My 06 sportsman 450 is taking way to long to get it to fire.
It started doing this after a weekend trip, where it was run fairly hard. Went to put it on the trailer the last day, and when I turned the key, it cranked for a long time until it fired. Then it wouldn't idle. Had to feather the throttle to get it into gear.
So I get it home. Put a new plug in it, fuel filters, air filter, and cleaned the carb. My carb cleanings are disassembly, spraying all passages with carb cleaner and air, and cleaning out all jets with a wire until clean.
I put it back together, and it still does it.
I checked the safety switch on the throttle cable, and it's good.
After I get it to finally fire, it will take a good 5 minutes of running it until it will idle without having to play with the throttle. After it's warm, there are no issues, and it runs/idles fine.
So my main question, is why is it cold starting so hard? I have to crank and play with choke, and throttle for about 5 mins to get it going. Occasional backfire through carb while cranking also.
Why, once it's warm, does it run fine?

 

 

That's what I was thinking also.