Too Cold for Sled to Start?

[rev2xheart]

This happened to me last year. It was cold for like a week straight (I have to keep my sled outdoors) like -35 to -40 celsius type of cold. Sled would not start. Put heat to it and it started after a bit. Rode it around a bit then shut it off. Got up next morning would not start again. Put heat to it and after a bit it started. Went riding and no problems for the rest of the year.

I work shift work so I was gone for the 2 cold days leading up today. Sled again won't start.

I have been starting my sled every couple of weeks and running it for awhile in the hopes I could prevent this.

This happen to anyone else? Is there anything I can (besides get it inside a place) that would help?

 

[Boston Racing]

I keep a can of starting fluid handy for moments like that. A quick squirt in the airbox and it fires right up.

 

[INDEEP]

I think race fuel makes it even worse.

 

[MARV1]

Choke it before shutting it off for the night, this will get fuel in your crankcase, thin out the oil a bit and make it easier to start the next morning.

 

[frock]

What kind of sled?

 

[rev2xheart]

2004 rev

 

[skibreeze]

I use starting fluid for the hard cases, usually only for the first starts of the year.

 

[roughrider99]

when i was little and not strong enough to start my 600 on cold days after school i throw my plugs in the oven for a bit. -30 and it would fire up instantly.

 

[mtnpull]

Choke it before shutting it off for the night, this will get fuel in your crankcase, thin out the oil a bit and make it easier to start the next morning.

We do this on all our rentals the night before when shutting them off. Helps a lot. In case it was not clear, choke it until the extra fuel kills the motor.

 

[Ralphie]

If its accesible install an inline heater in a coolant hose (ie block heater)
I havent done this myself but don't know why it wouldn't work

 

[keeton]

throw some heater wire in there like you use on water pipes.

 

[diggerdown]

Putting some heat to it is the best, but not always an option. Keep the lowest octain fuel that you can safely run, chock it to shut it down, run synthetic oil. It does'nt help it fire, but it will pull easier if you take your belt off and leave it inside, start the sled and let it warm up some and then put the belt on. It goes a lot easier on the belt when it is not covered with frost and ice and then trying to break loose a frozen track.

 

[crashleroux]

I keep a can of starting fluid handy for moments like that. A quick squirt in the airbox and it fires right up.

I know that starting fluid is an easy solution for those hard starts but you have to be careful, there is very little lubrication in it therefore making it hella hard on two stroke motors.

 

[farwest]

We do this on all our rentals the night before when shutting them off. Helps a lot. In case it was not clear, choke it until the extra fuel kills the motor.

Thanks ,never thought of that .

 

[BackCountryBob]

Remove the plugs and pull engine over a few times to loosen up the pistons.

I drill a small hole into the air box that lets me insert the plastic wand of the starting fluid then screw in a sheet metal screw into the hole.

Make sure the carb heat in ON

6 oz of 90-95% alcohol in the gas tank to reduce moisture(do this before shut down to get the alcohol into the float bowl).

Lift and drop the back end of the sled to break the tack loose.

BCB

 

[007]

Back when Apex's came out I would take the cover to the air box off and stuff a hair dryer in there and tape the throttle down and let the hot air blow in there for 10 minutes and it always would start right up.

I wonder how many people I will see shutting off there sled with the choke this year? Good idea I will be trying that!

See SW does have some post that you can learn something off from?

 

[wanaber]

chocking, warm plugs

Choke it before shutting it off for the night, this will get fuel in your crankcase, thin out the oil a bit and make it easier to start the next morning.

We do the same thing when up on lake of the woods, really helps.

Warm plugs also help in those temps if you can't start your sled and someone elses is running swap plug with that warm sled, we've done that for those -50 below overnights.

 

[rev2xheart]

Warm plugs worked for me. It wasn't as cold then as it is now.

I am going to do the chock thing from here on out.

When you do that will the sled start ok just by pulling on it though? Or will you have to change plugs?

 

[Modmxz]

you guys using starting fluid are flirting with busted pistons. my .02

 

[mtnpull]

Warm plugs worked for me. It wasn't as cold then as it is now.

I am going to do the chock thing from here on out.

When you do that will the sled start ok just by pulling on it though? Or will you have to change plugs?

No need to change the plugs. Just when you park it after your done (in the trailer, garage, or where ever your leaving it until next ride) choke it and let the extra fuel kill the machine. It will fire up much easier in the morning.