I recently tried starting my 2006 Rubicon on a very cold night (about 12F degress). It was very hard to start. It would always try to fire once per revolution of the starter motor but would never truly run until several minutes of repeating this process. I didn't think to use the primer until after I already had it started. According to the manual, the primer should only be necessary at 5 degress F or lower.

A friend of mine has a 2005 that he says starts in a matter of 15 seconds. Now I know the carburetor was changed for the 2006 model year. The old one has a Mikuni carb (i believe) and the new one has a Kiehn. Would that make the difference? Is anybody else with an '06 Rubicon having the same problem?

 

I believe honda uses Keihin carbs on all foremans, but i could be wrong. Honda owns Kiehin, and even the honda cars have keihin injection.
I use the primer whenever the quad has sat for more than a day, and the temps are below 40, always fires up right away.

 

I told you that you should have gotten a red Rubicon. Red ones always start in the cold. ...and they're faster.

I told JD offline that he may need to check his carb heater. Does anyone think that may be a posibility?

 

Well guess what? Tonight, after a heavy snow, the Rubicon won't start at all regardless of how much primer you use. I'm getting a little disappointed here. The '96 Polaris I sold to buy it started all the time.

 

I have two 2006 Rubicons and have had hard start issue. The last week the only thing I did different was to actually turn my gas switch to the off position whenever I was done. The next time I went out, they both started perfectly.

Maybe it is a fluke... But that has been the only change I have made and my hard start issue on both went away. Coldest day I have started them is around 14 degrees though.

 

mY 2001 was tough to start when new as well, I do remember haveing to choke the heck out of it to get it to fire, now after 1,000 miles it fire pretty easyly.
if the primer isnt working you may be flooded- to unflood turn the second ignition kill on the left handelbar off and crank it over for 5 seconds at full throttle. Turn it back on and try to start it with only 1/16th throttle no choke

 

RSeb, pretty sure the heater is there to prevent ice formation while running, not sure if it would help cold starts (if you leave it on long enough). Even so it should run without it.

I'm sure you've already ruled the lean factory jetting/air screw out as the same jetting/air screw setting should work over a range of 90 degrees. Maybe your float valve is stuck[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

I have found that if I full choke and turn it over for 10 seconds, then stop, then try it again it will fire without using the primer. Sometimes when it is colder it takes a couple tries, then I'll try the primer.

Have you tried fuel antifreeze (isopropyl or methanol, but watch your ratio). It's likely condensation forming water in your fuel tank that causes your hard starting.

 

I haven't ruled out squat yet. It's still under warranty so it's going to the dealer on Tuesday. I guess we'll know what it is for sure then.

 

Oh, thanks for the tip by the way. It is low on gas but it still should have enough in it to start. I wonder if I'd be more suseptible to condensation forming in the tank if the gas level is low?

 

it is more likely to happen when it is empty, but tank condensation isn't the only way to get water in your tank