I have recently purchased a new '05 500 arctic cat four wheeler and for some reason on the colder days it won't idle for anymore than a minute or two. i have tried adjusting the carb up and down but this doesn't solve my problem. Runs great on the warmer days but just not on the colder days. Any ideas...please help!

 

Some times a new motor needs to break in for a good idle to happen, and then again it could be an adjustment issue.
One thing for sure...its not good to do alot of idleing on a new motor. Both the volume and the pressure of the oil is low at idle, and that doent make for a good break in.
What were you adjusting up and down? Idle speed? Try going a 1/4 turn richer on the mixture screw, and that should improve the cold weather idle.

 

I too have an '05 500 (auto) and had the same complaint...was my only complaint... but the bike would start right up from cold withoutout fail, but only run a minute or two without feathering the throttle until COMPLETE warm up.... kind of a pain when itching to plow snow. I would let the bike run 5 or 10 minutes then get to plowing, and when shifting from F to R it would stall. I recently put AC's inline coolant heater in and am happy with the results. Bike starts on the second or third turn, and idles like expected- well worth whatever the electric company gets me...

I'm told the issue is with the auto choke (or actually an "enrichment" system....). Starts right up, but the choke backs off early and the engine won't idle. I'd trade the auto enrichment for the manual choke on my honda anyday, but the heater makes it work. No more complaints here.

.02

MB

 

hi canadiancat, had the same problem with my artic cat 04 400. I used hight octane gasoline
and solved the trouble.

 

When new - both of my 500 's woudn't idle well when cold. Had to turn the idel screw up about 2 full turns and then turn it down after it warmed up. Now that the engines are a little less tight (700 miles) they don't need that much adjustment. Hardly any except for the real cold days - 20 below cold.

 

Sounds like carb. freezing we have alot of trouble with it here in Nova Scotia(alot of moisture in the air)Try getting your engine good and warm then shut off engine for 10 min. or so restart should be fine(the moist cold air sucking through the carb cause's it to freeze)I've had it hapen here above freezing!

 

I used Methyl Dehydrate in from November on, just to avoid water in the fuel. Ever since I started using it, my bike has started a lot better,and idled faster than before. I use full choke, then back it off slowly. It'll start "chugging" when there's too much choke, and I back it off a little at a time until it's off. I use the 'HEET" de-icer, works for me.

 

You guys with the '05s need to get the auto choke adjusted. Mine does not do this. But then again the choke works right, starts when cold and stays running. Starts in 50 degree weather and stays running. If it does this stuff with a manual choke, it is operator error.

 

same problem with mine.....took it in to dealer, they did a tune up and put an inline heater in like mentioned above. I think it was about $95 for the part and the install.

solved the problem, now it works perfect in cold weather......can start it right up now with NO warmup time (or at least very little)