How long had the machine been sitting before you tried to start it?

I've found with mine, if it's going to be sitting for a week or more, if before parking it I shut the fuel off and run the float bowl dry, it will start much easier when I turn the fuel back on and go to fire it up.

 

I had it running this past weekend but it took awhile then to get it started. Last night it wouldn't start at all. The battery started running low so I quit.

 

How long has the gas that's in it been around?

Maybe just for giggles, try shutting off the petcock and open the drain screw at the bottom of the carb's float bowl. Once it's drained then open the petcock and let some gas flush through the bowl before shutting the drain...

 

Welcome to the wonderful world of Honda ownership. Every Honda I've had has been hard to start in the cold. But I agree that shutting the gas to off when done riding does help. Give that a try.

 

The gas has been in it since November. I immediately treated it with fuel stabilizer after a fill because I knew it would be in their awhile. I had surgery to repair a hernia shortly thereafter and didn't ride it for awhile although I'd start it and warm it up every couple weeks. The weather, up until now, had been relatively warm for December / January so it really didn't have a huge issue starting. But, even then, it seemed like it was a little harder to start than it should have been. I have a 2005 Grizzly and it fires right up in this weather.

The float needle froze in the Grizzly back in September. I had to get it replaced and that was due to "stale" gas. I learned my lesson then and kept stabilizer in my tanks religiously. I even idle the gas out of the float bowls when I'm ready to put the quads away.

 

I was told by Abernathy's Honda to not run stabilizer in my 06 Rubicon because it would cause hard start issues... That was what they told me the day I bought both of mine.

 

Using too much stabalizer is a bad thing, and also even treated gas doesn't last forever. Treated fuel from November I would think would be OK though.

Is the enrichment **** staying all the way out once you pull it?

If draining the float bowl and fresh gas doesn't work, I'd start looking at cleaning the carb, and making sure the enrichment thing is moving ok.

 

Yes, the enrichment **** stays out while I start it.

This weekend, I'm going to follow the suggestions made in this thread to see if I can further breakdown the problem. Thanks to all who have contributed so far.

 

Ya Right!!!! I have a 06 "RED" rubicon and its a cold blooded thing. Mine has had carb problems from day one, dieing...hard/no start. 500+ miles and 12 times in the shop its running realy good, one trick to try, is hold up on the choke, and 1/4 throtle and mine would start, Whats this about a carb heater????

 

hey i also have a RED 05 rubicon and have had no strarting problems what so ever. it got down into the single digets a few days here in the seattle area and i pulled the choke out and held it with 1/4 throttle and it fired up every time. i keep one of those trickle chargers on full time with the built in brain for full charge. dont know if that helps with the cold weather starting issue but sure as hell dont hurt.