I have a 2002 Prairie 650. It's the coldest starting engine I've ever owned. I've read and heard that different jets can be installed in the carbs to eliminate this problem. What size jets do I need? I ride mainly in southern Arkansas (not exactly sure of the altitude...around 350 I believe).

 

Anyone???

 

My '02 650 Prairie never had a problem with cold weather starting. Put over 4000 miles in 2 and half years on it. I used 5W/50 synthetic oil, ran a K&N air filter and keep the fuel clean. I live near the Missouri River around KC MO. Pull the drain screws on carbs and catch the fuel in clean container and look for any type of junk in fuel or carbs. Run a fuel additive to keep tank and carbs clean. Make sure air filter is clean and check spark plugs. Check choke operation and make sure it works right.

Good luck and Happy Holidays.

handycap

 

I owned an 02 prior to my 06 700 and best advice I can give is replace your choke cable, plungers & plunger springs. In the winter turn air mixture screw out 1/4 more turn clockwise and back in, in the summer. And, when you are done riding, turn off the fuel at petcock.

If you want a rocket, get the VDI CDI or Dynatek and change your clutchsprings ( I liked the Epi Black Secondary and the Dalton Orange/Blue Primary setup). You will not believe the performance difference.

Kawis are cold natured. Period dot.

Aftermarket CDI such as the Dyna or VDI, properly adjusted valves, proper working choke, Hot/properly charged battery, clean air filter, and fresh plugs help with cold weather starting.

A proper working choke set to full choke , key on for 10 seconds with fuel turned on, lights off, bike should fire in 1-5 seconds, idle, fast idle, start to stumble, place choke off and quad should idle on its own without dying. Let it idle with chokeoff till fan comes on and let her ripppppppppp!![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

on my 07 650 sra i pulled the needles out and reinstalled the stock needles with a dynojet washer under the e-clip and set the air-fuel screws to 2 3/4 turns from closed. never could get the dynojet needles to work. a lot of people are having problems with the d-jet needles. any way, i'm not having any problems with the usual cold nature or slow speed hiccups now.

 

I'll second what Tuffenuff reported. Kawis are cold blooded. But the rest of his advice was spot on.

When I first got my 02 P650 there was one diaghram in one of the carbs that was inverted and the choke had to be repaired under warranty.

Also, here in Minnesota it gets a bit cold (we drive on lakes for fun ya know eh) and the biggest difference for my hard starting wheeler was the CDI and keeping the battery in good condition. That, with synthetic oil in a well tuned motor, makes it start in as low as minus 15 F. Niether the bike or I can get going at much below that, especially if there is also windchill.