2000 Touring Triple 600 starting - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

LabRat · 01-07-2008, 05:00 PM

I'm helping my buddy work on this machine, and are having some problems......
First problem: Hard to pull start. It is incredibly hard to pull when cold; I mean like no other sled I've pull-started before (a good 4x as hard as you'd expect). After a few pulls, it does seem to loosen up a little bit, and you can actually finally get it started. Once the sled is warmed up, it can be re-started with a more "normal" amount of force on the pull. Any ideas what this could be? I can't believe this is anywhere close to normal.....but couldn't guess what could cause it to be so hard to pull when cold.
Second question: The Sled does have elec start.....but doesn't work. We've checked the intire path, and even used jumper-cables to go straight from battery (yes, it's charged and good) to the starter itself, and it doesn't even try to turn or engage. We began to start pulling the starter motor out of the sled, but it looks like you have to pull the entire motor and plate out to get to it. The starting motor itself is on the chain-case side of the motor, with a ~18" shaft going along the front of the motor to get to the gear/flywheel, and everything is mounted in such a way that it looks like you need to pull everything out to get at it. Has anyone worked on these before, and am I missing an easy way to pull the starter motor?
As always, thanks for the assistance.

kccats · 01-08-2008, 09:21 PM

Try taking the exhaust off? The belt maybe a bit tight (which is normally a good thing)! Try opening the cover and pulling up real hard on the belt first and see if it is a litlle better to pull?
I have a ZRT that is a little modified and we always joke about how hard it is to start! The first time of the season it takes a special sequence to get going and a few hours! And usually 2 people!

SawBlade · 01-08-2008, 10:27 PM

Once i put my sled immediatly after running on my trailer and drove 1 hour home in light rain. when I got home there was ice on every thing due to freezeing. The recoil rope was wet from melting snow and rain then it froze and was a nightmare to pull start. spent two hours working on sled before pulling it into heated garage to let it set till next day. when warm is turned over easy so i pulled the recoil just to check and yep it was soaking wet.

kccats · 01-09-2008, 10:03 AM

For that a heat gun, hair drier, or small electric heater and then spray the roap with WD-40 and it wont frezze up as bad!

LabRat · 01-09-2008, 10:33 AM

Thanks. I'm pretty sure it's not freezing at all, but will check rope to verify. After thinking about it some more, KC, you may be right.....I'll take the belt off and try again this weekend. Thanks.

**smallengineguy** · 01-09-2008, 10:35 AM

If you go directly to the starter from the battery and it does not turn, starter is junk.

timmyd · 01-13-2008, 07:23 PM

I have a 600 ZRT and it is a real bear to pull start anytime the engine is cold. Folks I've talked to with Artic Cat triples experience the same thing, but don't mind because of the overall performance. Had electric start installed 5 years ago. The dealer finally got it right last year (fantastic guy with poor technicians). It sure is great turning a key.