Bog and dies at startup when cold and no choke

[fishtank]

The last few times ive been out ive noticed the sled isnt starting as well as it used to. Its a carb and when its really cold it takes about 5 pulls to start, no biggie. But once I let it run for about 20 seconds with the choke on I turn the choke off and the revs get lower and lower. If I try and feather the throttle to get the rpms up it just bogs and bogs and eventually dies. Yesterday I had to start it 3 times and leave the choke on for about 30-40 seconds each time before it warmed up enough to turn the choke off and throttle it up. After that it runs fine all day long and starts first pull.

It never used to do this, I used to start it with the choke and then be able to switch the choke off after about 10 seconds and it would idle fine.

Not sure if its related but my throttle also seems to be getting stuck open slightly. Most noticeable coming back on the trails, when cornering I release the throttle but the sled continues to run at about 5000-6000 rpms. I am having to lock the brakes up to get it to idle back down to ~3000rpm. We tried running de-icer in the fuel but this didnt work.

Can I lube up the cable somewhere to help fix this do you think?

 

[Idcatman1]

It sounds to me like partially plugged pilot jet or jets for the hard starting problem. You could unhook the throttle cable at the lever and try working some WD 40 into it.

 

[ak crash]

WD40 in the cable will work great... for all of about one ride, it's not a good long term lubricant. If you feel like you need to lube the cable, use cable lubricant. I'd start with taking the carbs apart and cleaning them.

 

[fishtank]

Ok, thanks, might look at that then.

 

[CATSLEDMAN1]

carb issues

When your carb slides are slightly raised ( slightly stuck open ) you loose suction while pulling your starter rope.........so its going to take more pulls to suck gas up out of the float bowl to start your engine, When your engine tries to idle with those slides slightly up, its going to take more choke ( actually your sled does not have a choke but an enrichening circuit ) and longer to provide the gas necessary to warm up your motor.

So........nothing has changed in your starting / choke / enrichening circuit, you just have a small loss of suction.

So when tuning carbs its importand that the pilot jet / air screw are adjusted to you can have your carb slide at minimum height for easy starting.

 

[fishtank]

Sea Foam / Carb Cleaner Fuel additive

I know this is just a patch up job but I dont have time to pull the carbs to clean them. Ive never done it so it would probably take me a while. Basically Im away til mid april and want to do some riding when I get back at the end of the season.

Do you

A) recommend sea foam or some kind of carb cleaning fuel additive and
B) think it might help clean out the carbs a bit just to get me through 1-2 more rides at the end of the season.

Ill definetely pull the carbs in the summer as Im interested in learning something new, but for now time is not on my side.

 

[CATSLEDMAN1]

if your pilot jets were plugged or partially plugged your sled wouldn't idle at all, could be some jelled junk in there, but sitting it hot weather is what usually will create that issue. Sounds like it starts, takes more choke to get going, so do what it takes to warm it up and go for it.

 

[fishtank]

It also idles high (5000rpm) once warm. Especially noticeable coming home on the trail, releasing the throttle to slow down at corners doesnt really slow you down much. Could this be to do with gummed carbs in which case will the sea foam help? Or is this more like a stick throttle cable?