Cold starts (-35C and colder)??

[revster]

A riding buddy of mine, a cat guy, is planning to buy a new Cat and was wanting to get the one powered by the Nytro mill. The issue is he is a trapper and uses his sled for that purpose as well as pleasure riding. This past week at his trapping cabin the temp was -38c (-36.4F) and he needs his sled to start.

I keep my Nytro in a heated shop and most of the time I ride from there or after a short ride in the truck box. I have only started my Nytro in extreme cold a handful of times (and it always started) so I can't really provide him much feedback.

I'm looking for feedback from a few guys who can speak from experience keeping their Nytros outside and staring them in that -30 and colder range on a consistent basis.

Thanks for any feedback

NOTE: No power at the cabin for any kind of heater for the sled.

 

[APEX 06]

As long as the battery is good it should pop off.

 

[Pstn head]

And also he can consider a sled start Yamaha accessory I believe you can set a timer and the sled will start and warm up then shut it self off and repeat how often you like.

 

[judger101]

I have started my sled just fine in similar temps. it may take a few trys, but it will go.

 

[ViperTurboPete]

I have started mine in -35C also and it fired up. It didn't like it, but it started and starts consistently all winter. The limiting factor is the battery.

Since trapping buddy is at his trap camp and "if" his sled doesn't start because it is hard to turn over tell him to use the hot water trick.

I am running the original battery on my 04 RX1. It was -35C and windy at the camp and my sleds were parked on the lake in the wind overnight. The RXM would barely turn over and the Nytro fired up. I went into the sauna and scooped a pot of hot water from the hot water tank. I opened the hood and poured the water on the cylinder head. I turned the key and the sled turned over like nothing and fired up right away.

Hot water is cheaper than a sled start and a block heater. You also need hydro for a block heater. Try it...it has worked for me and I no longer worry about my sleds not starting in the mornings.

 

[Yamatario]

I have been caught in -40 numerous times in northern Ontario over the years with my Nytro. If left off for a longer length of time he will run into trouble. We ended going out several times through the nights to start our sleds. Go for the sled start remote/timer to keep the engine warm. If it is -35 he might get away with, but he is right at the edge. I'm going for the Sled Start this year.

 

[R00STER]

Its cold like that here most of the winter. Mine is parked outside all winter. It might growl a little but it always starts.

 

[Dimebag]

At those temps my sled always starts, but stops again. Then when i start it it will idle. I see the same thing on all my buddies Nytros too.

 

[Ultrafrozen]

Look into the "antigravity" battery packs. Check out the video starting a Ducati and Toyota truck repeatedly on one charge. http://antigravitybatteries.com/microstart/ Keep it inside and have it available it the sled battery gets drained. I'm adding this to my list.

He could also keep a spare car battery at the cabin hooked up to a solar charger. He should already carry booster cables on the sled.

 

[Supa Dexta]

Its cold like that here most of the winter.

No its not, no where in canada is it that cold most of the winter.

Timmins Ontario
Daily average
(°C)
January
-17.5

and as for the coldest -

http://www.currentresults.com/Weather-E ... winter.php

And these are temps without windchill you have to use when talking about an engine, as the engine at startup will be the ambient temperature.. Windchill will only affect how fast it cools down to ambient once warming up, so its unlikely to be much past -30 for many days in a row.

The weakest point in any of this is the battery, followed by oil weight, and then fuel (any water content) If you have any way of keeping the battery warm it would be a huge help (even taking it inside) and run low weight oil.

 

[mp5]

My 09 Nytro has always started with its original battery, and a few times in -33 c temps, I bought one of those Antigravity starters the other day. They are a nice compact kit w lots of juice. It was worth the money for not having to be stranded, or do the hot water method.Iseen other Apex and RX1 guys have to use the water trick....and they were not happy doing it at -32. Money well spent imho for the AG Kit w all the extra compoents and ultra small package.

 

[mp5]

My 09 Nytro has always started with its original battery, and a few times in -33 c temps, I bought one of those Antigravity starters the other day. They are a nice compact kit w lots of juice. It was worth the money for not having to be stranded, or do the hot water method.Iseen other Apex and RX1 guys have to use the water trick....and they were not happy doing it at -32. Money well spent imho for the AG Kit w all the extra compoents and ultra small package.

 

[judger101]

i bought one of the battery packs as well, very light weight, i can just throw it in the backpack and not even know its there, could turn a very bad day around in a hurry.

 

[gc_srt]

If he is at all concerned, I would get a stick on oil heaters and stick them on the oil tank. Also, I think there is an inline coolant heater that can be installed.

I have only had one issue and it was due to the fuel pump relay. I swithced over to the red relays and haven't had an issue yet.

 

[canoehead]

Its cold like that here most of the winter.

No its not, no where in canada is it that cold most of the winter.

Timmins Ontario
Daily average
(°C)
January
-17.5

and as for the coldest -

http://www.currentresults.com/Weather-E ... winter.php

And these are temps without windchill you have to use when talking about an engine, as the engine at startup will be the ambient temperature.. Windchill will only affect how fast it cools down to ambient once warming up, so its unlikely to be much past -30 for many days in a row.

The weakest point in any of this is the battery, followed by oil weight, and then fuel (any water content) If you have any way of keeping the battery warm it would be a huge help (even taking it inside) and run low weight oil.

Anybody who wants to see cold can come out to Alberta. Our average daytime high has been -26C That's without windchill!!
By the way I just bought an anti-gravity battery/starter kit...