No Start

[APM]

Great forum and many thanks in advance!

I have a 2018 Sidewinder LTX LE 137 track and a 2018 Sidewinder MTX LE 162 track (50th Anniv)

Just got back from riding in Wyoming in the mountains. The mountain sidewinder would not start two days in a row the following morning after sitting all night outside. The trail sidewinder started no problems in the same conditions.

I know about the relay problems and even had a spare set with me. Switched them out and still nothing. Motor turns over but no dash lights, no fuel pump sound, etc. I have a heated trailer so I fired up the heat and let the sled sit. It took 3 hours before it would start. I'm concerned because you would think by replacing the relays with new ones or warming up the existing relays would solve the problem but it didn't. I was only able to get it going by putting the sled in a heated trailer--for about 3 hours. I've read about guys on the forum who just warm up the relays in their hands and reinstall them but this wasn't the case for me.

Last day of riding we packed up to go home the same night. Drove sled in trailer and starting the trek back to WI. Of course, sled fires right up now with no issues. Only difference is that it didn't sit outside over night. Go figure.

Regardless, has anyone switched out relays to a steady state relay? Or maybe another brand? Diode grease? Anything?

Love these sidewinders for trail and mountains! The mountain sled is an absolute blast to ride in the steep and deep and it just keeps the power coming. The trail sidewinder version is night and day difference from my 2011 Apex SE--I'll probably get blasted for that but I'm in the camp who really likes this chassis! To each their own.

Thank you!

 

[APM]

Just a quick update: I did order two relays from Ulmer Racing. These relays are in fact the Polaris relays. When I pulled back the tape it says Polaris right on them along with the part number. Regardless, I'm going to try them even though I'm not 100% convinced this is it based on my above post. Thank you.

 

[Pierre Chenier]

My SRX has done the same thing. It doesn't seem to like the bitter cold. I left it in my trailer and when I tried to start it, nothing. It was -27 celcius. this has happened to me twice now. I never knew about the relays so now the machine stays in the garage and I load it up in the morning. The garage is insulated but not heated so it stays around -16 C. Never had an issue in the garage.

 

[ronzx9]

No dash lights and no sound from the fuel pump is 99% the frozed relay. Happens more often if you start/warm up then shut off briefly but the symptoms are the same. I had one instance last week in Quebec around -10F. I had installed the Polaris relays. Switched back the the originals and had no issues the rest of the week. Go figure.

 

[Pierre Chenier]

I guess I should invest in some relays then, just in case. I'm assuming Yamaha knows of this issue and have not come up with a fix. I've herd talk of this on other threads so this isn't a new issue.

 

[crs2fer]

Mine has been sitting in an enclosed trailer all summer with some of my other sleds and last night I went to fire it up to take it off and ot barely turned over, so I hooked up the battery charger and I got it to briefly fire a few times then it would just crank and crank, I have all the lights on and I can hear the fuel pump cycle when the key is switched on and off.....I tried the kill switch as well.
Any ideas?

 

[GR8BBQ]

My guess - battery is not up to snuff. Maybe enough to power lights and fuel pump, but they really like a solid battery for starting. Can try jump starting or swapping battery with a better one.

 

[crs2fer]

My guess - battery is not up to snuff. Maybe enough to power lights and fuel pump, but they really like a solid battery for starting. Can try jump starting or swapping battery with a better one.

Had the charger on it, was spinning over just fine

 

[sideshowBob]

Could be a number of things:
-make sure it has at least 1/2 tank of fuel
-plugs may have fouled when cranking slow and barely firing
-could be simply flooded
-may have water in fuel and if its below freezing may be froze up

 

[tsiceman]

You could pull the fuel return line out of tank to confirm you are getting fuel. I had a fuel pump that would lose prime or not move fuel, ended up putting a walbro in

 

[iceback]

Do you have a tether on the mtx ?
I have had mine freeze , both closed and open . Going to try magnetic one from Cat .

 

[yamamarc]

I never had the relay issues but I think Travis from barn of parts sells sealed relays for the 998

 

[Hammer70]

I never had the relay issues but I think Travis from barn of parts sells sealed relays for the 998

Also Yamaha has a new updated relay that they were telling me at snowmobile show also others on ty.

 

[crs2fer]

Do you have a tether on the mtx ?
I have had mine freeze , both closed and open . Going to try magnetic one from Cat .

No tether