cold weather starting suggestions

[coldbreeze]

Have 2007 with less than 1000km , its been -35 to -45 steady for past few weeks and had machine plugged in for over 24hrs-(battery and fluid heater), fired once, ran very rough but quit less than minute later and would not kick over again. seems like its flooding in process of trying to start but good luck at getting at plugs to check them

short of setting the engine on fire anyone have suggestions on improving starting -like the towing ability, comfort and fuel efficency of this machine but so far cold weather perfomance of 4 stroke sucks-hence less than 1000km'd since had same issues last winter and worked more on getting going than actually riding

wonder if engineers considered than some actually use machines out in real world where there is no heated dealer garage to access things under hood and winter actually means cold

 

[eric3793]

-45 is really cold. I purchased a VK on 1/19/08 and rode it the next week in -30F weather. I was told by the dealer to use full choke when it is that cold but once it starts, slowly roll it to 1/2 choke to keep the revs up around 2000rpm. When it starts to run rough, reduce the choke to off and let it idle for 5 minutes or so before using the sled. This proceedure has worked well. I just got back from a -20F weekend and no problems starting at all. I have never used aux. heat. When the temps get up to +10F only 1/2 choke is needed. I wonder if your fluid heater is keeping the engine warm enough that full choke is not needed. Try no choke, turn the key and crank the starter while slowly rolling the choke to about 1/2. When it starts, slowly reduce choke. Full choke may be too much. I have about 1500 miles on the VK so far and I really like it.

 

[Jack_Shaft]

-45 is really cold. I purchased a VK on 1/19/08 and rode it the next week in -30F weather. I was told by the dealer to use full choke when it is that cold but once it starts, slowly roll it to 1/2 choke to keep the revs up around 2000rpm. When it starts to run rough, reduce the choke to off and let it idle for 5 minutes or so before using the sled. This proceedure has worked well. I just got back from a -20F weekend and no problems starting at all. I have never used aux. heat. When the temps get up to +10F only 1/2 choke is needed. I wonder if your fluid heater is keeping the engine warm enough that full choke is not needed. Try no choke, turn the key and crank the starter while slowly rolling the choke to about 1/2. When it starts, slowly reduce choke. Full choke may be too much. I have about 1500 miles on the VK so far and I really like it.

Listen to this man. Keep the revs up during warm-up by reducing the choke bit by bit to "follow" the sweet spot as the engine warms up. Have started our RS Venture, VK Pro and RX-1 in this fashion in -40*C and colder and it has always worked well.

Make sure your battery is healthy, I bought an Optimate battery tender when I bought my RX-1 way back in the day and use it once per Summer, then once in the Fall before we get the sleds going again. Keeps the battery up real nice, still running the OEM battery in my RX-1 for 5 yrs now and it has never let me down.

 

[coldbreeze]

thanks for advice seemed to work, still dont like battery and plug placement on these but guess will have live with it-

 

[Jack_Shaft]

thanks for advice seemed to work, still dont like battery and plug placement on these but guess will have live with it-

Your VK is outfitted with remote leads to charge the battery, no need to remove it to charge it.

 

[coldbreeze]

i'm aware of leads, was just commenting on how hard everything is to get at if you need to, especially in the field.

but here is another question , followed the advice about choke and has started well since. so it started other day without issue but half hour later idling and just running around short distances (less than 5km)it overheated. didnt think anything of it because of the long idling and on hard packed snow/ice. So took out the next day and didnt run 5-10 minutes before temperature light comes on and coolant is boiling and shooting out overflow, wasnt far from home but had to let cool three times before getting there and no load. Appears fluid is not ciculating properly but seems to be right strength. Checked thermostat and seems to functioning properly. temps are in -28 to -35 so warmer than when first started problems

Suggestions on what the cause would be and the fix?

 

[wayne]

Have you removed the sheild that covers the vent directly in front of the rad. three screws hold it in place. I have not figured out yet why it's there

 

[brad gilker]

Have 2007 with less than 1000km , its been -35 to -45 steady for past few weeks and had machine plugged in for over 24hrs-(battery and fluid heater), fired once, ran very rough but quit less than minute later and would not kick over again. seems like its flooding in process of trying to start but good luck at getting at plugs to check them

short of setting the engine on fire anyone have suggestions on improving starting -like the towing ability, comfort and fuel efficency of this machine but so far cold weather perfomance of 4 stroke sucks-hence less than 1000km'd since had same issues last winter and worked more on getting going than actually riding

wonder if engineers considered than some actually use machines out in real world where there is no heated dealer garage to access things under hood and winter actually means cold

 

[brad gilker]

When it's really cold, I'll pull the drive belt off to start, let it idle for 1 minute, put belt back on and re-start

 

[BACK COUNTRY YAMAHA]

When you start up and let it warm up to when the yellow warning light goes out, let idle some more and confirm that your fan is cutting in and also confirm that your heat exchanger in the tunnel is warming up. If all checks out then your coolant is circulating. Also your excessive idling is allowing that engine to get super hot and then the low snow conditions are not helping with the coolant overflowing, since both the radiator and heat exchanger rely on some form of forward movement in snow to keep the engine cool. Had an 06 with 20,000 km of trouble free starting and operation, very reliable machine! best of luck!