2012 Shift 550 hard to pull start! - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

flyinghigh · 01-13-2013, 12:40 PM

Have (2) of these brand new...last week hurt my back trying to start and missed 3 days of work. My dad did the same thing and can hardly walk. What is the deal with these? They will barely turn over, even when it is 20+ degrees.

Dealer wants $700 for installed electric start...ouch! Any alternatives to that?

Our old 1998 sleds pull start so easy compared to these new ones.

**BC_Dan** · 01-13-2013, 01:47 PM

So pulling effort is causing the hard start? One thing to try is to apply the choke just before shut down. The extra shot of gas will wash some of the oil off of the cylinder walls so the pistons can move a bit easier on startup.

What kind of oil are you using?

flyinghigh · 01-13-2013, 02:41 PM

using the polaris blue oil

Pulling effort is right...can barely pull it after it has been sitting...both my dad and I are big guys. My wife can't budge it, and she starts her own 1996 Indy 500 pull start...

Mike B YK · 01-17-2013, 07:34 PM

I am havijg the same problem with my 2012 Switchback Pro R 800. No choke so would you have a suggestion? Like FlyingHigh I am not a small guy and it feels like I am getting a seperated shoulder when I have to crank it cold. Startin' to wonder if I don't go with BRP as I switched over to Polaris but am regretting now...

Mike B YK · 01-18-2013, 04:48 PM

Went to my dealer and asked him about this hard crank issue. His first answer did not impress me as he said I should hit the gym! I answered by saying that I should hit him first to test my strength. Long story short, he said to crank the engine a few times with the kill switch in 'off' position and then try it with kill switch in 'run' position.... I asked him about all the extra fuel dumping into the cylinders and he said that with the kill switch in 'off' position there is no fuel going into cylinder chamber. Would this be a correct statement and procedure?

Snowweasel · 01-19-2013, 12:18 AM

He has the right idea but the wrong logic. Sounds to me like he shouldn't be working the desk at a dealer. What ur doing when u pull it over with the kill switch off is, priming the engine. So it will start on first pull with switch up.

That motor is carbed right?

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Mike B YK · 01-20-2013, 09:51 PM

2012 Switchback Pro R 800 so it's an injection engine.

Snowweasel · 01-21-2013, 04:51 PM

The thread said shift 550. My bad

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Tembec87 · 01-21-2013, 06:05 PM

My 07 550 LX is also very hard to pull start when it's cold.I'm a fairly big guy and I need to use both hands.Been like this since new.Feels like there's a lot of compression.

flyinghigh · 02-09-2013, 09:56 AM

Changed the plugs...originals were black from running 1 qt of oil through the gas tank as recommended by the manual.

With new plugs, i pull 1 time through slowly, then pull 1 time hard and they fire up. Amazing.