If I am plowing big piles of snow and occasionally...ok frequently get stuck and have to dig out my rubicon is the packed snow in there bad for the rig. It sits in the garage at night but the way the snow flies here it never really thaws completely and packed snow is still in there. Now it won't idle right and dies if I don't baby the throttle.

2001 Honda Rubicon first year at snow plowing and maybe not so happy with it.

 

I don't think packed snow would be that bad, as long as it isn't salted, or plug the radiator or one of the vent tubes or whatever.

Short runs in cold weather tend to promote condensation in the tank and in the carb float bowl. I wonder if you could have some water in it.

Taking apart every electric connection for cleaning with spray contact cleaner, blow dry with compressed air, and coating with diaelectric grease is also a good preventative for machines that get wet.


Anyway, welcome to the forum.

 

Thanks JeffinTD that sounds like it could be the problem. I do pretty short runs and it is very cold, 4-5 degrees lately. I always add the product called Heat when I fill up. Is that a good call and would the higher grade gas be better? It is not supposed to snow for a few days so I will start working on the connections. She is sitting in a puddle of water each morning from all the melt off after a run so that will be time well spent. Especially in March when the snow gets sloppy. Thanks so much, I was going to put it in the shop but this advice might be the ticket and save me some money $$

 

That might, or might not be the problem. Anyway, there really isn't any point in running higher octane than regular, since that was what the engine was designed to run on.

Short runs in cold weather can also lead to a fouled spark plug. I'd probably try draining the float bowl, and check the spark plug first off.

Heat I don't think would be too bad once in a while, but don't use more than the directions call for.

 

Check your owner's manual, and run the lightest winter weight oil it recommends (probably 5W30????). My favorite cold weather oil is high tech ester synthetic Maxima 530MX, but it is pricey.

Again, check your owner's manual to see if it recommends a hotter spark plug for cold weather.

Cold air is more dense than warm air, so it leans you out a little (and it already comes lean from the factory, unless you have rejeted). Plus, if it dies all the time at idle, might just be that you need to turn the idle up a bit?

 

mine also stalls if the RPM dropps to fast while on the gas, such as hitting a huge wall of snow. post some picts of the plow, im thinking about getting one as we have 36" on the ground and the rubicon high centers and i need to move it off the driveway, here is a photo back when we only had 8"

 

Duuuuuuude no way! That's exactly what i'm talking about, nice pic. I got a new camera for christmas, if I can figure out how to use it I'll post some pics too. Don't get a little nancy plow, size matters! Check out the cycle country website and I would go manual not winch lift. The winch drains the battery too quickly.