I hope the end of this situation for you comes to an end so you can get back to enjoying your new Max!!

[smithder]

I hope your right. Do you have this motor?

[MaxRules]

Call Recreatives in the morning and see if they have any simple things you could check. Otherwise just take it to a Kawasaki small engine dealer and have it fixed under warranty. That engine has been in the Max IV for many years so there shouldn't be any growing pains. Also be very careful of the fuel you put in it. Gas goes bad really fast now and the ethanol is horrible. I've had people put gas in their quad/side x side from their farm tank that was more like water instead of gas. It might run for a while and get parked in the garage, then the next time it would not run. Replace the gas with fresh and it starts right up. Carbed or Fuel injected, bad gas is one of the biggest problems in today's ATV.

[smithder]

That's the plan. This machine was just delivered a week ago tomorrow and was filled up after it was received directly from the pump. This is the first tank of gas run through it. I'm sure it will get corrected and be reliable, just very frustrating to have reliability issues with a new machine after throwing down that many bills for it.

[MAX IV Mark]

when I got my machine it was a 2008 machine that I bought from the original owner in 2011. He had never drove it, it only had 1.7 hours on it, and I assumed that was factory testing hours. But my gas line was melted into goo near the tank and the section inside it. I assumed he had put stabil in it without enough gas and it melted everything sitting 3 years. I replaced all the lines with polyurathane lines and it has been good since. i also had some studdering at one time because the ground wire from the battery to the frame kept having the bolt loosen up, I added a lock nut to it and that took care of that. Its a nice engine, i hope its something simple for you.
MAX IV Mark

[msafi65]

I believe all the MAX vehicles are run on a dyno at the factory. They must use a seperate fuel source because they don't have any sign of fuel in the tanks when they arrive. Call the factory for help. My guess is a poor connection on a fuel line or a pinched return. A closed return line will shut them down. Good luck

[smithder]

Anyone know what the three fuel lines are? I know source and return but what it the third one?

[amphibious drew]

There usually is a pulse line from the crank, a line in from the tank to the pump, and a line from the pump to the carb. If there is an additional line it would most likely be fuel return. hope that helps.

[smithder]

RI suggest we drain the gas and try new gas. I will do this tonight but this gas came directly from the pump at a station near my house and I don't believe this will be the solution. They said if this does not correct the issue we will need to take it to a local Kawasaki service location.

[hydromike]

I've had a similar problem with the 26hp EFI Kohler I have in an Attex. Mine is a retrofit, so I'm probably more likely to have an issue than a new Max IV. I've had problems with intermittent stuttering and missing on the front cylinder and mine was (and sort of still is) related to getting air in the system. On my system, I have a line from the fuel pump to the fuel pressure regulator, a line from the regulator to the fuel rail, and a line from the regulator back to the tank as a recirculation loop to bleed off the extra pressure the system doesn't need. I don't run the Chief that much at all, and it's a gremlin I still need to hunt down once and for all. I just don't know where the problem lies, and too many irons in the fire makes me put it off....

On my Kohler, there is an air bleed valve on the fuel rail between the cylinders. Most times, I have to shut the engine down, bleed off the air and restart. It usually hiccups a couple times and then cleans right up. I need to go through the whole machine again and make it more reliable after not really paying enough attention during the initial build.

Your Max has been R&D'd to a good extent, so I would guess it could be something as simple as a loose fitting that's letting some air get into the system.

[Bazooo guy]

If there is a fitting letting air in it should show up as a fuel leak when pressurized by the pump.
A fuel pressure gauge would tell you if the pump is failing and a bad ground (or loose power wire) would cause the pump to
fail intermittantly.

[hydromike]

If there is a fitting letting air in it should show up as a fuel leak when pressurized by the pump.

In my particular case, I think the air is getting into the system on the suction side of the pump, not the pressure side. I realize that the path of least resistance should be the fuel coming in the line from the tank, but I don't have any other way to explain how the air is getting into the line in the first place. The symptoms he's describing mirror what I'm seeing, but I'm betting his fuel system geometry is quite a bit different....

[msafi65]

http://encoreequipment.com/wordpress...hp_FD750D1.pdf. This a link to kawasiki fd750 shop manual. Was the fuel shut off valve closed when you got the vehicle. If it was the pump could be damaged from running dry before picking up fuel. Check out self diagnosis light. Page 2-36. Hope this helps

[Bazooo guy]

Great info to have
I like the self diagnosis light option .....
That looks like a great engine with liquid cooling and digital fuel injection.