Dead battery - and impossible to pull start!!!

[Pharcta2]

I have an '04 Yamaha Kodiak 450 that doesn't appreciate the cold weather! Had a dead battery on it yesterday(it sat out on the trailer all night). I figured...no problem, I have pull start! Wrong. I'm a big guy (6'3", 285#) and couldn't get the pull start to go. It just ripped the handle right through my habds as I yanked on it...

This is my first ATV, so is this normal, did I do something wrong or miss a trick, or could it be something else?

Thanks in advance!

[KidWalleye]

I have the same atv and when I got it I tried to pull start it. When I did it seemed to only pull out every other time. And I also had the same thing happen to me. Hurt like hell. I also noticed when it pulled the rope only came out a few feet, but it started. I wonder if it has anything to do with being in park or neutral? Did you try both? I don't remember what gear I was in. I'm going to try it right now and let you know what I find. Kid.

[KidWalleye]

I had the same problem. I'm also not the smallest guy at 5' 10" 205lbs, and it is almost impossible to pull. I would a;sp like some advise on this. It doesn't seem right that the rope won't pul but every other time. Do you have to let it all the way in and wait a second or what? Thanks Kid

[Ole #1]

How did the battery die when the atv was sitting on the trailer? You might have a bad battery if your machine is a 2004.

[JohnD]

I've got a 2003 Arctic Cat 400 (Suzuki 4 Stroke). I think all of these 4 strokes are about the same, they are tight, and they are tough to pull start. It sucks, I've had to do it to mine in -30 temps, just remember to put it in neutral, it will start a little easier, put the choke on, grit your teeth, and PULL!

[Ely Lake Expert]

I have a 2001 Wolverine and my pull start is also a pain in the *** (I am by no means small either). I have been told that they are just stiff at first and the more you use them the easier they get. Though I am really not sure because my battery has never gone dead and I have never found a reason use the pull start.

Ryan

[Dave]

Maybe some of you guys have water frozen in the recoil....?

[Kodiak]

when i got my 04' 450 last year i just brought it home from the dealer and when i tried to start it, the battery was dead?!! when i tried the pull starter the b@stard got caught or whiped back or something and i dislocated my ring finger and broke the finger tip bone in half. It sucked, i poped it back in place and went to the clinic the next day, yeah the kodiak pull start is JUNK,,,i am scared to touch it. LOL

[CHOPPERTHEDOG]

Is there some kind of compression release somewhere? Maybe consult the owners manual to see if there is an auxillary compression release.

Some wheelers are easier to pull start if you pull real slow at first until you feel it go past the (I don't know what you would call it, or how to explain it well, but you should feel when the piston passes top dead center and the piston is starrting on the down stroke) once it gets to this point try to give it a good tug.

I'm not positive if any of this info is helpful, but I hope so. I know that my Rincon is a real tuff pull even when it is warm out, so maybe it is just characteristic of your machine. Anyhow, best of luck.

[RePete]

I have to agree with Dave, is there ice in the recoil? I haven't had this problem. I run Polaris' so I don't have any experience with the other brand pull starts...except it's common knowledge that Honda is junk...lol

That's a bummer if you can't get the rig started.. Good Luck!!

[JEV]

My '02 Polaris can be a bugger to pull start also. It seems like if you catch trying to pull it on the compression stroke it wants to pull your fingers off. We had to pull start my buddies older Sportsman earlier this winter also and his was the same way. But they both seemed to get easier once you had pulled on them a few times...

[Macgyver55]

This coming from a guy who has put how many starters on his Polaris?..........That must be why you call yourself RE-Pete hehehe

PS. You still want those tires?

[Dave]

OK, Macgyver, any more of that Polaris bashing and you're outta here!

[Moose-Hunter]

Go get'um Dave...

[Macgyver55]

This coming from Dave.....the guy who's Polaris I had to fix for him the first time we rode together? Lucky for you the Honda guy was there to bail you out. Besides........

Mr. RE-Pete started it. hehehe

[Dave]

Macgyver, that was a borrowed Polaris and you know it....LOL

[Lights]

Good luck trying to pull a Yamaha Kodiak 450 or even a 400 over. The have a vary high compresion ratio and if I am right there is not a compresion release on theme.

[castmaster]

do what one of the previous posters said. pull slowly until you feel it release compression ( kind of like when kick starting an old harley) then give it a good tug. if you pull against the engine compression you will have a hell of a time, and may end up hurting yourself. i am not a real big guy..5'10" 165 lbs and i can pull start my honda foreman 450 no problem.

[uncle grumpy]

If your battery is not froze,take it to your dealer and they have a charger that will bring it back to life. A conventional charger will not touch a maint. free battery if its charge gets too low!! also ,buy yourself a battery tender plus charger or a optimate charger for those types of batteries,do not buy the standard battery tender, get the plus model !! As far as starting the machine with the pull rope,the machine is designed that you pull out the rope slowly to the compression stroke and let the rope all the way back in and give it one good hard pull !!!!! if you do it like a lawn mower you will tear your shoulder apart!!

[jepik]

I just bought a 1998 polaris 400 explorer 2 cycle....thought I better learn how to start it manually...after the 4th time, I quit, it tried to tear all my fingers off my hand...was going to ask the polaris dealer,about compression release....old 3 wheeler 110 honda I just pulled the rope slowly until I felt it let up a little, and then pull it, must not be comp. release on make or model the way this board reads.....

[RePete]

Thought I'd get a bigger response from you Honda fans.. I admit it, I had a lemon starter, and I believe a leaky recoil housing caused it. Both have been replaced and things are still working. Kinda funny how that shiny new housing sticks out against the dirty motor.

Mac,

I'll contact you at the shack regarding the tires. I have time this weekend, but I realize the sledding is good out there and you may be busy. Pound them toys!!

[Kodiak]

well if you said something about yamaha you might have got a response but who cares about hondas LOL

[Bob/Mn]

This is my first ATV, so is this normal, did I do something wrong or miss a trick, or could it be something else?

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I have a Polaris Magnum 425 and use it to plow snow. To keep the battery up I made a adapter for the auxiliary power plug and trickle charge the battery.

I also cover the machine with a canvas and run a Mr. Heater to warm up the engine area.

I have also had the pull rope smapped out of my hand,HURTS LIKE Hell!!

Usually the battery will start the machine using the above procedures. If not the endine ropes over with ease.

<BTW> don't forget to disconnect the charger befor hitting the starter switch.

[moderation]

Uncle Grumpy

I tried the idea of pulling slow until I felt the compression, then let the rope go back and then

pulled. It worked, I had not been able to start or even turn over my atv before this, even in

the summer. This is a great idea and the manufactures should put this in their manuals.

By the way my battery was good and I just wanted to find out how to start this thing if the battery was dead or something else was wrong. I have a Suzuki Eiger 400.

[fivebucks]

I have a Bombardier Traxter and I tried the pull start over the weekend. I started to pull it out slow to "turn" it once and then pulled. It pulled just fine and started the machine. I also just wanted to try to see how it worked and my machine was warmed up.