Cold Start Help....

[RHGuyettejr]

I went out to start my wheeler to let it run and give it some use so it doesn't just sit all winter and I can not get it to start via battery or by pull starting. It's a 2002 sportsman 400, the choke was all the way out when I tried this, I also tried to get it jumped after I charged the battery fully and it still would not start. I am going to check the plug tomorrow because I have a spare I can throw in if I need to. Unfortunately the machine sits outside, but it has been refueled and had stable put in the tank and run through the system before storage. The temp here today is about -5* - -10*F, any suggestions would be helpful. Also the battery is old, but I would have expected the machine to start when it was jumped even though this is the case, I have not invested in a battery maintainer yet as I just got the machine in the fall and was planning on replacing the battery in the spring as well as getting a maintainer for it. Typically she fires up first start with no choke, but it has never been this cold before starting, and it has been about a month and a half since it was run. Thanks again for any suggestions.

[Russ C]

can you get it in and warm it up alittle? if not do you own a tarp and a trouble light? or go buy a heat lamp, get it close to the engine and cover machine with a tarp, Ill bet it will start in about an hour

[RHGuyettejr]

Well thanks for the reply, I figured it was because it was so cold. I really have no way of warming the block where I am now, but the machine is all winterized so it should be fine just sitting anyway, I just wanted to let it run for a half hour or so is all. Hopefully we go back to the 30* weather we were having up here, it was about -12 last night.

[Russ C]

youd be surprised what a trouble light will do if you keep the wind off of it

[carralo1]

Give it a little gas when trying to start. A cold engine requires more gas. A choke essentially does this but by giving it gas when it's really cold will help even more. Let me know how it goes.

[uncbub23]

If I have an issue with starting any 4wheeler I take the airfilter off and give the carb a couple shots of WD40 that usually works everytime even on a weak battery.

[RHGuyettejr]

After the battery got charged and the weather decided to warm up to 20* she fired right up first turn. Thanks for the suggestions.