Cold Weather Starting

[poor farmer/logger]

So far my viper has started ok. Coldest I started it was about -4°F. My nytro always started though so the cold starts on the viper do have me a little concerned. -20°F it would fire up without much fuss. We usually end up doing a few trail rides when it’s -10 to -20°F. Hopefully im not going to run into problems with the viper starting.

 

[ArcticRider]

In this post I would like to address issues that some have had starting their Yamaha 1049 cc 4-stroke engines. This is not only a Viper/7000 issue but I have also witnessed it on a Vector. It happened in Cochrane with morning temperatures below -30C. From what I could see the engine would crank somewhat slowly and try to fire but just not start and stay running. The battery was not down, the oil in the main and rod bearings was just too thick to get a good fast cranking speed to get good cylinder pressure to start. The battery in my 7000 is even smaller, I believe, than in the Vector. That along with the fragile starter idler gear issue, made me decide to add some heaters to eliminate this issue when the temps are real cold. Playing around with hair dryers and booster boxes is not a good way to start the day, especially when your small 2-stroke buddies have their engines running and are ready to go.



A proven solution to this problem that has been done on the Vector, is to heat the lower portion of the engine. There has been no starting issues since, no matter how cold is gets. This solution does not heat the engine coolant therefore does not trick the ECM into a no cold start routine. The heaters used are only 50 watts each and are plugged in at the end of the day to keep the lower engine cases warm enough to keep the oil around the main bearings from getting thick. They do not get too hot all night due to their low power. The heaters we used were Kat's Silicone Pad Self Adhesive CSA approved 2" x 5" 3-prong part number 26050. They are available on Amazon.ca for about $32.95 each.



I mounted the first heater on the smooth surface of the bottom of the oil pan. There is an area that is just the right size for this 2x5 inch heater. Clean the surface with some solvent so it has no dirt or oil and let it flash off. Stick the heater on and firmly press it down so there is no air voids between the pad and the pan. Add a bead of high temp silicone around the edge to seal out any oil or water from getting under the pad that could loosen it.







I mounted the second heater to the front side of the engine block in the flat area above the pan rail. I had to smooth the area of casting flash with a die grinder and Scotch-Brite disk.







Run the cables away from any hot pipes over to the right foot well. I covered the cords with split plastic wire loom and then wrapped the loom with aluminum duct tape to reflect heat.







When the heaters are not needed down in the south, the cord ends are tucked up under the plastic tank cover. All you need to carry is a triple tap 5 meter extension cord. Make sure you buy a lighted end so you know there is power in the outlet. I use the third tap with a short cord over to my other sled parked beside. You will be able to unplug the cord and wrap it up during packing and jump on the sled, turn the key and go. You can watch others fight with hair dryers removing covers and trying to borrow booster boxes while you let the engine warm up.



Happy sledding !

BP

I'm on amazon and I only see a 1x5 or a 4x5 in the Kat, i'm guessing the 1x5 would be best. Also, what size is your wire looming, i see 1/4" and 1/2".

 

[ViperBill]

We have 2 14s in our group. Switched to iridium plugs and amsoil 0-40 and both start ok at -20f sitting out overnight. Not always easy but have never failed to start. Mine started hard and kicked back on yamalube. Not entirely sure if it was the oil or the plugs but the combo works for me.

 

[Big Pussy]

The 1" x 5" pad is only 25 watts and may not make enough heat where you live. Go this site

http://www.fivestarmanufacturing.com/kat_s

Check out the catalog. They make the pads. You may be able to source the pad somewhere else. They also have 2 prong style that are not CSA approved. I had to buy them for my buddies Viper due to Amazon not having any at the time. I think the wire loom was 3/8". Just big enough to get around the wire. The 2 prong has only 2 wires so 1/4" may work for it. I did this in the summer of 2016 so I can't remember the fine details. As you can see by the pictures, there is only room for 2" x 5" max. All of the pad MUST be against the aluminum or it will burn out where it is in air. Also make sure the surface is smooth. I had to grind the front of the engine smooth to get rid of the casting nubs.

BP

 

[ArcticRider]

We have 2 14s in our group. Switched to iridium plugs and amsoil 0-40 and both start ok at -20f sitting out overnight. Not always easy but have never failed to start. Mine started hard and kicked back on yamalube. Not entirely sure if it was the oil or the plugs but the combo works for me.

Do you have a plug number for those iridium plugs?

 

[ViperBill]

Have it at work. Any auto parts store should be able to cross reference them from the original.

 

[ArcticRider]

Did

The 1" x 5" pad is only 25 watts and may not make enough heat where you live. Go this site

http://www.fivestarmanufacturing.com/kat_s

Check out the catalog. They make the pads. You may be able to source the pad somewhere else. They also have 2 prong style that are not CSA approved. I had to buy them for my buddies Viper due to Amazon not having any at the time. I think the wire loom was 3/8". Just big enough to get around the wire. The 2 prong has only 2 wires so 1/4" may work for it. I did this in the summer of 2016 so I can't remember the fine details. As you can see by the pictures, there is only room for 2" x 5" max. All of the pad MUST be against the aluminum or it will burn out where it is in air. Also make sure the surface is smooth. I had to grind the front of the engine smooth to get rid of the casting nubs.

BP

did you then wrap the loom with the aluminum duct tape?

 

[sxr70001]

Do you have a plug number for those iridium plugs?

Iridium IX Spark Plug - CR9EIX

 

[Big Pussy]

did you then wrap the loom with the aluminum duct tape?

Yes. I had a roll from doing heat duct in the basement. I thought it might save the loom and cord around the muffler.

 

[ArcticRider]

T

Iridium IX Spark Plug - CR9EIX

thank you, no hardware stores here. Just in anchorage 700 miles away.

 

[sxr70001]

I got mine from Dennis Kirk

 

[ArcticRider]

Ni

I got mine from Dennis Kirk

Nice, and I found some on amazon, thanks for the help.

 

[GR8BBQ]

I keep looking at these "starting" threads hoping GrizzTracks will chime in with an update on the voltage regulator for the ECU that he was testing... I'm hopeful that it will reduce or eliminate some of the cold starting issues that some people are reporting.

 

[Carla 123]

Went out this morning with temps at -18 f I cycled the key 4 times and it fired up.dont know if it would have fired if it was any colder.it was also facing into a brutally cold north wind.