Now that some of you are faced with the coldest conditions of the year, I thought it my be wise to tell you about this little trick which may get you out of a no start situation. This is only good for quads equipped with a pull starter and you need to have another person available. If you hit the starter and do not really have enough juice to be able to crank the engine over properly to start, simply ask the other person to push the starter at the same time you pull the crank. The combined effort will make the engine spin over like it was almost summer. Grab the pull start and put some effort into it. Once engaged and the pressure is applied, have the other person push the starter button and pull like your life depended on it. Who knows, depending on your situation, it just may.

I have made this a sticky until the temps warm up and will unstick when they do.

I have used this method a few times on friends quads and it has worked great.

Any tips for a 72 Chevy at -60


Stinkin carb / cable is frozen.



WEASEL

Actually, many, many, many moons ago I owned an Ambassador 67 (first car which I could call mine) I used to ski almost every weekend up north and the car was parked about 1/4 km from the chalet we rented ($250 for the winter season, boy have things gone up) and with no way of plugging in any kind of block heater or heating device, we would bring coals from the wood stove placed on a steel tray and slide it under the engine. An hour later it would fire up just fine @ -40. Oh yeah, almost forgot, those old auto trannies were real easy to push/pull start. Just tie a rope to her, drop her into drive and get her to about 35, this is where the engine will start to turn over.

Yeah......I am out there with a hair dryer and small heater.....lol...!

Going to go check it here in a minute......stupid Carb!




WEASEL

Little colder where you are Weasel, its only -48 here. LOL Next time you are in town, go to Home Depot and get yourself a Hot Air Gun, only about $40-$60 depending on brand name. They are used for taking up old tile floors. I have used mine many times for defrosting pipes, carb cables etc. The air coming out is very hot, but adjustable by controling air flow with valve on side.
Oh Yeah, for the atv's, I use a Master Heater for about 15 minutes prior to starting. One thing I have found out is that my wifes 400 SP 4 stroke is very easy to pull over with recoil, my 2 stroke will remove your fingers trying to pull it at -20 or better.

OMOTM:

Was in Tok Saturday night. It was down to -60 and man did it take me awhile to get my Powder Special started. My arms are still sore from pulling on that thing

As for the truck here is how I finally got it started....lol...!

I took a blow dryer and put it as close to the carb as possible, then put our small area heater directly behind the blow dryers air intake......so by the time the air got to the hair dryer it was warmer than -60

2 Hours later and minus a few numb fingers.....I had an unstuck carb (finally).


Take care,


WEASEL

I tried this trick on my friends Big Bear yesterday and it worked great. excellent trick that i didnt know about. thanks snow

Boy, did I look smart today....It was -30C overnight, went out to start the sleds and the batteries were frigged. Normally that means we pull those 500cc pig phazer engines. But I remembered this post, so we pulled AND used the electric, so it was easier doing both to get turnover. Worked great on one sled then another.
Funny how you're built to think either "electric" or "pull", yet doing both at the same time, though intuitive, just didn't click in until this post.
Thank-You!!!!
Deeds

PS...
The fact I wanted to post my "thanks", let's you know I was the one who had to do the pulling on each machine (plus my own, which isn't electric, so it was a nasty morning)...lol
Deeds

Glad I was able to help and be thankful your sled was a 2 stroke or you would never have been able to pull her over. My 600 triple is easily started in the sitting position but @ -30 it would be a bear doing it standing up and putting everything I got into it, but doable. It's -29c this morning here also for the second day in a row.

Cripes, Snowride !!! You actually sled at -30*. Yikes !!!! Even if I was silly enough to want to ride at those temps, I'd never get my sled started. I had to start my 800 RMK once at -25*C to unload it off a trailer and the thing felt like it was siezed.

Yep and the coldest I am stupid enough to go out in is -35C

I'm getting cold just thinking about that !!!

On either of the thunder cats I had over the last few years if you wanted to get them started when it was colder than -30F you better bring friends. High compression motors are no fun when its below zero and then they get worse.

On the other hand when I was still in HS and riding a 91 Phazer II I never had a problem getting it to start even when it was 40 below. Two or three pulls and off you go.