diff --git a/pymc3/examples/GHME_2013.py b/pymc3/examples/GHME_2013.py
index 67565477bf..bb1e57c7e0 100644
--- a/pymc3/examples/GHME_2013.py
+++ b/pymc3/examples/GHME_2013.py
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ def run(n=3000):
     if n == "short":
         n = 150
     with model:
-        trace = sample(n, tune=int(n/2))
+        trace = sample(n, tune=int(n/2), init='advi+adapt_diag')
 
     for i, country in enumerate(countries):
         plt.subplot(2, 3, i + 1)
diff --git a/pymc3/examples/arbitrary_stochastic.py b/pymc3/examples/arbitrary_stochastic.py
index 74383e2762..2d6e4fe1f2 100644
--- a/pymc3/examples/arbitrary_stochastic.py
+++ b/pymc3/examples/arbitrary_stochastic.py
@@ -3,19 +3,22 @@
 import theano.tensor as tt
 
 
+# custom log-liklihood
+def logp(failure, lam, value):
+    return tt.sum(failure * tt.log(lam) - lam * value)
+
+
 def build_model():
     # data
     failure = np.array([0., 1.])
     value = np.array([1., 0.])
-    
-    # custom log-liklihood
-    def logp(failure, value):
-        return tt.sum(failure * tt.log(lam) - lam * value)
-    
+
     # model
     with pm.Model() as model:
         lam = pm.Exponential('lam', 1.)
-        pm.DensityDist('x', logp, observed={'failure': failure, 'value': value})
+        pm.DensityDist('x', logp, observed={'failure': failure,
+                                            'lam': lam,
+                                            'value': value})
     return model
 
 
diff --git a/pymc3/examples/arma_example.py b/pymc3/examples/arma_example.py
index 4c784e1bed..55889bbf97 100644
--- a/pymc3/examples/arma_example.py
+++ b/pymc3/examples/arma_example.py
@@ -53,8 +53,8 @@
 def build_model():
     y = shared(np.array([15, 10, 16, 11, 9, 11, 10, 18], dtype=np.float32))
     with pm.Model() as arma_model:
-        sigma = pm.HalfCauchy('sigma', 5.)
-        theta = pm.Normal('theta', 0., sd=2.)
+        sigma = pm.HalfNormal('sigma', 5.)
+        theta = pm.Normal('theta', 0., sd=1.)
         phi = pm.Normal('phi', 0., sd=2.)
         mu = pm.Normal('mu', 0., sd=10.)
 
@@ -76,11 +76,12 @@ def calc_next(last_y, this_y, err, mu, phi, theta):
 def run(n_samples=1000):
     model = build_model()
     with model:
-        trace = pm.sample(draws=n_samples)
+        trace = pm.sample(draws=n_samples,
+                          tune=1000,
+                          nuts_kwargs=dict(target_accept=.99))
 
-    burn = n_samples // 10
-    pm.plots.traceplot(trace[burn:])
-    pm.plots.forestplot(trace[burn:])
+    pm.plots.traceplot(trace)
+    pm.plots.forestplot(trace)
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
diff --git a/pymc3/examples/baseball.py b/pymc3/examples/baseball.py
index c924b7f308..89eefa9ce8 100644
--- a/pymc3/examples/baseball.py
+++ b/pymc3/examples/baseball.py
@@ -28,11 +28,9 @@ def build_model():
 def run(n=2000):
     model = build_model()
     with model:
-        # initialize NUTS() with ADVI under the hood
         trace = pm.sample(n, nuts_kwargs={'target_accept':.99})
 
-    # drop some first samples as burnin
-    pm.traceplot(trace[1000:])
+    pm.traceplot(trace)
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     run()
diff --git a/pymc3/examples/garch_example.py b/pymc3/examples/garch_example.py
index f5576af71a..d530e76011 100644
--- a/pymc3/examples/garch_example.py
+++ b/pymc3/examples/garch_example.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from pymc3 import Normal, sample, Model, Bound, summary
+from pymc3 import Normal, sample, Model, Uniform, summary
 import theano.tensor as tt
 import numpy as np
 
@@ -32,16 +32,15 @@
 
 
 def get_garch_model():
-    r = np.array([28, 8, -3, 7, -1, 1, 18, 12])
-    sigma1 = np.array([15, 10, 16, 11, 9, 11, 10, 18])
-    alpha0 = np.array([10, 10, 16, 8, 9, 11, 12, 18])
+    r = np.array([28, 8, -3, 7, -1, 1, 18, 12], dtype=np.float64)
+    sigma1 = np.array([15, 10, 16, 11, 9, 11, 10, 18], dtype=np.float64)
+    alpha0 = np.array([10, 10, 16, 8, 9, 11, 12, 18], dtype=np.float64)
     shape = r.shape
 
     with Model() as garch:
-        alpha1 = Normal('alpha1', mu=0., sd=1., shape=shape)
-        BoundedNormal = Bound(Normal, upper=(1 - alpha1))
-        beta1 = BoundedNormal('beta1', mu=0., sd=1e6, shape=shape)
-        mu = Normal('mu', mu=0., sd=1e6, shape=shape)
+        alpha1 = Uniform('alpha1', 0., 1., shape=shape)
+        beta1 = Uniform('beta1', 0., 1 - alpha1, shape=shape)
+        mu = Normal('mu', mu=0., sd=100., shape=shape)
         theta = tt.sqrt(alpha0 + alpha1 * tt.pow(r - mu, 2) +
                         beta1 * tt.pow(sigma1, 2))
         Normal('obs', mu, sd=theta, observed=r)
@@ -52,7 +51,7 @@ def run(n=1000):
     if n == "short":
         n = 50
     with get_garch_model():
-        tr = sample(n, init=None)
+        tr = sample(n, tune=1000)
     return tr
 
 
diff --git a/pymc3/examples/gelman_bioassay.py b/pymc3/examples/gelman_bioassay.py
index c3ef2a4009..69d7ca1118 100644
--- a/pymc3/examples/gelman_bioassay.py
+++ b/pymc3/examples/gelman_bioassay.py
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@
 with pm.Model() as model:
 
     # Logit-linear model parameters
-    alpha = pm.Normal('alpha', 0, tau=0.01)
-    beta = pm.Normal('beta', 0, tau=0.01)
+    alpha = pm.Normal('alpha', 0, sd=100.)
+    beta = pm.Normal('beta', 0, sd=1.)
 
     # Calculate probabilities of death
     theta = pm.Deterministic('theta', pm.math.invlogit(alpha + beta * dose))
@@ -18,14 +18,12 @@
     # Data likelihood
     deaths = pm.Binomial('deaths', n=n, p=theta, observed=[0, 1, 3, 5])
 
-    step = pm.NUTS()
-
 
 def run(n=1000):
     if n == "short":
         n = 50
     with model:
-        pm.sample(n, step)
+        pm.sample(n, tune=1000)
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     run()