[glenacre]

I have a nearly new 2008 Prowler XT with a carb, not fuel injected.

Very hard to start when engine is cold (sitting overnight). Problem is year round, very cold to very hot weather (25F to 110 F). Dealers tell me there is no tech bullitins or other "recall" type info. Any thoughts ??
Thanks

 

[john11139]

Glenacre: Is it a slow cranking problem? Or just wont fire up? If it cranks over fast enough, check your automatic choke. Another way you might try is take your air breather off at the carb after sitting all night and spray a little wd-40 in the carb. Then crank it over. Do not crank whille spraying as is might ignite. This is alot safer than using either. If ilt is just cranking too slow to fire up then you are going to have to check weather the battery is bad, bad connections, or dragging starter. How many miles on it? Crank it over a few times like you normally do in the morning, then remove the plug and see if it is damp and has gas on it, or dry.

 

[glenacre]

Thanks for the info, I am waiting for some tech manual pages from the factory on adjusting the automatic choke...but you troubleshooting ideas are great, Thanks again..I'll let you know how it works

 

[glenacre]

08 Prowler

Evidently mine was built in early 2007, it was put in service Sept 2007, but the MSO (Title) shows it to be a 2008...I talked to Factory twice they told me nothing could be done/adjusted..just try starting and restarting til it fires...not the answer I wanted. I'm going to keep trying..it is crazy to have a new piece of equipment that I never know if it will start or not!!!!!!!!!

 

[cnj]

I do not believe any of the 650's (all the way thru '09) were fuel injected, at least not that I could see on A/C's website. In '09, the site showed that the 550, 700 and 1000 were EFI, but did not say that about the 650. As a matter of fact, the 650 has been discontinued for 2010. Back to the starting problem.....I agree with checking the automatic choke on the carb. If not that, maybe the fuel/air screw on the bottom of the carb needs adjustment?

 

[john11139]

Mine is a 07 and carb. I was under the impression that 08 was the last year for the 650 and it was carburated. I thought the 09 was a 700 and fuel injected. So from what you fellows are saying is that some 08 are fuel injected and some not. I wonder when the cut off date was or just a 07 and titled 08.

 

[john11139]

Evidently mine was built in early 2007, it was put in service Sept 2007, but the MSO (Title) shows it to be a 2008...I talked to Factory twice they told me nothing could be done/adjusted..just try starting and restarting til it fires...not the answer I wanted. I'm going to keep trying..it is crazy to have a new piece of equipment that I never know if it will start or not!!!!!!!!!

Glenacre: I dont think that is a very good answer they gave you. They make them so they ought to be able to fix it. I know this might off track, but it seems like I read somewhere that valve adjustment is very critical on these and something about a compression release in the valve system some way. It wouldnt be the first time that the valves were set wrong on a new machine. And caused hard starting. Hope you get it figured out.

 

[Moe]

My 07 has the same problem it spins over when cold just does not fire up for about a minute. I just bought the machine so i am not very familiar with the Cat's. I did have a quad once (manual choke) that did that, when i had close look a twig was wedged preventing the choke from closing completely.
Back to the Cat; what i did was i loosened the auto choke clamp and turned it anti clockwise. (when you stand by the passengers side, the wire portion of the choke unit) appeared to be pointing to about 11 oclock. I turned it so it was about 9 oclock and tried to start it cold. It fired right up 2nd crank. My concern now is where should it be so that the choke releases all the way when warm. I ran it until quite warm and it seemed to run fine and started fine again, but I asked this morning if anyone out there can tell me what clock position is their choke on a machine that is running fine? Maybe someone out there knows the inside of these carburettors and can verify that this adjustment will indeed adjust the choke butterfly and the correct setting?

 

[glenacre]

Prowler starting problem

I jst replaced the spark plug and followed the factory recommended starting sequesnce ( which is to just grind the starter , a few seconds at a time ) until it hits then use the accelerator pedal to keep it running.
I'll get my mechanic brother to loook at resetting the automatic choke.
Thanks for the input.

 

[Tedtuna]

I own a 2008 Prowler carburator model. I got it home from the dealer put it away the next day went to start it and it seemed like the battery was dead. I put the charger on it and it did turn over. I took the charger off and it would not turn over but on the dash the word volt started flashing. I called my so called dealer but they do not return calls and leave you on hold. I ordered a manual but in the mean time does anyone have a clue about the flashing volt what it could mean. It only has 17 hours on it.

 

[Tedtuna]

Hard starting

I have a nearly new 2008 Prowler XT with a carb, not fuel injected.

