another 'Zilla crash course

[old-zilla]

I just picked up a '90 zilla this weekend, and it's my first quad. It's not in perfect shape, and I'm wondering where to start. How about starting it? I read in this forum something about "top dead center", "kick it three times with the key off", and some others. Supposing my ride is mostly stock, how should I start it? I've just been kickin' the crap out of it until I'm all sweaty, then it starts.
The second issue, is that it doesn't seem like it's making all the power it should. It tends to all fall apart (the power) right when it seems like a 2 stroke should get on the pipe and really rip. I dumped the old gas out, replaced the plug. What's next? It seems to kinda 'garggle' at high rpm's.
The third (and most troublesome) issue is that in 2nd gear it seems to slip a little. Not in 1st or 3rd, just 2nd. Is there a bad synchro or something? A little help on this issue would be greatly appreciated.
Finally, what type, and how much crankcase oil does this need. Is there a sightglass somewhere to check it?
One more thing, 32:1 in 87 octane ok?

Thanks in advance for answering all my questions!

[Banshee]

Well sounds like you might have some work to do on your hands. First off sounds like you might want to check your compression. Sounds like you might need a top end. Other possibility is your silencer needs to be repacked.

As for starting if you have low compression it will be hard to start. You will also want to make sure your carb is adjusted properly. You can check this by looking into the carb you should see the slide and if you hit the gas it should go up and down. This should sit a small crack so that just a small opening is able to see through. if not the adjuster is the screw that sticks out the side of the carb. Changing the gas and plug was a great place to start. Make sure you have a good set of boots on it will help you kick the 500 hard. The biggest thing about the zilla is how hard it is to start but it just takes time and you will figure out the secret to your zilla. Maybe one of the zilla owners can help you better.

Garrgling at high RPM's do you mean when it is 3/4 to full throttle? If so your jetting is wrong in your carb. Or you need to clean your carb. You will need to take apart your carb bowl and remove the main jet and spray carb cleaner on through it or use air compressor to blow it out. My bet is needs to be cleaned.

What do you mean 2nd is slipping. Is it slipping out of 2nd gear? or just not engaging. In anycase sounds like a shift fork is bad. This is not good because you have to split the case to replace that. The part is under $100 but it is the service to get it replaced that will cost you. Unless you are confident that you can do it yourself its not that hard if you have a manual but can be kind of tricky. If you are going to have someone replace your shirt fork it is a good idea to have everything else checked out crank, bearings, gears and all.

I believe the zilla takes 1000ml it should be on the side of the case somewhere. There is no sightglass just have to measure it out.

I would go up to 93 or 94 octane the zilla likes good gas. Running 87 could also be causing it to run funny. 32:1 sounds in range for a zilla but it really depends on what oil you us.

Hope this helps you out

Jason

[old-zilla]

Maybe I should clarify the 'slipping in 2nd gear' thing. It doesn't come out of gear, and it goes in fined. I can ride around in 2nd but if I hammer on it (and why would I ride at less than full throttle anyways?) it feels like the clutch is slipping. It just seems very odd that the clutch would only slip in second gear, and not first and third as well. I understand that second takes more abuse than the others since you are still have relatively high torque to the wheels, but the tires aren't as apt to slip. Is that possibly the issue, that the clutch is actually junk but my tires aren't hooking up in first so I just don't notice it? Is there a good way to check it out?
What would be a good number of psi to come up with on a compression check?
I'll test that this evening.
Thanks again!

[Apher]

I only weigh 135 so I when I got my Zilla I would kick until my leg was going to fall off and never could start it very easy. Until I figured it out. If cold use chock if you have road with in about an hour do not use chock.
If you just slowly kick it over until the kicker fills stiff. (top dead center) Then bring your kicker not quite to the top. ( I noticed if I bring the kicker all the way up you have to kick back a little but if you stop just about 3 inches sort you can kick more at a down angle down. it made it lots easier for me.) Then kick it.
If it does not start repet.

My head is milled 10/1000's so I have alittle more than stock and I can start mine on first or some times second kick.

compression I think stock is about 110.
You will need to be over 100 just to run.
Mine as a compression of 115.

My neighber has a Zilla that is milled 18/1000's and I have a really hard time starting his. It has 125 comperssion

[old-zilla]

hmm...does anyone have any ideas about the dang tranny slip I've got in second gear?
What type of oil goes in the case? I really need to order a manual for this thing before i screw it all up.

[OhioLT250R]

About the only thing that can slip is the clutch. I think that everything else in the tranny is just gears on gears, so they cant really slip. I would try getting a new clutch. Theres two different kinds of disks in your clutch: metal plates and the friction plates. Just make sure the metal plates are totally straight and not warped. The friction plates should be the only ones that need replaced along with some new springs. I dont know why it would only slip in second, but a new clutch is a starting point.

[Smokin'Gun]

You may also have a bad 2nd gear