[nixon47]

Hey all! New owner of a 2016 Kodiak 700 EPS SE. Absolutely love it. Have to say that I have spent a good deal of my life on Foreman's and this Kodiak is just amazing. I don't know if you can go wrong with either as far as dependability but if you want a ride with some balls this is the way to go.

Anyways, most of my former rides were manual and not automatic. Was a little nervous being forced into that but it handled great when we were out for 180 miles a few weeks ago. Most of the guys I ride with are on 450's. My buddy had a newer 2014 450 that while we were out died. I towed him about 20 miles to where we could work on it. Turns out the battery was toast which is what we believed out on the trail. The downside was that because the battery was dead we couldn't push start it. We were guessing that since the battery was dead that the fuel pump couldn't operate which rendered it useless. So, it got me thinking about my tool bag out on the trail if that ever happened to me. Where we ride you pretty much need to have everything on you because even the closest towns don't have that many stores if any to get a replacement part/battery. Obviously, would be smart to have a spare battery even if something just to get the fuel pump firing.

So my question is... If the fuel pump needs a battery to start pumping fuel is there anyway to bypass the fuel pump to get going again?

I am not a mechanic so I apologize if this question is ignorant. Just trying to figure out alternative ways to fix problems out in the bush.

Thanks all and I appreciate your input!

 

[Rollin]

The short answer to your question is no, you cannot bypass the fuel pump. In a fuel injected machine you need fuel pressurized to be available to the injector.
On the other hand there are a few solutions to the problem you are presenting. : If you ride with a buddy then a set of jumper cables should take care of a dead battery. Or if you are out solo and want the extra assurance there are dual batteries setups, you can look into that.
Maybe pushing it its difficult, but have you tried to tow-start it? I would think that at some point with the engine turning the magneto will produce enough current to power the fuel pump.

 

[nixon47]

In the scenario we ran into with the 450 the battery was just absolutely toast and we were unable to push start it. We were physically able to push start but it would not turn over. Once we returned back to camp we trickle charged the battery and found out that it could not be charged at all. That is why we were thinking that the fuel pump needed a little bit of juice from the battery to work. We did even try the tow start and it would fire up but wouldn't stay running. It was definitely strange but got me thinking about my setup on the Kodiak since it is automatic only and the first time I have an auto only. Will definitely keep a pair of jumpers in my kit but was also looking at a lithium ion battery as a backup and because of its light weight.

Thanks for the reply Rollin. Appreciate the input as I am just brainstorming on any and all possible scenarios to be prepared for out in the bush. This was definitely the first time for us to be out that far and not be able to get it fired up and running without the battery. Our other 450 which is an 02 doesn't have the fuel pump and it fired up with a push start with no issue at all.