[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]The last two mornings when I went out to start the xplorer to plow, the starter wouldn't turn over until I pulled the start cord. After that, it starts every time. Could it be from snow getting into the starter housing and freezing? Has anyone else had this happen to them?

 

Everybody with a Polaris has had that happen to them sooner or later if the weather is cold.

Some of the reasons could be, the grease on the starter bendix is too thick.

The decompression valve did not release at the proper time.

The standard Polaris battery is too small.

Your battery is not charged enough.

The starter does not have enough cranking torque.

You have water frozen in the starter itself.

Guess what?????


All of the above statements can be true!

It has happened to all of us.

Hopefully yours will start before the above combinations will cause you to sprain a wrist or separate a shoulder. These are the most common ailments. What you are experiencing is normal. It is can also intermittent and directly proportional to the drop in temperature.

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If your Xplorer has the 2 cycle engine, it can also be caused by moisture getting inside the starter housing. The starters are on the bottom of the engine, where slush & water spray onto it. Any little leak (bad gasket, etc) will let moisture in where it can freeze. Some have found help (if it is just a little moisture, like frost) by spraying the starter drive area with WD-40 (not the motor!). If there is a layer of ice inside, you have a bad gasket, or didn't have the reciol handle sealed into the housing.

 

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]Now that the tempurature has come up to above freezing, no more problems. Must have had some ice building up in the housing. As soon as it gets a little warmer out I will have to remove the starter and check for a bad seal.

 

Try draining it first,my freinds was full of oil doing the the same thing.