Gutless 2002 Prairie 650. Why?

[idahorider]

So I am hoping that many of you more experienced riders/mechanics can help me out with a problem that I have been having with my 2002 kawasaki prairie. Just a little background first. I received this atv from my father in exchange for some work. It has been a great atv with plenty of power. It has been used mostly on the farm and has just over 2000 hours on it (2024). My father stopped using it for about two years. It sat inside his shop for this whole time. He claimed that it didnt run very well and isnt the type to go get it fixed so it just sat with a 1/2 tank of gas in it for over two years. This is where the problems began. I got on it and drove it and immediately noticed that it was gutless. Slow throttle response, little power and would only go about 15-23 mph. I figured since it had sat for two years the carb was gummed up and needed to be cleaned. So I cleaned it. Put it back together and still no luck. Talked to some friends they said clean it better. So I cleaned it in some of the nastiest carb cleaner that I could find. Blew out all of the ports and needles and got it looking awesome! Still was gutless. So I read forum after forum looking for similar problems and applied all that I could. I thought that is was the belt switch so I flipped it and actually put it in the "slow mode". Screen on the meter was flashing and everything. Flipped it back and the screen was normal again but still gutless. This is when I realized that I didnt put fresh fuel in (I know...stupid, but learning). So I put new fuel in and still gutless. I thought that it was the fuel filter. Realized that there was no inline fuel filter so I pulled the tank and removed the fuel pump and cleaned the filter that is in front of the fuel pump. Put back together and still gutless. Then I realized that I had been running the "cleaned" carb with the old gas and maybe thought it had gummed it up again. So I deep cleaned the carb again. So with clean gas, cleaned fuel pump filter, switch on the belt cover in the correct position and a very clean carb I still have a gutless atv. I am seriously at my wits end! Sorry for the long post but is there something that I am missing? Please lend me some advice. Thanks

[Ogre33]

The only other thing left that you have not looked at is the cdi box. It may not be getting enough of a spark. What does the plug look like? Did you take the plug out and turn it over with it grounded to the engine? Just a couple of ideas.......

Edited September 9, 2014 by Ogre33

[idahorider]

Thanks for your reply. I will try that and let you know how it went. I was going to replace the spark plugs and even measure how much spark I am getting. If need be I will replace my spark plug wires too. Thanks again

[texbigred1]

Is it squeeling. Maybe the belt is sliping