hard start issue

[snappy]

i have a 2003 rx1er 5200 miles.when it sits for a week or two i have to crank it over alot for it to catch and start.as if it is flooded or something.but i dont think it is flooded.once it is started it is fine.it will start normally the next day time after time.any ideas :?:

 

[JDKRXW]

Time for a fuel(s) pump rebuild???

 

[Buckeye]

Sounds like it isn't getting fuel after sitting for awhile. Can't figure why. Doesn't seem long enough to evaporate. Something may have been gummed up and then cleared up.

 

[snappy]

i dont think so.my buddy showed up with his rx1 on his trailor to go riding friday.it had been in his trailor for 3-4 weeks.same deal it wouldnt fire.it had spark,we opened up the air box and shot some ether right in the carbs still nothing.we cleaned the plugs and the plug boots.started cranking again it finally caught and was fine all weekend.

 

[POWERHAULIC]

I believe there are check valves in the tank, they may not be holding.

 

[VT_BluYamaha54]

i have a 2003 rx1er 5200 miles.when it sits for a week or two i have to crank it over alot for it to catch and start.as if it is flooded or something.but i dont think it is flooded.once it is started it is fine.it will start normally the next day time after time.any ideas :?:

If it isn't flooding, it has to be a no fuel condition or bad gas.

I would bet on bad fuel. Do you use high test? If so, it will tend to start harder (yes) than regular. Check choke adjustment. If it is off a little this will make it hard starting under marginal conditions.

In case it could be flooding: Do you have shut off valves on the lines between the tank and the fuel pump stack? Are you using them?

A test for bad fuel might be to shut off valves and let carbs run out of fuel and then you will get fresh fuel the next time you start it. (The small quantities of fuel in the carb will always tend to go bad more quickly tha the fuel in the tank especially if the sled is exposed to heat - like in an enclosed trailer in a sunny location.) It will have to crank a bit more but if your battery is good and chokes are adjusted properly it should fire within 20 secs.

 

[snappy]

it is very strange.i dont use super,my sled stays in my garage(cool),fuel would take months to go bad i would think.when it does start there is not much black smoke.if it was flooded wouldnt you see this to some degree?when i pulled the plugs they were dry.if it was a check valve wouldnt it do it over nite?choke worked fine next day5-10 degrees started right up.when it wouldnt start eether wasnt making it kick either.and i dont smell fuel when its cranking and not starting. :?

 

[LazyBastard]

Sounds like you may have an air leak into your fuel system somewhere. Could be at the fuel pumps, float valves, float seal, fuel lines, .....


How much fuel are you leaving in the machine when you let it sit? If you keep the fuel absolutely full, the it will keep the fuel system full also. If the fuel level stays low, than any leak in the fuel system (that includes the float valves), will release the vacuum holding fuel IN - which obviously will SUCK the fuel right back into the tank.

 

[snappy]

a quarter tank or less usually

 

[LazyBastard]

Try keeping more gas in it, I'm sure it'll be easier to start then.

The reason why it is hard to start is that the fuel pump needs to be primed. When there is no gas in the fuel pump, it has a very hard time moving the gas (it has to lift it up out of the tank).

When the fuel system is empty, you can force fuel into it by taking the clear rubber gas tank vent line and applying pressure (use your mouth to blow into it and pressurize the gas tank), then when its taken all the pressure you can blow, put your thumb over it. Hold for 15 seconds. It should fire right up.

 

[peakperf]

I'm having similar problem but worse. I have to take out the spark plugs and turn it over. Stuff comes pumping out of there. I put the plugs back in and it then starts. A real pain in the A$$. It happens probably every other time. I'm taking it back to the dealer to fix.

 

[LazyBastard]

That sounds like one of two things;

1) non-functional/incorrectly adjusted/dirty float valves,
2) incorrectly adjusted choke.

 

[Ski-Dog]

My sled suffers the same thing from the day it was new. If it sits for two weeks its extremely difficult to start. I think it loses prime. Doesn't matter if tank is completely full or 3/4 empty the result is the same. I've had it to the dealer but of course it has run to get there and they cannot find anything wrong. There are no leaks that I can find but suspect fuel pumps perhaps.

 

[LazyBastard]

I have another thing to think about....

Coolant temperature in the carbs!

If the motor is shut off HOT, it is possible to vent the fuel out of the carbs, which can cause the engine to flood, OR, it can cause you to loose your prime. Try coolant shutoff valves.

 

[Mighty]

The only time mine has started hard has been when I drained the float bowls to install my ecp kit (both times :shock: .