Very hard to start when engine is cold (sitting overnight). Problem is year round, very cold to very hot weather (25F to 110 F). Dealers tell me there is no tech bullitins or other "recall" type info. Any thoughts ??
Thanks

You can try tickling the carb see your owner's manual that may help.

 

[Bigmorron]

Hard starting fix

I have a 2008 prowler 650 H1. It has been very hard to start from day 1 if it sets more then 2 days. Believe it or not it does have a PRIMER!!! All you guys having problems try this, From the drivers seat reach behind the passengers seat. you have to get your hand in behind the plastic that is between the seat and the bed. Or pop the bed up and you will find a black primer bulb strapped to the cab support post, just pump that bulb up and down 10 or 15 times and try to start. if it does not fire up do it again, don't keep grinding on the starter your just going to have more problems. I do not know why Arctic Cat is not giving out this info, but trust me it works. If you trace it out you will see that the bulb is connected to the carb and it will start the fuel back from the tank to the carb boll. Hope this helps you all I found this on my own and it works for me.

 

[Tangoalphawhiskey]

Ummm.....I'm not sure if I understand you correctly. Are you referring to the black bellows zip tied to the cab support? Because if you are, you are incorrectly identifying that as a carb primer, when in fact, on mine anyway, it's actually the expansion bellows for the rear differential. Maybe someone else will enlighten me on this if I'm wrong.:fingersx:

 

[RyansCat]

Ummm.....I'm not sure if I understand you correctly. Are you referring to the black bellows zip tied to the cab support? Because if you are, you are incorrectly identifying that as a carb primer, when in fact, on mine anyway, it's actually the expansion bellows for the rear differential. Maybe someone else will enlighten me on this if I'm wrong.:fingersx:

lol, yeah thats for the rear diff.

 

[john11139]

I wonder if a primer bulb could be installed some where? Mine takes alot of cranking too. Can the choke be adjusted on these?

 

[Tangoalphawhiskey]

I wonder if a primer bulb could be installed some where? Mine takes alot of cranking too. Can the choke be adjusted on these?

As far as I know there isn't a primer bulb that I've found on my '08 650 XT. You can adjust the choke however. If you take the engine cover off, you'll see a black oblong knob on the driver side of the carb. It should be pointing to about the 11 o'clock position, just rotate it towards the 9 o'clock position and it should be easier to cold start. It worked for me and now I don't have to crank all day to get it started. Hope that helps!

 

[john11139]

As far as I know there isn't a primer bulb that I've found on my '08 650 XT. You can adjust the choke however. If you take the engine cover off, you'll see a black oblong knob on the driver side of the carb. It should be pointing to about the 11 o'clock position, just rotate it towards the 9 o'clock position and it should be easier to cold start. It worked for me and now I don't have to crank all day to get it started. Hope that helps!

Mine is a 07. It must be different because I dont see any oblone knob. The only knob I see is attached to a cable about 4" in long and it is a black round knob and it adjusts the idle speed. I see what appears to be a black baklite housing in the left side but there is no way to adjust it. You probably dont have a picture of it. Maybe I am overlooking something.

 

[Tangoalphawhiskey]

Mine is a 07. It must be different because I dont see any oblone knob. The only knob I see is attached to a cable about 4" in long and it is a black round knob and it adjusts the idle speed. I see what appears to be a black baklite housing in the left side but there is no way to adjust it. You probably dont have a picture of it. Maybe I am overlooking something.

I don't have a picture of it, but try to rotate the baklite housing counterclockwise to about the 9 0'clock position. The housing should have some wires coming out of it if it's the knob to which I'm referring. I hope it works out for you!:fingersx:

 

[john11139]

They must not all be the same. I looked at my carb again. There is nothing on the left side of the carb relating to the choke. The bakelite cover can not be rotated in any way and I took it off and all that is in there are the accelerator cable and idle speed cable. Appears to be a selnoid in the right side but not way to adjust it. I checked behind my passanger sear as one suggested. There is no primer bulb, but the fuel line does come up there and make a loop. It is not the bellows for the diff. I am wondering if I cut it and add a primer bulb if it will help? You would think there would be some Prowler mechanics out there that could help us resolve this problem.

 

[john11139]

I know that this is a old post but I am suprized that no one has up dateded it. You would think some prowler mechanics would help us out here. I bought a primer bulb today from Wal-Mart. $6. Was going to install it. The line behind the seat as one mentioned, appears to come from the fuel tank and is just a vent hose. I dont know weather to put the primer bulb between the tank and fuel pump, or between the fuel pump and the carb.??? Those who say there is a place to adjust the choke, I wish they would post a picture.