2008 Venture lite 500 mouse nest in airbox, chewed the foam completely

[hydraulic yam]

""If they did build a nest in the muffler and it's still flows"" as mooseman says.
I had one sled bunged to tight the air couldn't leave the engine so not
even starting aid would suck in. Even just disconnect the pipe and give it a
pull.. Maybe these four strokes are hard to remove ? With plugs out , add vac
to tail pipe and turn over by hand and it should draw air through plug hole
when exhaust valve opens .
And fresh fuel is something I just bought . Not my 4 month old can.
..
I do agree with the others .. it should at least fire then quit
Ron

 

[Mooseman]

Won't start or cough even with Cosby sauce? If exhaust was really plugged, it would not even turn over (like having a potato in the muffler). I'd be checking compression and timing next. Maybe crap got in and is blocking valves open.

 

[hydraulic yam]

I'm learning as we go . Wild guess/ thought time.
Is it possible to crank this sled over enough that the "electronic" enricher
could have over filled the dry sump system with fuel going past the rings
that it is now drawing it up from the crankcase and immediately flooding out?
My evidence is Deere Gators with open crankcases . Customers would use them to clean
out horse stalls. start / stop . never up to temp and it added extra fuel every time it
would restart . About two weeks would add enough to flood them out. Hard to
see on dipsticks as gas was clear on top of oil after sitting.
Looking at parts catalog for your sled , appears to draw air in from below
and Mooseman says the screen is metal , i'm guessing you didnt find
and debris above the screen ?? But you probably had spun it over a lot
before removing the nest.
Do you live near any of this group ?
I see it looks like the muffler was held in the air and a sled built around it .
Mooseman had also suggested pulling the fuel relay , so it wouldn't draw in
any more fuel when you were testing for spark etc.
. my idea of shop vac , when turning over slowly by hand , you should here
vac rev up when valves shut and slow down when valve opens and here the
air draw in the plug hole with the open valves one cyl at a time alternately.
...
My solution to my gator owners was take the hay out to pastures and check
fences then muck stalls . The high eng temp stops the sensor from enrichening .
Ron

 

[Mooseman]

Is it possible to crank this sled over enough that the "electronic" enricher
could have over filled the dry sump system with fuel going past the rings
that it is now drawing it up from the crankcase and immediately flooding out?

It's possible that it's been tried so often that the oil is full of gas. Seen that happen in a couple of cars but not in a sled like this. Easy way to check is to pull the dipstick and give it a sniff. Smells like gas, do an oil change.

 

[skyw500vl]

New plugs are still fouling, lots of power cranking 400 but no fire.. Removed the exhaust, can see mice crap up further in it.. crap, literally. Any further ideas? Thnx everyone..

 

[hydraulic yam]

Not sure how it is baffled inside .. is there nest material only visible from the
outlet ??? or can you see some in the intake side ???
Does the shop vac scream faster when tight to the pipe ??
It would appear that the Y pipe runs down RH side and expect it
is welded shut at the rear end ,, should be perforated for the length
and the tail pipe lays beside it and also should be blocked at the
front end ... The noise expands out the side of the inlet and enters
disturbed and quieter into the exit pipe . That would be simple design.
The side holes in pipe could be small enough to bung but not big enough
(I hope) for mouse to get into engine side.
This is why you need to try the vac from each end and check vac tank to
see what you get each time .
Rig up a bottle brush , small toilet brush , to a long enough handle
to insert in the pipe and add a safety line to the brush end as well
in case your handle comes unattached ..
Make handle long enough to use in inlet side if needed..
Take some fence wire , fold in 1/2 , clamp one end in vise and slowly
and controlled , twist the wire with a drill until you produce a flexible
but rigid handle .
They build long versions of these for cleaning out the milk pipe lines
on dairy farms . Any friends dairy farmers . Local Coop ?.
My VK has a dozen holes drilled and patched in its muffler , probably
from a similar event . I had to do the same to a Deere trailfire that had
a rag left in the pipe then started it..
PM me sometime in case you are near by
Ron
hope all this helps
Did you try running it with out the muffler ??

 

[Mooseman]

Well, you could try starting it with the exhaust out for a VERY SHORT time. That would either confirm or dispel if a plugged exhaust is the cause.

Look at my previous posts for the other things I suggested.

 

[hydraulic yam]

I don't know what can catch fire under there . Often here about needing to change the
donuts . Always good to have a smothering cloth and a fire extinguisher beside exit door
all the time. Also a good time to use an inspection camera to look in and see if
valves are opening and closing. Also a good time to put a bit of blow from other end on vac
up the individual exh pipe with plugs out and turn over by hand . should feel the air
coming out plug hole start and stop . No air out after gone two revolutions then
valve stuck shut.
It's Christmas time , if you don't have inspection camera or shop vac with an exit
port for the hose , Good time to ask Santa. Get the vac for your wife , she will
love you for it .. LOL
Ron
Start this machine outside if easy to get it there as you will have some
open flame from those pipes "when" it runs.

 

[Mooseman]

I don't know what can catch fire under there . Often here about needing to change the
donuts .

Just the gas tank

Another tip. If your donuts are worn down to the mesh, get some copper donuts. Much better lasting.

 

[skyw500vl]

Merry Christmas to you all and thanks for all the valuable insight. With the muffler completely off and just a straight pipe at the back, it still doesn't start.I'll try to do all the other things.Mentioned for now , i've kind of given up on it and sent it to a buddy around the corner , who in exchange for money is much better at mechanics than I am , and he'll be taking over from here on

 

[skyw500vl]

He did a great job, lots of hard work im sure picking all the mouse nest debris out of the motor. She runs again! Thanks to all for your time and excellent knowledge and feedback here, really appreciate that. I'll be changing my motor oil and gear oil today

Although the machine is loud it really is very practical the huge luggage carry compartment behind the passenger seat can sure carry a lot with both my Son and I on it, very useful! I bought it as a property access / maintainer hauler and she also tow the two rail steel toboggan effortlessly. I'm a big believer in torque over hp.. now to find a new / spare drive belt