I'm getting ready to purchase an 03 ds650 baja, I was just wondering, I've heard from a few people that they are sometimes hard to start. Is this true? and if it is, is there a way to fix that? I've also been hearing they can sometimes go through fan motors also?
Not any chance that this will deter me from buying one, they seem awesome, but just curious if those are problems and if they are fixable. thanks!

 

I couldn't get mine started when I first got it, but....
it was just that I didn't know where the choke was!

Anyway, no trouble starting ever...even after a roll over!

I've let it sit for a month and it still starts right up.

I suppose if you neglect it, it might be hard to start....but not for me.
_T

 

In cold weather the DS doesn't like to start up after sitting over night but as soon it starts the first time it starts right up with a tap of the button.

 

I have never had a fan problem - 200+ hours - although I too have read that others have. Mine has never been hard to start, but it doesn't get very cold here and I keep my battery charged. Buy it... you will love it!

 

If your getting the Baja I wouldn't worry about the fan, I haven't heard of one fan failure from a baja owner. Mine started flawlessly on sat. and it was below freezing with 7" of snow, if your jetting is right and the valves are adjusted properly you shouldn't have any problems starting it in the cold.

 

This is kinda off topic, but not really: What does cold weather have to do with starting an engine? It seems that it is generally accepted that in cold conditions, engines are harder to start. Sorry if this is a no-brainer question, but I just wanted to know. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

So does no one know or are you all just ignoring me [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

 

echo echo echo

 

The two major things cold affect on starting an engine is the oil will thicken up and the battery will get weaker. If you go to Alaska this time of year you would think all the cars and trucks were electric. They all have power cords coming out of the front of them. The cord is for the engine and battery heaters. So when people park their cars for the night they plug them in so they will start in the morning. If you due not plug it in it will not start. Now I am talking real cold like 0 degrees F and below. Some time you have to build a fire under the oil pan to get the oil to thaw out. This is real real cold like -40 too -80 degrees F.

 

Ahh, thanks bill for the reply. I thought about the battery part and it must be something to do with the coldness slowing down chemical reactions and the flow of electrons ending in less juice to the starter. I didn't think about the oil. In cold oil gets thicker and therefore the engine is harder to turn over. However couldn't a synthetic oil be used to overcome that? Gasoline probably doesn't burn as well when it's cold either. Hehe I kinda answered my own question there, thanks for getting my noggin goin