Got a 2005 Honda Rancher 350. Lately, it has started sputtering when I start to drive and I have to pull the manual choke to keep it going. It started about six months ago but now I had to pull the choke to load it up. I’ve tried putting Seafoam in the tank and no luck. I change the spark plug regularly so I don’t this it is that. Any ideas?

I’m having same issue can’t seem to figure it out either

You running non-ethanol fuel? Not for sure if the Rancher has it , but some older Hondas have a bowl under the petcock. If it has one take it off and clean it . Take the fuel line loose at the carb and blow back though it to the tank.

Restrictions in the jets in the carbs. Either from trash in the tank or build up from running ethanol gas. Carb needs a good cleaning.

Could be the carb, could be valve clearance, could be CDI/ignition coil. Could be something as simple as a dirty air filter or screen.

All of them are pretty easy to repair. I used to have this book and gave it to the guy that bought my Rancher (Clymer)

If it has a carb then run some 40:1 true fuel through it. It’ll help the float keep from sticking.

Is that the stuff you see in the can? Doesn’t it have oil mixed in it?

Yes - 2-cycle mix.

If I had to guess it is the carb causing the issues. I have had to change the carb 3 times in the close to 20 years I have owned my 2004 Honda Rincon 650. 2002 was the last year they used carbs on the Rincon- Not sure about Rancher? The first two carb replacements were my fault for not using Non-Ethanol fuel. The last one that I changed a couple of weeks back is not from fault of mine in the Great extents, I took to not have to replace another one. I strictly use Tru-Fuel which is extremely expensive and non-ethanol. I use the Tru-Fuel because I don’t mind so much paying for it for as much as I ride mine. I have 330 something total hours of use on it. Every time I ride it when I put it up in my garage, I run the fuel out of the bowl so it does not set up on it. The needles were stuck in my carb and there was no fix for it other than replacing carb. My problem is not riding it enough and IMO the worst thing You can do is let a piece of machinery sit up. If I had the time I would ride it every day and most likely never have an issue with the Honda.

Sounds like a carb issue. I was having same problems. I put a new one on my 04 Rancher about 2 months ago. Runs great now. I’ll run the gas out of carb when it sits up for a while.

And it will work.

Make sure the vent on your fuel tank is not obstructed

If it runs fine when you pull the choke out some then that confirms it running lean. More than likely you have jet in the carb partially plugged. The orifices in the jets are tiny and it doesn’t take much to cause issues. I always run atf or marvel in the gas in all my small engines keeps everything clean in there

I’ve got an ‘01 and an ‘06 Rancher. I’ve had carb issues with both. Installing an inline fuel filter and non ethanol gas has solved most of those problems.

How tough of a a job was it? Did you buy a Honda OEM or a Chinese knockoff, big difference in price.

I’ve put a couple Chinese carbs on my ‘01 rancher over the years. Had good luck with both of them. They were really cheap on eBay. It’s not a bad job. Maybe a couple hours if you’ve never done it before.

Cheap carbs off eBay for that bike are bout $31 to $40 . Easy replacement . I used a bunch with good luck. If u want fix it yourself remove carb a take off bowl off bottom . Sometimes u can loosen carb clamps and spin it enough to take off bowl. Take out jet that in center of carb. Main jet . Make sure hole in center is clean. There is a pilot jet or slow jet just to the side of where main jet is located . It’s recessed in the hole . Takes a small straight screwdriver to remove it . It for idle speed and low end speed. It has hole in center need cleaned an small holes in the side of it on the small end. All need to be clear. If you have run it on choke it’s running lean and these jets needed to be cleaned . Sometimes it just trash in bowl sucking up aganist main jet when started. Like someone said put an inline filter on gas line to stop trash. I have worked on some bikes where the air filter has deteriorated and gotten in carb. If carb is gummed up from bad gas sometimes you can take it apart and boil it in hot water to clean it . If that bad usually best to replace it .

I'd check out the fuel supply, clogged petcock /lines and have fresh non-ethanol fuel before I spent $ on a new carb. I recently fixed a friends Honda 300 with the same symptoms . I drained the old fuel out , put in a couple gallons of high test non-ethanol and Seafoam . I took the bowl off the bottom of the petcock, it was full of crud , cleaned it . I took the line loose at the carb and blew back to the tank. Then checked to make sure fuel came out. I opened the bowl drain screw on the carb made sure fuel came out. After spinning a minute it fired up , I rode it like I stole it for about 15 minutes . Runs like a new one now.

Take the jet out and clean it, i have same 4 wheeler and had same issue

another vote for the cheap non-oem carbs from eBay. ATVs, pushmowers, etc.