Sled wont start

yamahakid88

New member
Joined
Feb 2, 2015
Messages
25
Location
Illinois
Hi everyone, recently aquired a 2002 sx viper 700, we got a good amount of snow last night so I took it out for about an hour or so, parked it behind the shed. This morning I come out wanting to ride, key in, flip the choke full on, kill switch off, I give it a few pulls and it fires up like normal. I turn the choke off and it sputters a bit so I give it half and it is somewhat normal, but a minute later it dies alltogether and now I cant get it to start. I checked spark, they are all good, put fresh plugs. I sprayed starting fluid down each hole and it fired up for 2 seconds then died. Pretty convinced it is a fuel problem. The spark plugs are bone dry when I try to start it aswell. I just dont get it, it worked fine last night but now it wont, very frustrating especially when we have alot of snow for once. I am i aiming towards fuel pump, anyone know where this is located at?
 

Behind the secondary clutch you will find the fuel pump mounted on the chassis.Try some hot water on it.There is a fix for this problem.
 
I'd start by cleaning the carbs if this sled is new to you. Since you might be new to Yamaha, they run a pretty small pilot jet that plugs up fairly easy if left unmaintained. Your sled should still start though with the choke. This will also verify the fuel pump depending if there's gas in the bowls. Also, follow the gas line from the tank and look for a shut off valve the PO might have put in and just forgot to tell you.
 
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Thank you all for the quick response! I will try this in a bit and see if it works. I just dont think that the carbs would be a problem seeing as it ran fine the day before. When I put new plugs in and turned it over, the plugs were bone freaking dry. I dont have to unhook the fuel pump do I?
 
I'd start by cleaning the carbs if this sled is new to you. Since you might be new to Yamaha, they run a pretty small pilot jet that plugs up fairly easy if left unmaintained. Your sled should still start though with the choke. This will also verify the fuel pump depending if there's gas in the bowls. Also, follow the gas line from the tank and look for a shut off valve the PO might have put in and just forgot to tell you.

I have ridden this sled a bunch of times before, maybe 8-10 times and this is the first problem im having. I will not pop no matter what position the choke is in.
 
To fix the problem if that is what it is you will have to remove the nuts on the fuel pump and slip a small piece of rubber over the hole that is underneath it.This will cover the hole that is there for cooling the pump.Some guys slip a bunch of washers under the pump bolts as well to raise the pump so ice will not build up there.You could have some water in the gas that has froze in the pump as well.
 
Pull air box out and pull a fuel line off one of the carbs...pull the cord and the gas should pump out of the fuel line...if not pumping then pump is gone or frozen...I plugged my fuel pump vent hole with silicon.
X3 Definitely clean the carbs! Mrviper has a good write up on carb cleaning in the tech section called carb cleaning 101.
 
Get it in some heat and thaw it out and see if it starts...easy way to start process of elimination. (Assuming its not already in a heated garage). Had an old vmax that only started above 32° lol. Old gas whordes moisture.
 
OK so got the air box pulled off, hit the fuel pump with a heat gun for a bit, took a line off of it and pulled it, fuel shot out, no high pressure or anything, but it shot out.
 
That's a good thing haha.. You can see if it fires up now. Leave the airbox off it won't hurt to run it for a minute with out the box. If all seems good...do the fuel pump fix with silicon or rubber or what have you. There's a few options. There's also a write up in the tech section.
 
take and flip the choke wide open, the lever should about bend over backwards, then squirt some mixed gas into the back of the carbs since you have the airbox off. It should start, you may need to do this 2 times if the pump was frozen up, see if it will stay running with choke on.
 
Well thats assuming the pump was frozen up, at worst I buy a new one, or a rebuild kit which I cant find anywhere.. I will try that tommorrow, I have a small space heater on ti right now, I will try it tommorrow. If it doesnt work ill try cleaning the carbs. Would starter fluid work? or mixed gas is preferable? I did shoot some starter fluid in the spark plug holes and it did run for a sec then shut off again.
 
Used compressed air and charge your gas tank with a bit of air...it will swell a bit don't be alarmed. You'll prime the fuel system this way. There's a small vent behind the handle bars you can use it to charge the tank. You can use some premix in the cylinders to get it to go. Never used QuickStart. You won't find a rebuild kit for the pump. If you do make sure you let me know haha. I found a good used pump for 40$
 
Ok, what will preasurizing it do? Never heard of this. Thing is, I was supposed to go up north friday, and nothing will get here in time.. hoping the dealer might have one laying around
 
Ok, what will preasurizing it do? Never heard of this. Thing is, I was supposed to go up north friday, and nothing will get here in time.. hoping the dealer might have one laying around

Charging the tank will push fuel through the lines and fill the carb bowls. I do it after cleaning carbs usually. It's an alternative to pouring gas down the cylinder or pulling the cord 50 times. If you say the fuel is pumping out of the lines then I'd say your pump and pulse line is fine. If it still doesn't start then maybe time to clean and tune your carbs...which i would do anyway...
 
OK good news! Primed the tank like you said and it fired up first pull, going to slap the air box back in and see if it stays running
 


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