HARD Viper Start after a long sit...

[Snowsnake]

I don't even bother pulling it once without putting mixed gas in the plug holes (after sitting all summer). Un-necessary wear and tear on me and the pull start. I figure this also insures I'm getting oil in the cyls. on the first pull.

If you fogged it when it was put away there will be a coating of oil on everything anyway and if you didn't the damage could already be done(rusty brgs).
I don't ride without at least checking the carbs,but starting it to get it into the shop isn't going to hurt anything.Electric start sure is nice after it sits for a long period.

 

[Snowsnake]

So I see this question a lot on here.
Vipers are hard to start after sitting over the summer, even after a month, or after a rebuild.

Seems like the only solution is to pull plugs, dump some fuel down each cylinder, replace plugs, and fire it up.

At the beginning of each sledding season, I have to do this at least a half dozen times until it stays running. This is a pain in the A$$!
Why is that it takes so long to get fuel to the carbs? Before putting fuel down the jugs I have already pulled on the rope close to 100 times!

Who has installed a "squeeze ball" type primer? I think this is the only real viable solution.

Thoughts...

I added a primer on my son's Ski-Doo and left the enrichener system intact.If it sat overnight it would take 10 pulls to start(like that since new),but now a couple of pumps of the primer,lift the enrichener lever to center position and it will start first pull.The enrichener doesn't start it,but it will give you a fast idle until warm.Not really a fan of the enrichener sys.,but having electric start it not that big an issue for me.

 

[kuips]

I know, I feel bad for not cleaning them, and I'd feel bad bringing it in to get this done for $.
I'd love to watch someone clean them once, and then I know I could do it 100% after that!

i totally agree with you!! i like to wrench on my sled, and am mechanically inclined and have a bunch of tools, but just looking at those carbs it seems overwhelming... if someone just could come over we could drink beers and they could guide me through the whole process.

 

[Millinocket Rocket]

If you fogged it when it was put away there will be a coating of oil on everything anyway and if you didn't the damage could already be done(rusty brgs).
I don't ride without at least checking the carbs,but starting it to get it into the shop isn't going to hurt anything.Electric start sure is nice after it sits for a long period.

True- there should be some fogging oil left- good point. It's just the way I start mine in the fall when the carb bowls are empty from cleaning them. 1 or 2 pulls is a lot better than 20--no elec start here. When I cleaned carbs this year, each bowl had a little "jellyfish" in it. Never seen that before this year. A friend of mine found the same thing in his Viper. I woudn't even think of running it without cleaning them at the start of the season...

 

[Exciter89]

If you can clean and adjust your PV's you can do this.

Agreed, when I first got my viper I was far more intimidated with cleaning and adjusting the valves than cleaning the carbs. But now that I've done it a few times its a piece of cake. the carbs on the viper are also far easier to access than the 89 Exciter i had as well.

 

[VIPER TIM]

Seafoam

I have tried many tips and tricks to get my 02 Viper to start easier in the fall. It has always been stored properly. This fall after the 30 plus pulls to get the new gas in the carbs she finally sputtered to life but would not stay running with the choke off. While looking for my carb cleaner, I saw a can of SEAFOAM and figured what the hell. Added 1/2 pint along with some more fresh gas, and by the time it was up to temp it was running smooth with no choke. I am now a firm believer in SeaFoam. It has also made my 99 Silverado with 237,000 miles run better. I will still clean the carbs though.

 

[mattyg1405]

i totally agree with you!! i like to wrench on my sled, and am mechanically inclined and have a bunch of tools, but just looking at those carbs it seems overwhelming... if someone just could come over we could drink beers and they could guide me through the whole process.

if you werent so far away i would drink with you until your carbs looked clean lol!!!

 

[kuips]

I have tried many tips and tricks to get my 02 Viper to start easier in the fall. It has always been stored properly. This fall after the 30 plus pulls to get the new gas in the carbs she finally sputtered to life but would not stay running with the choke off. While looking for my carb cleaner, I saw a can of SEAFOAM and figured what the hell. Added 1/2 pint along with some more fresh gas, and by the time it was up to temp it was running smooth with no choke. I am now a firm believer in SeaFoam. It has also made my 99 Silverado with 237,000 miles run better. I will still clean the carbs though.

when i put my rig in storage for the summer, i siphoned all but 2" out of the tank added a few ounces of seafoam and ran it for a minute or so.... i'm curious to see if it will help or not. im going to add a full tank of premium before i even pull the rope!