I have just purchased (five months ago) my first quad. A 2002 polaris sportsman500 H.O. Richard Petty edition. I love it! The only problem I have is when it gets to below freezing . The darn thing is a bitch to start! It turns over forever and won't fire . Putting a heater on it helps and it runs well after I finally get it going , but what alot of trouble to do so.

This is my first foray into quading and fourstrokes in general, I snowmobile mostly and am very familiar with two strokes. Starting a two stroke was never this hard . My car is a fourstroke and it starts (without a heater) so what gives ? I purchased a service manual so I could rebuild the carb, I also put in a bigger main jet (one size up -157.5). It runs much better but still doesn't start very well . I can't beleive I have to install heaters like the dealer says , buddies with quads from other brands manage to start with no trouble. Should I change the pilot jet or install a primer? Any advice would be greatly appreciated as this thing is a BLAST to drive in the snow!

 

Here's my 2 cents.
There shouldn't be a problem starting in below freezing temps. The engine requires a richer mixture to start in cold weather. Normally a choke will accomplish this. If a heater is used, the mixture doesn't have to be quite as rich to start. (I don't think that the main jet is a factor in starting.) You could carefully try a shot of starting fluid to see if this helps, but that is not the proper answer to your situation. You could try a hotter spark plug. It could be that the valves are adjusted too tightly.

Let us know what you find out, or if you have any additional info.

 

Thanks for your response ! How do I tell if my valves are too tight? Also , I changed the main jet because ,when it did start, it still wouldn't run right when I was" on the throttle". That has cleared up with the new jet, but the bugger still doesn't start well in the cold. I've talked to several Polaris dealers in my area and this doesn't seem to be an uncommon problem with these machines? Go figure a polaris that won't start in the cold!

If I do find a solution I will post it . NICE SITE![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

 

as far as starting goes, the main jet has nothing to do w/ starting at all. it only works above 1/4 throttle. if its real cold you are running leaner (less gas) then stock jetting is set up for.on my 02 500 i statred it aroung20 degrees it started alright. it didnt want to idle good w/ out turning up the idle screw a little. there not set up from the factory to run in cold weather. if your valves were too light then it wouldnt let them close all the way making it lose compression.you should not be needing either or a heater to start it.

 

I know that polaris doesn't set them up to run in the cold , but it has a choke just like my old car and my car runs just fine in all weather with out plugging it in? Am I nieve to expect that this quad should run well in all seasons also?

 

yes this is designed to run all yr. it will have a little less power maybe (not that you notice) and may need to turn the idle up a little. but you should not have to plug it in. as far as a choke goes, its not a chock like your old car w/ a butterfly that shuts when you pull it out. it is enriching circuit build in the carb to let a little more gas in when pulled out at starting. there is another problem if you have yo use a heater to start it

 

I should have said "out of adjustment". Generally. there should be a cover on the head that can be removed, exposing the valves. Hopefully, someone that knows the engine better than I do, will give a better explanation.

 

Just an update . I have had some success with my Sportsman by taking the carb off and apart, cleaning it and turn the idle mixture screw out 4 turns instead of two. It now starts when it is a couple degrees below zero but I do have some difficulty when it gets colder than that. I am thinking of installing a primer to get gas to the engine quicker than the enritchener. Also I might go one size up on the pilot jet.
I'll keep you posted.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Fixed the problem (so far) . Everyone and his mother, seemed to think that I didn't need to change my pilot jet , so I didn't . Luckily I talked to another polaris dealer who actually seemd to know what he was talking about . Although my engine turned over just fine it would "stall"(stop turning over) when I gave it gas (as I turned it over) I thought this was do to the Throttle position sensor but he says I don't have one! He also said that if it was doing this then there is a good chance the battery doesn't have enough juice to turn it over and spark.

I changed the battery and it starts fine now! Also he told me the polaris starting proceedure :
1) when cold(even in summer) pull choke out all the way.
2) turn engine over till it starts
3) push choke in till it idles fine
4) if its really cold , give it some gas while turning over.

 

I have a 2004 sportsman 500 HO (camo) i had the same problem, i changed the battery and the thing starts no problem