01 Summit 700 rewind starter question?

[FNG]

Ok so I broke the pull rope today and have pulled the rewind starter off and have it apart... a couple of questons to the collective mind.

What is Molykote lube other than some expensive unobtainium product from my dealer. Does anyone know what type of lube it is actually? It's certainly not a lithium grease, can I get it or some other product that will work just fine at my local auto parts store or do you have to have the real deal?

Do you really have to replace the little flippin o-ring (#11 in the shop manual?) as it really seems to be containing, what, the little bit of Molykote and keeping it seperate from the lower part of the engine??? or maybe providing a contact surface for the step collar (part #10)?.

Thanks for any replies, just want to get the sled up and running without having to wait a few days for some special dealer only lube goo to arrive.

I will fortify myself appropriatly while waiting for your wisdome

 

[NoSecondChances]

Just order a new starter complete. They are about $190 and you don't have to worry about replacing some vs all of the parts. My buddy just did this on his 800 last year, replaced the red plastic piece and a the cam piece and the little washer and o-ring....This weekend his plastic stub shaft from the black outer housing broke off and the metal stepped piece attached to the magneto chewed up and melted all his new parts and wasted time. Thank goodness it happened at the trailer and not in the hills. By the time you rewind the started spring the first time you will be kicking yourself....LOL.

Seriously, a new one is more cost effective IMO.

 

[FNG]

Thanks for the reply, but with the economy being what it is I just don't have $190.00 lying around. If the part isn't servicable then sure, I could let the sled sit until I earn the extra cash but if all it is a an old and worn rope and some parts cleaning and lubing then short sited as it may be I'd rather spend < $10.00 on a new rope and just fix what's broken.

Thanks for the opinion anyway I'm sure it comes from experience I just don't have an extra $190.00.

 

[onlyrotax]

About the only thing you need to lube in that recoil is the spring and I use "Rem-Oil", it is a gun oil made by Remington you can buy at Walmart or any sporting goods store, it is made for low temps and has teflon in it, what more could you want in a recoil lube ( and it's cheap), it comes in a liquid or spray. You do not have to take the spring out of the housing, just spray a small amount on the spring, clean up the rest of the parts, I do sometimes put a small amount of grease (I use pennzoil red wheel bearing grease) on the shaft where the rope pulley rotates. Replace the rope, give it a couple turns of pre-tension, pull the rope a few times to work the Rem-Oil into the spring and you are set, If you need to later you can spray the Rem-Oil through the hole in the rope pulley to oil the spring more, this method has been working for me for many years on the 5 skidoo's I currently own. If you are having problems with your recoil getting hot just go the a hardware store and ask for insulated pipe tape, it has aluminum foil on one side and sticky on the other, cut some pieces to cover your recoil head on the outside, I also drilled four 1/4 in holes in the top of the recoil( as it sets on the motor) spaced out between the reinforcing ribs and four more the same way in the bottom side, this lets cool air flow in the bottom of the recoil and the hot air out the top. Try it !!

 

[clearlakeusa]

Grease question.

The parts guy at my local Ski Doo dealer told me that the 'special' Molykote or whatever it is called is just a Silicone grease you can get at auto parts stores for a lot less. I had a similar situation with my 03 800, bought some new parts for the internal workings of my recoil starter, like the red pawl, the metal bushing, and the black plastic piece that helps engage the pawl. And I even greased the parts as instructed in manual. The next ride it all exploded after about the fourth or fifth time I used it. Ended up having to buy a new one anyways. Luckily it didn't hurt anything else. But starting my sled by wrapping the rope around the clutch for the rest of the day wasn't too bad. Luckily me sled starts pretty well. I think a little maintenance in the offseason, like grease where its needed, and maybe some light oil on the spring, should prevent this from happening again.

 

[NoSecondChances]

Thanks for the reply, but with the economy being what it is I just don't have $190.00 lying around. If the part isn't servicable then sure, I could let the sled sit until I earn the extra cash but if all it is a an old and worn rope and some parts cleaning and lubing then short sited as it may be I'd rather spend < $10.00 on a new rope and just fix what's broken.

Thanks for the opinion anyway I'm sure it comes from experience I just don't have an extra $190.00.

No worries then, if funding is low, buy the parts and re-assemble. I have just used basic grease in the past as well. You can buy the white lithium grease or whatever, preferrably something that doesn't attract too much belt dust (no matter what you do though, it seems to get everywhere).

I'm thinking of trying onlyrotax's idea of drilling a few small holes, but more holes mean more dust and junk in there too possibly?

 

[FNG]

Thanks, got it done the other evening and seems to be workin fine, currently there is some light snow fallin and waiting for the weekend.

 

[FIII_Mtn]

I had to tear mine completely apart for this season, too... used mobil 1 synthetic- so far so good.