Went for a ride tonight, sled ran great, however when we stopped for a break, the sled took 4 pulls to get her going. I also had to use a little throttle too to get her to run, after it was running it ran great. The temp light blinked a few times after that but it ran good.

I did not pull the plugs to see how dark they are, will do that tomorrow. Any ideas on the hard starting? Sled has never done that before, always a 2 pull sled when cold 1 pull when hot.

Thaks for the help, I certianly appreciate it.


2003 700 SKS

My sled has always needed a little throttle to start when warm, as does most other Polaris twin w/ mikuni carbs i know of.

But strange that your sled suddenly should change behaviour. Could be a partially plugged pilot jet or something...

x2, I always need to crack the throttle a little bit when warm.

I think this is a problem with all liberty twins. My 03 700 sks needs a little throttle. I ride with an 04 800xc and 06 600 switchback, both of them are the same way.

Probably some unburned fuel vapor in the pipe causing a slightly rich condition.


Don

Thanks for the advice, glad to hear that I'm not the only one that needs to give it a little throrttle to get it started.

I pulled the plugs this AM, pretty dark, not gummed up but real dark. I'm going to take my carbs off today and give them a good cleaning, might drop a size in themain jet, already running 430's, may drop down to 420's. Last year the 430's were a great improvement over the stock setting. I'll clean them first and see if re-jetting may fix the prob.

Because my temp light flashed as well, which it never has done before, could it be one of those plugs were fouled or maybe I got a load of bad gas? I'm heading for a trip on Thursday, going to tear into it today, and run it tomorrow as a shake down run. Rather be riding today rather than wrenching, but want to get it startig better and get ridof the flashing temp light!

Thanks again for the help, I certianly appreciate it!

Always needed to crack the throttle when starting after a break, especially if riding hard right before the break.

My 06 600 Switchy is the same way.

my 05 switchback is the same way also.

my sled did the same thing and with no other changes it started one pull without cracking the throttle just by useing premium fuel.in general todays fuel sucks.

I always use at least 91 in my sled.
Eventhough I have a switch for regular and one for premium.
It always get 91......unless im up north where they dont have it. Then some octane booster goes in with the lower grade gas.

I changed plugs, gave it a full tank of premium, and ran it for about 20 miles (up and down the lake, various speeds) and seemed to start better just a little throttle, 2nd pull when warmed up, plugs still dark, but not too bad, I decided to leave the 430's in it, we will see how it runs on the trip later this week, if still starts difficult, then I'll drop the mains to 420's.
Thanks for the reply's I appreciate the help.

were you riding on hard pack snow... the temp light will come on if your running on hard pack snow at speeds over 80 for about 1/2 mile or less. my vertical escape has done that before. about the hard starting when warm. that is typical on any sled to give it a little throttle so dont worry bout that