I have a slight Problem, It has Finally gotten Cold here, its in the 20's. My problem is that I Rode my Raptor last on Sunday and it was about 30 Degrees. One of the last things I did was cross a Creek about 3 feet deep, and flew home and locked my raptor up on the carport. Now I cant start it due to the fact that the Choke Cable is FROZEN. Is there any trick to thaw out frozen lines and things you guys up north use? Im not going to heat the carbs with a torch or anything stupid but I have got to get it thawed today or tonight because Its going to snow 4-8 inches, which is alot for here. And Im ready to sling some snow. Help!

 

do you have access to a heated garage or a turbo heater? a turbo heater works the best. just block it up and aim it into the engine compartment. works everytime.

 

Try a hair dryer and work the choke back and forth, or if possible use multiple hair dryers. Also if you can go to someones house/garage that is heated. A heat gun also works but be carefull do to the amount of heat that they produce.

 

I have a ventless heater that I place in my garage in front of the monster after I ride it to evaporate all the snow and ice from it. It is propane powered, runs on the little one pound cylinders, and will thaw the bike out in about two hours. The thing is made by Mister Heater, and retails for about 100 bucks.

As far as getting the cable thawed now, just use either a space heater or a hair dryer to get the cable thawed out, be careful not to melt the cable or warp the plastic with this method though.

For future reference, thaw after you ride, not before.

Chris

 

Throw 2 old sleeping bags over it and then put a halogen work light under it. This should unfreeze the whole quad in about 4hrs.

 

No problem...get some lock de-icer at the local parts store and spray it in the top of the cable. Have you had any trouble with backfiring through the carbs in the cold weather?

 

Thanks for the ideas, I think I will thaw it using a hair dryer, or the halogen lights, But other than that I will try to move it to my grandpa's garage for a few days. As far as backfiring, I have not had but one minor incident and i am not actually sure that is what happened. It occured on a ride back from the carwash ,about 40 degrees,it slightly sputtered and didnt really pop at all, so I eased up for a bit and it seemed fine I rode the heck out of it with no probs since. I had thought enough though afterwards to increase My idle since I remembered someone mentioning too low of an idle will cause it to backfire. It did seem to idle low from the get go, I now have it idled enought so that it will idle and move in 1st gear if you slowly ease out the clutch. before It would just die.

 

I suggest that you be EXTREMELY careful with the halogen light under the blanket idea. Halogen lights have been known to cause fires when they get too close to combustable materials. I don't know how hard it is to take the cable off but a half hour or so in the house would certainly do the trick if its easy to remove.

 

whenever we get done riding in the winter(atv's or snowmobile's)we pull the choke on and leave it and even if it does freeze you can start your machine and it will thaw real quick

 

no blanket , i am just using a light just close enough to keep it warm.