Just some quick advice

[earthling]

So I have a 2006 Attak that won't start. It was starting fine and then in the turn of cold weather it was getting progressively harder to start and then quit starting altogether. It feels like I might have fouled the plugs(?) while trying to start it because it may have flooded(?)... I could smell fuel at one point.

I can hear the fuel pump but no other noise
Will crank, engine turns over at what seems like the same speed it used to turn over, in other words, other than not starting it sounds like it used to before it decided to not start

will cough/backfire (but kind of a half hearted backfire)
Will crank and crank and crank (not a battery issue), occasionally the starter will disengage for some reason but if I either hold the key or release and re-turn the key the starter always engages again.

So...

Bought the one and only relay that my local Polaris dealer who condescendingly acts like a Yamaha dealer had in stock.

Walked that one good relay through the three possible relay options (no change) but this was really a hail mary as it didn't feel like a relay issue. Still pisses me off that the local Yamaha dealer isn't a serious Yamaha dealer but .. whatever.

So, next I pulled off the hood, pulled the pod forward, and I am staring at the plugs. This takes an unbelievable amount of determination just to get this far in my unheated garage.

It looks like I have to pull the coolant reservoir in reality to get at the plugs, they appear to be fairly well buried behind wiring and that coolant overflow reservoir.

Any tricks at this point or just bite down and plough ahead to pull the plugs? It looks like a 10mm to pull some kind of retaining bolt and then I can get at the plug itself?

 

[blevis213]

had the same thing happen last week, my dealer told me that i fouled the plugs. he changed them good to go. told me to use the key not the kill switch, also let it warm up real good before shutting it off

 

[earthling]

What plugs is everyone running?
The manual says CR9E
NGK says CR9EB (regular) or CR9EiX (iridium tip)

 

[sideshowBob]

It has been abnormally cold in most of Ontario, creates difficult starting conditions.
I have found my Apexs like to spin pretty fast to start, something cold weather doesn't accommodate.

Before I pulled it all apart I would try a couple things:
-charge the battery
-somehow warm the sled up over night, maybe put a tarp over it and stick a couple car warmers under the tarp
-pull the fuel pump relay out and crank the sled with the throttle held wide open
-with a warm sled, fully charged battery, and the fuel pump relay back in...start over trying to start it...maybe even boost it while starting in case battery is getting weak.

If the above procedures don't work...change the plugs.
JM.02c

 

[earthling]

It has been abnormally cold in most of Ontario, creates difficult starting conditions.
I have found my Apexs like to spin pretty fast to start, something cold weather doesn't accommodate.

Before I pulled it all apart I would try a couple things:
-charge the battery
-somehow warm the sled up over night, maybe put a tarp over it and stick a couple car warmers under the tarp
-pull the fuel pump relay out and crank the sled with the throttle held wide open
-with a warm sled, fully charged battery, and the fuel pump relay back in...start over trying to start it...maybe even boost it while starting in case battery is getting weak.

If the above procedures don't work...change the plugs.
JM.02c

I did put a space heater under a horse blanket that I threw over the sled. That got it to start the very last time it started but since then, nothing. I have not tried the blanket again nor did I try cranking it without the fuel relay. Good idea, I will try both.

the sled is new to me, so I am dying to have a closer look under the hood anyhow, not as much as I am dying to ride it but still...

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[sideshowBob]

I have used both the stock NGK CR9EB and the CR10EK in the Apexs
My stock trail sled has the CR9EB plugs but I put CR10EK plugs in the Boosted sled as they are a colder plug.
There are reports the CR10EK plugs make a couple more horse power even in a stock Apex

 

[Rtbo]

Test your stator, mine went bad and would pop when turning over, I would hold it wide open and turn it over and it would fire sometimes then it was just dead

 

[earthling]

Well, put in new plugs today, its definitely trying harder to start but it won't start. I guess the stator is next? I will see if I can find some troubleshooting guidelines here on the site.

 

[earthling]

WTF.. it started, not sure why since it wasn't acting that hot after the plug change. I let the battery recharge after trying to start it, it sat for awhile, went out and cranked, cranked, and it fired... hrmmm... not very comforting, maybe it was the plugs after all. The ones that came out were _black_ and covered with fuel (I could smell it). So now I am letting it warm up, we will see how it runs once it gets warm.