Frozen Gas Line? - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

i_play_bass · 01-06-2013, 11:44 AM

So I fired up my sled for the first time in a week, it started up ok but didn't quite sound right, then died on me. Started it up again, revved it a little, played around with the choke, and it went dead for the second time and this time wouldn't come back to life. I let it sit for a while assuming it might be flooded after me trying to start it back up again, checked my plugs, checked for spark (both were firing), there's still compression in the cylinders, no sign of leaks, and it's not out of fuel - somewhere between a 1/4 and 1/2 a tank in it...

It does stay outside year round - nowhere to keep it indoors - and last weekend the temperature was just a few degrees below freezing but this week it had dipped down to about -15 celsius suddenly. I know it's tough to tell without actually seeing but does this sound like a frozen fuel line somewhere? I had put some Lucas Oil fuel treatment/ignition cleaner in the tank last weekend before going for a first rip on it so I'm not sure if that's prone to freezing, and I was supposed to take it in yesterday to get serviced at the dealership, which is why I was starting it up.

Any thoughts or recommendations? I don't have a place to tow it to warm up, though I've heard taking a hair dryer to the lines could work, and there's also some additives that I read about that could clear out any ice/freezing in the tank/lines.

**RJ Gleason** · 01-06-2013, 11:49 AM

Yep, Seafoam.
Even laying a 60w light bulb under there with a blanket on top of the hood will thaw out the lines.

i_play_bass · 01-06-2013, 12:22 PM

Ok, I'll give that a whirl. It's supposed to get back to around freezing point by next weekend here so mother nature might do the trick for me on her own... I'll take my trouble light out and see if it works.

Frustrating day though, I didn't have time to tinker with the sled, just needed to fire it up, ride it to the dealer a mile or two down the road and pick it up later running like a top... Oh well, hopefully no problems next time - the joys of snowmobiling!

i_play_bass · 01-09-2013, 04:13 PM

How long should a person leave the Seafoam treatment in the tank to remove the moisture/ice before running the machine?

Sent from my GT-I9100M using Snowmobile.com App

**BC_Dan** · 01-09-2013, 05:31 PM

Seafoam is an additive, you dump it in and it will mix with the gas and any water (up to a point) that is in the tank. To keep the carbs clean, dump it in and ride. For your problem, your best bet may be to siphon all the old gas and refill with new. Then pull the carbs and drain the bowls. Refill the bowls using a syringe of gas through the vent lines (or pull the spark plugs and pull the rope about a zillion times until the bowls fill via the pump.)

If there's too much water, additives won't help. You have to get rid of the water.

i_play_bass · 01-12-2013, 07:17 PM

Ok, so I was trying to get the sled going today and no luck... I put some methyl hydrate in the tank to absorb moisture, I heated up the gas lines with a hairdryer, nothing doing. There's no difference in compression when trying to pull start it now compared to when it was running, my plugs are still firing - I put some new ones on today. The tach/speedo both start lighting up while trying to start it... Really have no idea what's going on. Think this one might be out of my hands and need to bite the bullet and have the service shop look at it... I was going to get it serviced anyway but it looks like it may cost me more than I had first anticipated...

steepndeep · 01-12-2013, 09:40 PM

Use a piece of wire and fish out your gas line that is in the tank to make sure it's attached and also to see if if is plugged with ice or debris.

i_play_bass · 01-21-2013, 09:17 AM

Problem solved... Water in the carbs. A friend dropped over yesterday and took them apart and cleaned them for me. Always good to have friends who will help in exchange for beer! Got them back on, fresh gas in and she fired right up... Still gotta get in for service, but at least I'm back in business! Might be time to buy myself the repair manual and start learning more about the engine...

**BC_Dan** · 01-21-2013, 06:13 PM

Hey, there's guys HERE that will help in exchange for beer

Glad it's going for you and was an easy fix!

i_play_bass · 01-21-2013, 07:05 PM

Well easy for someone who know's what they're doing! I was hoping this would be it cause if it was something serious my season was over. Don't have the funds to do a major repair right now...

I love doing things like body work and small fixes but as soon as engines get involved (especially carbs) I shy away because I don't know enough and one little mistake could cause some serious damage. I trust the guy who did it though... If seeing his selt-restored nearly mint condition Arctic Cat EXT 580 Powder Special was any indication of his work, he knows his stuff! I've got the PDF of the service manual for 85 to 95 Indys now, going to print out the pages that apply to my 93 and start reading up!