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Cold Starting YZ450

W

wakeandsnow

Free Member
Hey Guys

My first post on here.

Thinking of buying a Timbersled track kit for my 2007 YZ450. I'm 240 lbs and 6'2". From what i've read a LT is likely my best choice for my weight. My question is with the bike. I do bunch of over night cabin trips throughout the season with my current XP 800. We park the sleds outside at night and then (fingers crossed) wake up to feet of snow on the sled in the am and ice cold machines.

Do the carbed bikes/FI bikes have much trouble starting in the -10 to -15 range? We've gotten out of bed a few times and it's been -20 C outside and it was tough slugging to even get e-start nytros to run.

Any other input is welcome on snowbiking as I am as green as it gets.

Thanks.
 
The biggest thing you can do to help cold weather starting is to make sure you have cold weather oil in the bike. Ditch the 15w-40 for a 5w-40 oil and cold starting will be much easier (but still can be a bit of a pain). I found that with my KX doing big monster kicks was not the way to get it started.... fast quick kicks are needed to get the injector powered up to start delivering fuel on EFI bikes. I believe that on most bikes the injector is the last item to receive power from the stator.

I'm not sure what helps carb'd models specifically, but being able to turn the bike over with 5w oil is a huge win. The difference between starting a 15w and a 5w bike in super cold environments is huge. I use Rotella T6 5w-40 synthetic found in the blue bottle.
 
Properly jetting on a carb bike ( and making sure carb isnt iced up), and a 0-40 or 5-40 oil like rush was mentioning are key.

Leaving it outside in the cold all night sucks, they take some work to get warm. if its super cold its literally kicking till you thin things out inside the motor and losen it up. the thinner oil helps a ton as there is less drag. trying to kick start thick oil in the cold is like trying to start in gear with the clutch half in. doesnt work.

if ya got power at the cabin, throw a little inline coolant block heater or something and plug that puppy in. that would be awesome, would help melt a lot of the ice off the motor and would be preheated for you. even a little helps, something to knock the chill out of the motor is key.
 
Well I'll certainly be using the thinner oil. I feel like that would make a big difference. Sounds like a guy needs to bring a small torch and heat up the cylinder to get these bikes to start in the cold. So would a guy burn out a starter in the cold if you still ran summer oil? I'm still toying with the idea of a FI bike and selling mine. Anybody have opinions of FI over carbs?
 
My KTM is sluggish to start with the Estart when I leave it out but it will always start with the kicker. I think if you are jetted dead nuts you should be fine. Don't hold me to that though, LOL. You could always use some starter fluid if you get desperate.

M5
 
Sled cover + car cab heater? Thats what i do to my nytro. Put cover on the bike and aim heater to the engine. Heating it that way 1 or 2 hours should help.
 
I wish it was as simple as plugging in the bike because that's what I would do, but when we cabin trip, all the different places we stay are off grid. All we have is wood or propane heat and no electricity. The bike will spend some nights on the truck too when we stay in a hotel so plugging in might work there but it would likely cool off by the time we get to a riding destination.
 
So if you have stoves in the cabin I would use a blanket throw rocks in the stove cover the bike... Survival blanket might work best then throw the rocks under the bike under the cover.... I would think if the rocks are large enough they should hold heat long enough... Or just build a fire outside in the morning and park the bikes next to it...;)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
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wakeandsnow said:
Hey Guys

My first post on here.

Thinking of buying a Timbersled track kit for my 2007 YZ450. I'm 240 lbs and 6'2". From what i've read a LT is likely my best choice for my weight. My question is with the bike. I do bunch of over night cabin trips throughout the season with my current XP 800. We park the sleds outside at night and then (fingers crossed) wake up to feet of snow on the sled in the am and ice cold machines.

Do the carbed bikes/FI bikes have much trouble starting in the -10 to -15 range? We've gotten out of bed a few times and it's been -20 C outside and it was tough slugging to even get e-start nytros to run.

Any other input is welcome on snowbiking as I am as green as it gets.

Thanks.
Click to expand...


Scratch everything.... You should put a tent up around it and cuddle with it at night;)
 
You are correct!!! My first season on a Husaberg FE650 went through 1000's of dollars in gear and mutiple exhaustive mornings cold starting.

I was reserved on starting fluid and the use of it.

I have finally made it my best friend!!!! I use it almost every ride. I have also found that a few CC's of fuel straight down the throttle body results in an quick start also. No starter fluid needed with this.

I have also purchased some magnetic pad style block heaters that I place up against the block between the frame rails and hold in place with an antifreeze jug. I plug them into my 2000w genrator and life is good in the morning.

HTML: 
http://amzn.com/B000I8YOR4

I hate wearing off a hangover and burning all my energy before a ride!!!!!
 
everything I seem to read on starting fluid seems to say it's a no-no. Guys have bent connecting rods and broken rings with it... I guess I'll just have to wait until its good and cold and try kicking this thing over on my driveway and see for myself.
 
wakeandsnow said:
everything I seem to read on starting fluid seems to say it's a no-no. Guys have bent connecting rods and broken rings with it... I guess I'll just have to wait until its good and cold and try kicking this thing over on my driveway and see for myself.
Click to expand...
If you use light oil it should not be an issue... we ride all the time in the winter.... maybe a shot of nitrous should help... or that's what I would tell my wife when she asks what's the bottle for;)
 
full thaw

starting bike is one issue but more important is a fully thawed bike. The amount of snow/ice build up is an issue for me. Always in shop or heated trailer after each ride.
 
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