I have a 96 warrior with a strange issue. When cold, it will always start right up. However, depending on either where I am or how I've been riding, it is hard to start once warm. I live in Oregon and either ride in the hills around my house, or at the oregon dunes. what I have noticed is that if I am riding around here locally. it has no trouble starting once its warmed up. However, if I'm riding at the dunes, it is a biatch to get restarted once it's been ridden a while.

I'm thinking that there may be several variables at work here:

Dunes--Usually(but not always) running paddles. Sand is horsepower hungry and makes the engine hotter. Perhaps it is related to the increased engine heat? the dunes are also at sea level, so the air/fuel mixture might be a bit different than at home.

Hills locally--mostly gravel and dirt roads and some occasional trails. Overall i don't have to ride as hard as I do at the coast. Also, the elevation is usually closer to 2000 feet.

This summer when we were doing more trips to the dunes i was sure that the problem was my stator...but my last two rides were in the hills around here and it started fine all day both times, so now I'm not so sure. i should also mention that when it won't restart on the dunes, it will pop start(which is not easy to do with paddles in the sand).

What does everyone think? My stator? Carb? Something else?

Thanks!

 

OK, so I tried to adjust the carb but i dont think it helped. I am starting to think its the stator again but really dont want to waste $160 guessing.

So my question is....is a hard start condition when hot a sign that the stator is going bad?


THanks!

 

Update....took it out the last two weekends and now it's had to start ALL the time--regardless of ambient temps or how hard i have been riding.

I had pop start every time i shut it off---and then it starts right up.

Is my best chance for success a stator?

Thanks

 

Check your valves, too tight, and it may start ok cold, but once it heats up,it holds the valves slightly open,making it very hard to start. thats why pull starting has worked for you, it spins the motor faster than the starter can,allowing you to start with low compression.

 

Krikey....I had the valves adjusted by my local yamaha shop right after I bought it as this was my first guess. They said that they were out of spec but were right on after adjustment. It didn't fix the problem though. Maybe I should do a compression check?

 

I figured it out and man do I feel like a moron.

Knowing that this condition could be brought on by a weak spark, I swapped out the spark plug and tada...it starts all day long now. That's what I get for over thinking.

 

lol