Starting a frozen bike

[thewwkayaker]

My snowbike is left outside (no room in garage). -2C at the house. Drove up the pass to play and it was -10 or colder. I have to kick start. Took a lot of sweat and a very long time to get it going. Once it was warmed up it started easily each time I killed it.

I know someone suggested a small torch - which I do have and carry - but I'd have to take off the skid guard to remove the snow blanket to then warm the oil pan and later put it all back together (and the guard with the snowblanket is a pain to put back - need to figure out a better solution to that).

Other suggestions to getting the bike to start easier in the field? When I overnight at huts this will be a bigger concern.

On other news - this early season has been amazing so far! (BC)

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

Diesel truck exhaust pipe pointed at the motor?

Plug in block heater and a suitcase generator.

 

[d8grandpa]

Piece of flex hose off your truck exhaust and through a tarp over sled

 

[thewwkayaker]

No trucks at cabins in the backcountry sadly but I could try that at the start of a ride

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

If you aren't going to do the torch warming thing.

You could burn the snowbike and collect insurance.

buy a 2 stroke snowmobile?

 

[AllHatNoCattle]

I have a friend who has a canvas blanket/tarp he drapes over his bike and puts a small bbq under the bike for 5 minutes. Fires right up.

My bike had a homemade skid plate which like to catch a bit of oil when I changed it. He warmed my bike up and there was a small fire!! Fortunately we caught it right away, and I just had a bit of a melted skid plate. As far as I know thats the only time it got out of control for him.

 

[dooman92]

In the absence of a heat source, having 0-40 synthetic oil has helped my bikes start. I use a hairdryer whenever I have electricity. For the hut, carry one of those sterno cans like they use for keeping food warm under food pan. Small fire near/ under bike with a cover or tarp to capture heat. Tow to start if have other unit. Try small amount of starting fluid spray.

 

[M5-]

What kind of bike. If its a Yami you are kicking there is a starting procedure, its actually in the owners manual, probably work for any brand of bike. I have a kicker Yami as my "B" ride. Try this, Stand on the bike, kick the bike over slowly 10 times just going through the motion not really trying to start it. After 10 slow cycles set the bike to TDC, kick it like a rented mule actually trying to start it. TDC, Repeat. Mine starts almost every time on the 3rd kick regardless of outdoor temperature. There's a couple of things going on during the 10 slow kicks, first is you are putting a charge into the capacitor for the ignition as you don't have a battery, second is you are changing the charge in the cylinder. If I get on and just start kicking it just floods and takes forever to start. Use the same procedure if you dump it when riding and it doesn't want to re-start.

M5

 

[thewwkayaker]

What kind of bike. If its a Yami you are kicking there is a starting procedure, its actually in the owners manual, probably work for any brand of bike. I have a kicker Yami as my "B" ride. Try this, Stand on the bike, kick the bike over slowly 10 times just going through the motion not really trying to start it. After 10 slow cycles set the bike to TDC, kick it like a rented mule actually trying to start it. TDC, Repeat. Mine starts almost every time on the 3rd kick regardless of outdoor temperature. There's a couple of things going on during the 10 slow kicks, first is you are putting a charge into the capacitor for the ignition as you don't have a battery, second is you are changing the charge in the cylinder. If I get on and just start kicking it just floods and takes forever to start. Use the same procedure if you dump it when riding and it doesn't want to re-start.

M5

Yes it's a Yami and yes I do exactly that. Normally works but didn't yesterday in -10C. Had to repeat that for about 15-20min

 

[M5-]

Two other points I forgot to mention, Never touch the throttle, ever, and make certain not to forget to pull out the throttle enricher (choke, not really a choke) out.

M5

 

[M5-]

If the bike has a lot of hours it may be time for a valve set.

M5

 

[thewwkayaker]

If the bike has a lot of hours it may be time for a valve set.

M5

No it's good. Checked it and we'll within spec. Fired it up this morning, -6 on the temp gauge and it started fine. That's warmer than up the pass temps though. Jealous of everyone with their electric start!

 

[Oleshep]

I think you said you do not have power outside but this year I am going to try this reptile heating pad between the skid plate and crankcase. I will plug it in the garage in the morning and see if it helps with the starting.

Kicking my Beta 500 over a few times slow helps when I hit the estart. Otherwise it seems to really tax the starter when she is real cold..

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076FKX9JC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

[thewwkayaker]

I think you said you do not have power outside but this year I am going to try this reptile heating pad between the skid plate and crankcase. I will plug it in the garage in the morning and see if it helps with the starting.

Kicking my Beta 500 over a few times slow helps when I hit the estart. Otherwise it seems to really tax the starter when she is real cold..

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076FKX9JC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

It's not that. I can at home warm it up if necessary but staying overnight at a cabin with no power I'll need other methods.

I don't mind using the torch but I'll have to remove the skid plate and the blanket. Then I can heat the oil pan. Then the hard part will be to get the skid plate back on in the field aka snow and cold which I find hard to do at the best of times.

I think I need to look into a good way to deal with my snow blanket and skid plate. The plate attaches to a plate that slides stuff which is hard to find with the snow blanket on.

Maybe someone with a Yami has some ideas on this?

Thanx for all the posts!

 

[M5-]

On the Yamaha and likely others as well, between the skid plate and the engine there is a pretty good gap. I have a piece of closed cell foam that I put in there about an inch thick, width of the frame and say 10" long. It keeps that void from filling with snow and ice. I'm sure that's not your issue but every little bit helps.

M5

 

[North Dakota 322]

Not a dirtscooter guy but ride with one occasionally.
We have put the track of my sled (on its side almost upside-down) and the track of his timbersled together more than once to "push" start it on cold mornings or when the battery is dead/low.
Works in a pinch.
Something about using something made for winter in the cold makes sense vs trying to make a summer toy work in winter.

 

[Dr._Z]

How about a cordless hair dryer. Place it so it warms the case while you are getting ready at the cabin????

 

[thewwkayaker]

How about a cordless hair dryer. Place it so it warms the case while you are getting ready at the cabin????

Interesting. I was trying to think of a way to warm it up without fire. I wonder how well that works work?

 

[Brayjay]

I have an 18 YZ450 that is stored outside in Northern BC and I installed a coolant block heater that i plug in for about 2 or three minutes in the am and that gets the coolant up to 169 ish F. I also keep the battery in the house until ready to fire up in the am to load. Another trick on the YZ is a tablespoon of gas straight into the intake - 20 C starts with this set up.

 

[thewwkayaker]

I have an 18 YZ450 that is stored outside in Northern BC and I installed a coolant block heater that i plug in for about 2 or three minutes in the am and that gets the coolant up to 169 ish F. I also keep the battery in the house until ready to fire up in the am to load. Another trick on the YZ is a tablespoon of gas straight into the intake - 20 C starts with this set up.

The first two suggestions won't work for me - 1. I'm concerned about in the field after a hut trip start up and less about when I leave the house and start it 2. I don't have a battery (kick start only)

However your 3rd suggestion I plan to keep as an option - I carry a can of starting fluid for cars so I can do just that in case of emergency.

DrZ suggestion about a battery hairdryer is an option too - I can use that to heat the motor possibly keeping the snow cover on the bike. I was thinking I could even carry the whole bike cover and keep the bike covered and use the dryer inside the cover - also would reduce wind chill on the bike initially. Would be nice to have an electric start too though.

Thanx