hard starting srx....

jefsnow

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Jan 23, 2009
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thirty pulls yesterday, about minus -12 c. Starting to get to me, not getting any younger. I was wondering about why srx's are hard starters. I had a brand new srx, 100 miles on it, and it was a hard starter out of the box. Do these things have mikuni slides with bowls ? If so, the jets are swimming in gas, the first pull, she should get a mouthful. I was wondering about stator being less able to put out a good spark when cold, and am experimenting with turning hand and thumb warmers off when starting. Anyhoo, any other theorys why they are hard starting, there is a common denominator cause they all do it, so design is the culprit somewhere....
 
Something with the gas going back into the Tank when it sits for a while, they really shoulda came equipped with a primer bulb.
 
my brother has same problem couldnt touch throttle start with chock and keep running by chock on off until idles or would foul plugs check if plugs are wet
 
IMO I think some SRX's are hard starters right out of the box. My 01's engine is completely stock and I went through everything before this season started, carbs cleaned/adjusted, cleaned/adjusted PV's, checked all coils, fresh plugs. Thinking that any of those were hard starting problems from the previous season, well I was wrong. After doing all the cleaning the sled sat for 2 weeks in sub zero temps, when it was time to head north with it, it got a fresh tank of 93oct. Got up north and 20 pulls later, I didnt get any sign of a start up but was getting plenty of fuel. 2 quick sprays of starter fluid in the airbox and it started on the 2nd pull. Once its warm it starts, idles, runs great. My buddy has the same issue on his 01 SRX thats completely stock. He keeps up on his maintenance and has the same issues anytime the sled sits for long periods of time 1-2+ weeks.

G/F's Hauck Piped 01 SXR700 starts on 3rd or 4th pull in the same conditions.

98 SRX700 Ported with 01 electricial starts on the 3rd or 4th pull in the same conditions.
 
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Yea, my buddies 99srx with a bender can seems to start easier then mine with stock can... his takes 15-20 pulls in sub zero temps, mine is way beyond that... i just pour gas down the cyls and shes good to go, when the sleds all warm and runnin it idles fine and will starts in one pull if i shut it off and start it again.
 
Yeah i do the same thing,pour gas down the sparkplug hole,starts in two pulls, its kinda a hassle but my back is bad and it beats pulling 20-30 times, runs fine all day after that.
 
bluewho said:
I went a whole year before i realized that the choke has 2 settings.Starts better now!!


Your not telling me something, let me in on it.haha I just flip it on and thought that was that!
 
Choke..

No doubt, was in the Up at night like -6F and friend has a 1999 Polaris that wouldnt start without dumping fuel in it. Well the last day we were there is pullin away, AGAIN, and I leaned over saying 'got that thing choked" and choked it ALL the way and it started right up lol..he said " didnt even know that went that far until wathcing you choke it...doh..
I know where full choke is, being a SRX owners and all. IMO SRX just take more pulls.
 
Bluewho, its easy to choke it too much, if you look on the choke rail you can see the line where it should come out max. Choke it too much and it wont start, choke it too little and it wont start... gotta find the sweet spot.
 
Three years ago was in northern MN, it was -24 when we got out to the sleds. Took 8 pulls, buddies xc700 took about the same. My 00 has always been a great starter unless I have had something out of wack.
 
I think I am going to install a check valve in my fuel line, to see if that cures it on my hard starter.

I have a feeling the gas is working its way backwards when it sits for long periods
 
I installed a primer bulb from the tank to the fuel pump. I only really need it for the first start of the season. I squeeze the bulb a few times with a channel lock pliers and watch for the fuel to come up into the lines. Two pulls on full choke and I'm runnin. Then I switch the choke off and if the rpms drop below 1500 I half choke it for a second. After about three half chokes she idles beautifully. Havn't fouled a plug yet this year. (knock on wood)
 
my 96 Polaris Ultra Sp starts with in three pulls no matter what the temp when warmed up it is always one pull. My 2000 Srx700 when cold is usually around 10 pulls no matter the temp when warmed up 1 pull. one thing you can do when it is cold out is the last time you shut it down after you are done riding is kill it by using the choke it will wash the oil out of the cylinders and make the first couple pulls the next time easier cause there is no oil in the cylinders to act like sludge when its cold out I only do it when its really cold out cause I don't really like the fact of not having some oil in the cylinders but it sure makes those first few pulls alot easier. you know what I mean my SRX when it is really cold out if you don't do that man do you have to put evrything you got into it to pull it over the first couple times.
 
Corey9965 said:
I installed a primer bulb from the tank to the fuel pump. I only really need it for the first start of the season. I squeeze the bulb a few times with a channel lock pliers and watch for the fuel to come up into the lines. Two pulls on full choke and I'm runnin. Then I switch the choke off and if the rpms drop below 1500 I half choke it for a second. After about three half chokes she idles beautifully. Havn't fouled a plug yet this year. (knock on wood)

why channel lock pliers? can you post a picture or two please?... many here might want an image...
 
I understand why gas needs to be pulled up the line, but like I said, I thought these were carbs with float bowls, so these bowls should be full of gas at the get go !!
 


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