Fire-breathing XCR (i think this is a bad thing) - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

theonethatiam · 09-19-2009, 02:01 AM

I have a '96 Polaris XCR 600 that won't start. It will try to catch if I manually prime it (little bit of starting fluid or gas in the carbs) but that's the interesting thing. I know I'm getting some fuel and I still have spark because more often that not, it blows fuel out of the carbs and and bursts into flames. This has happened three times now. The first time, the engine was flooded (i didn't prime it this time) so i thought that might be the problem. The sled wouldn't do anything after that so I let it sit overnight with the gas turned off and the plugs pulled to let it dry out. Wouldn't even catch the next day till I primed it. It tried to fire on the first pull the burned off half the hair on my right arm on the second. I repeated the process about an hour later with the same results. Could someone at least point me in the right direction?

**smallengineguy** · 09-19-2009, 07:18 AM

Did it ever run right? Remove the spark plugs and pull it over. See if fuel shoots out of the plug holes.

**kccats** · 09-19-2009, 08:08 AM

CLEAN THE CARBS! Then the fuel pump too! Replace the hoses! Check your reeds?

**smallengineguy** · 09-19-2009, 08:45 AM

Microfiche doesn't show reeds....Does it have them?

theonethatiam · 09-19-2009, 01:13 PM

What are reeds? Rode the sled last season before I bought it. Ran alright, could tell the carbs needed cleaned and it was hard to start (would fire then bog and die almost immediatly) but still ran fast once I got it going. And how do I clean the fuel pump? I thought I just had to replace it.

theonethatiam · 09-20-2009, 06:00 PM

Just need to clean my carbs. Thanks guys. Still need to know how to clean the fuel pump though.

**RJ Gleason** · 09-20-2009, 06:02 PM

Start with the carbs and try it then. If you still have problems, then look at the next thing.
That way you're not just throwing money at it until it works right.

theonethatiam · 09-29-2009, 07:38 PM

So, the pump and the carbs being dirty isn't the problem. The clutch and center carbs both spray gas out when i pull the engine over but the third doesn't and looks dry inside. The fuel line isn't plugged and the carb seems fine, just no fuel.

**RJ Gleason** · 09-29-2009, 09:32 PM

Are the plugs on those two cylinders wet?

ppolaris1010 · 09-30-2009, 02:21 PM

Is there any suck when you hold you hand over the carb with no fuel as you pull it over or does the float bowl have no fuel in it. If there's no suck then you may have a hole in the piston.

theonethatiam · 10-17-2009, 02:52 AM

The two carb squirting fuel are sucking and seem to have compression. The third has almost nothing and the carb is dry.

**smallengineguy** · 10-17-2009, 06:54 AM

SOunds like the needle/seats in those 2 carbs are allowing the carbs to flood the motor. OR the chokes are stuck open on those two.

dalton5989 · 10-17-2009, 07:57 AM

my 97 dose that once a year replace the plugs and it runs great

stangcruzin · 10-17-2009, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theonethatiam

The two carb squirting fuel are sucking and seem to have compression. The third has almost nothing and the carb is dry.

Sounds like the third piston is blown,do a compression test.

theonethatiam · 10-19-2009, 02:22 AM

How do I test Compression and How much would the tools to do so cost? Carbs, chokes, and plugs are all fine by the way.

**RJ Gleason** · 10-19-2009, 09:50 AM

Go to an auto parts store and get a quality screw in pressure gauge.

theonethatiam · 10-21-2009, 06:16 PM

What is all involved with swapping a piston? Do I need to pull the motor or can I just pull the head where it sits?

stangcruzin · 10-21-2009, 06:32 PM

Do it right where it is.No need to pull the motor.

theonethatiam · 11-03-2009, 10:41 PM

Burnt rings were my problem. Now I'm trying to pick parts. Cometic or Winderosa gasket kits. Which is better.

theonethatiam · 11-06-2009, 11:17 AM

Missing a chunk of piston as well. And realizing that the last person to do this to my sled knew even less than I do and this is my first rebuild of any kind.