2004 Summit 800, hard to start and stay running

sledder-chick

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I have a 2004, 800 Summit Highmark X, and this year it is so hard to start.

It used to start real good, and when we were sledding last year, the carbs froze up, since then it has been a pig to start. And running has been crappy. I almost have to run it with the choke on.

It takes many many pulls to start it, probably well over 10 or 15, sometimes it won't start at all. Hubby is to the point of putting fuel right into the carbs to start it. Once we get it going, we pretty much have to leave the choke on, or else it quits. We do shut choke off when we start to go, but soon as we stop, we got to put it back on.

What could be causing this?

Never had any issues before with it, and we also have to put the carb warmers on to go.
 

DTH

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Clean the carbs they prolly have water in them.
 

snopro

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I would check the pilot jets in your carbs for blockage. If they plug off the sled will be hard starting and won't idle. The choke being on is artificially helping it to run. Might not hurt to change out the fuel incase you have some water in it. Turning the carb heaters on to help has me thinking there are 2 problems at play here. Good luck!
 

sledder-chick

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The carbs were cleaned but
they were nice and clean, dry, sparkplugs were also changed.

He took the carbs out and cleaned them, said they looked really good.

does the sled have a fuel filter?
 
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rknight111

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Have the carbs been removed and the fuel removed completely from both the tank and the float bowls. There may be some trapped moisture in the lines or in the float bowls. I have used a product called sea foam you can get it at napa or Cdn tire. you put it in the tank and run the sled it cleans all the crap out of the engine and lines. be prepared for a good smoke show though, hope this helps
 

tex78

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X2 on sea foam. It won't in plug the carbs. But it will keep gas good ect..

I use some every tank and for summer storage


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overkill131313

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well I would have to agree with all.....pilot jet sounds pluged......if you think they are clean check again......since you have to run with the choke (idle enrichment valve) chances are you have a plugged pilot jet or passage.....water can do this....and yes seafoam is great for water.....I have also seen it clean out crap from the fuel system.......injectors to a pilot jet......if you dont want to pull it apart again, mix a strong batch of the seafoam and run the sled for a few miles......let sit over night (seafoam will be in the carbs) and I have fixed a hand full of plugged jets like this.....I have even drained the carbs and poured straight seafoam in and let sit over night......that $H!T is a cheap fix.....$10 mechanic in a bottle

I'm not 100% sure but on the kids quad it would only run with the choke on.......... it had a broken reed....it kept spitting gas out the intake but for some reason it did run with the choke on.....but that is a 80 cc 2 stroke.......I bet I had the carb off 20 times on that one .....everytime saying it is a plugged pilot jet! now that I think about how frustrating that was check the reeds LOL
 
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