Well, we finally have some "cool" weather here in MAine and the Traxter XT DOES NOT LIKE IT. It's sitting on the lawn, lekely until spring. Certainly is a cold blooded machine. This might just be the last straw. If I wanted a machine for half the year I would buy a snowmobile, if I wanted less than complete reliability, I will buy a Polaris. With less than 400 miles on this big yellow lemon I expect more, lots more. Had Hondas for years, the last one (1996 Foreman) never failed to start in four years. Honda, here I come... Anyone want to buy a XT with low miles???

 

Wait a minute. Don't be too hasty about this. Check with your dealer. He should have a new carburator set up retrofit now available from Bombardier to install for free. Believe me, it works. I had some hard starting last winter such that I had to use a kerosene heater to blow on the engine to pre-heat it. This fall I took it back to the dealer and he installed the carb kit plus a primer and so far I've only needed to use the choke. Today it started right up. It was just above zero and I have not run it for a couple weeks. I used it to plow snow and it worked great.

ksk
2000 Traxter
Northern Minnesota

 

Thanks for the positive response. Sure does get discouraging when the brand
new, very expensive ATV you just bought fails to start. I will heed your
advice.

How do you like using the Bomb for plowing. I know with it's weight and
power it must do a great job, but doesn't the transmission range selector
thingamabob have you reaching and tugging all the time from forward to
reverse? With my old Honda My hand only had to leave the bars to work the
winch which raised and lowered the plow, with the Bomb I will need to let go
to do that and shift from forward to reverse. Do you find that to be a
problem?

Also, what size and type of plow are you using? How do you like it? Thank
you for your response and time.

Justin ***

 

I recently had the 'carb' update done to my traxter(among other things). It starts easily but you have to let it warm up for a looooong time prior to riding.
I can start the traxter....start my AC300 take a quick ride on the 300 and the traxter still isn't warm enough to ride....

I'm beginning to lose my 'rosie picture' of the traxter also. I was very excited when i bought it but I'm quickly losing my enthusiasm.

A BOMB rep is supposed to come to my house to address the hydraulic noise that will not/can not
be repaired.

We'll see...JC

 

We have really not yet gotten a mega snowfall here yet to really see how much snow the Traxter can push. About 4 inches has been the most so far and that has been no problem at all to move.

I hear ya about your comparison to the Honda. I had a Honda 300 Fourtrax for six years when I decided I wanted a machine with more power. I also had a plow on the Honda with a hand winch. It worked well until we got anything over 6 to 8 inches of snow and it would have a hard time pushing that much snow. It was just too light of a machine.

The Traxter has the weight and certainly the power. The plow I put on it is the Moose 60" County Plow (it is higher on one side like the big highway plows) with the Warn winch. It takes some getting used to with the winch. You have to be careful not to get the wire rope all tangled up (done it). The shift lever actually works pretty well although not as convenient as the Honda like you say. What I do like with the winch is that I can lower the plow just so the blade is slightly off the ground and then it won't dig up sod when I push snow out over my lawn to make more room.

Yesterday when I started mine, I put it on full choke and it popped right off. I left it on full choke for about a minute then went to half choke for about another minute or until it would run steady at no choke which in my case was maybe about 3 minutes. I did let it warm up for a few more minutes before I started plowing because I just believe that it is better for the engine to let it warm up good. The engine oil needs some time to circulate enough to lube the engine and especially when the temperature is near zero. I did that with my Honda too. I'm sure that with any type of machine with a four stroke engine, your not doing it any favors if you don't give the oil a chance to do it's job.

Well, hope this helps and good luck with your Traxter.

ksk

 

Well, its day three and still no go with the Bomb. Temps are hovering in the balmy 20's and she turns and turns and turns over, but never goes. Noted that both plugs electrode tips have come of the plugs and are now in the boot of the spark plug cable. Clean plugs, starting fluid, choke, no choke, gas, no gas, shook it, rubbed it, swore a lot at it. She just sits there like a big yellow turd. Damn thing had a great battery in it. Must have spun that starter a million times before needing a boost. If I could get this %#$@ thing to run long enough to drive it on back of my truck I would take it and trade it. This kind of makes me leary about flying on their jets! Granted though, they likely have better mechanics working on their jets...

 

Sounds to me like it does not have any spark at the plugs for some reason? Did you check for spark? Did you call your dealer? If your Traxter is new, he should be bending backwards to help you get your machine running. Now are your plug wires connected securely to the plugs? Then I would try replacing the plugs. If you don't call your dealer, how can he help you?

ksk

 

ALso had a prob cold starting. Pullled both plugs
cleaned and no go. starting fluid helped it fire.
I ended up getting it going using a combination of
starting fluid and choke. It took a long time!
Are you sure you have spark?
If so...I'd be suspect of the gasoline. I'd bet there is water in the gas. try some gas antifreeze and or draining the tank..
stupid question...there is gas in it...yes?

(i've done it myself!!)

JC

 

Just 2 cents worth,
1, I have had to remove the air filter, put hand across the air intake to get enough chokeing to start.

2, I have also had a hard time starting after another guy rode mine, due to fact he shut off by the kill switch, took me a while to figure that out.

Keep Laughing

 

There is spark and there is gas, I'll attempt to drain the gas and replace it sometime this week. Will be calling the dealer Monday. Thank you all for your ideas and help so far, we'll see what happens when I get back to this thing later in the week. Gets dark now around 4PM so that really makes things hard.