[glenacre]

Starting problems

On my Prowler there is NO carb adjustment...wish there was !

Let us know how the Wal-Mart Primer Bulb works..it sounds like a good try!

 

[Tangoalphawhiskey]

Here's a picture, I hope, of the auto-choke adjustment. It's the black oblong "knob" just to the left of the carb. When I bought the prowler, it was in this position, or the 11 o'clock position. I rotated the knob to the 9 o'clock position and now the prowler starts much easier.

 

[Tangoalphawhiskey]

Here's the same knob rotated to the 9 o'clock position. This adjusts the auto choke and makes it much easier to start. The knob is located on the passenger side of the engine. I hope this helps!:fingersx:

 

[john11139]

Here's the same knob rotated to the 9 o'clock position. This adjusts the auto choke and makes it much easier to start. The knob is located on the passenger side of the engine. I hope this helps!:fingersx:

Thanks for the information. I guess I feel sort of dumb, as I looked a dozen times for the knob you were talking about and just couldnt see it. I guess I didnt know what I was looking for, you made it clear enough that any dummy should have understood and even after seeing your picture, I still couldnt remember any thing looking like that. I looked again today and sure enough, just as plain as the ears on my head, there it was. Turned it like you said. Will see if it helps. Seems like it is worse after sitting for a week. Thinking that the fuel evaporates in the fuel bowel and takes alot of cranking to fill it back up. Took the primer bulb back to WM. Wasnt sure as to hook it between tank and fuel pump or between fuel pump and carb. Will see how this choke adjustment works.

 

[glenacre]

Prowler Choke Adjustment

Thanks for the info...I found the "knob"...which doesn't look like a "knob" and turned it to 9 oclock setting. will let you know how it works.

 

[glenacre]

Prowler Starting Problem

Hey the "turning the Choke knob" to the 9 o'clock position worked GREAT!

My Prowler has been out of use for 48 hours and it started up FIRST try..a real success story for my Prowler. Thanks again for the tip.

I can't say enough BAD things about the Arctic Cat Corporation Customer Service/Technical Support or the worthless dealer in Oklahoma that sold the unit. I have never determined if the Factory and the Dealer are just really
SLOW or just don't really care about customers !!!

 

[RyansCat]

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.

Actually there is a primer lever, not a bulb, on the drivers side of the carb tucked up behind the idle adjustment. It sits right on the side of the carb. I noticed and had to use it when I took the carb off (several times) to rejet and had drained the bowl. Not too convenient, but its there.

 

[Tangoalphawhiskey]

Hey the "turning the Choke knob" to the 9 o'clock position worked GREAT!

My Prowler has been out of use for 48 hours and it started up FIRST try..a real success story for my Prowler. Thanks again for the tip.

I can't say enough BAD things about the Arctic Cat Corporation Customer Service/Technical Support or the worthless dealer in Oklahoma that sold the unit. I have never determined if the Factory and the Dealer are just really
SLOW or just don't really care about customers !!!

I'm glad it worked out for you! I've learned alot on this forum, it was time I contributed something in return! Have a great day!:happy:

 

[john11139]

Actually there is a primer lever, not a bulb, on the drivers side of the carb tucked up behind the idle adjustment. It sits right on the side of the carb. I noticed and had to use it when I took the carb off (several times) to rejet and had drained the bowl. Not too convenient, but its there.

Here I go again. I looked but didnt see it. Again, maybe you could post a pictures for some of us who are blind in one eye and cant see out of the other.

 

[john11139]

Here I go again. I looked but didnt see it. Again, maybe you could post a pictures for some of us who are blind in one eye and cant see out of the other.

I looked again and as you say it is tucked back under the choke housing on the left side. Found the primer lever. Of course you wouldnt want to take your cover off every time you wanted to start your Cat to prime it. But if you ran out of fuel and to avoid cranking for a long time it would be worth while to remobe the boot and prime it. So far I think just adjusting the choke has solved the problem.

 

[woodsey]

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?

By rotating your auto choke you may have freed it up if it was stuck. The auto choke is not a butterfly, but a plunger and has no adjustment. The unit can be removed , voltage can be applied,then you measure the stroke of the plunger to see if it is working properly.

 

[RyansCat]

By rotating your auto choke you may have freed it up if it was stuck. The auto choke is not a butterfly, but a plunger and has no adjustment. The unit can be removed , voltage can be applied,then you measure the stroke of the plunger to see if it is working properly.

Yeah turning that thing does nothing. After jetting mine it starts MUCH better. I think the idle mixture screw has been out of whack since I bought it. Properly tuned, it fires right up. I bottomed out the idle mix screw then turned it out 3 turnes, also went to a # 42 pilot jet. Starts much better now.

 

[glenacre]

At first I moved the the auto chock from the 11 o'clock position to
9 o'clock and it started better, but still not great...so I moved it to about 6 o'clock and it works good. It runs great after warming up...at all speeds. Hope this helps.

 

[-Marsh]

Had the same problem with my 08 XT. Adjust your valves. I spent a ton of money and a lot of time until someone on here recommended checking the valves. I adjusted the valves and have not had a problem since. I actually removed the Optima yellow top battery that I installed previously once I set the valves. I have a Odyssey battery in place of the stock and everything works great. No more "VOLT" flashing when your battery was just working perfect. If you need the settings I can dig them out for you.

 

[kenbarls]

I want to see some pics. of your 2008 Prowler XT with a carb glenacre. Sounds I feel impressed with it.

 

[glenacre]

Starting problems with Prowler

Since my last post I took my Prowler to an authorized dealer for a "tune up". I also had them adjust the valves. All pretty much a waste of time and money. To make a long story short I has a local general mechanic disassemble the carb and make some adjustments. He also loosened the valves more than the specs call for. Last I had him install a maunual "homemade" wire "choke" attached. Putting all these modifications together my Prowler will start ok in cold weather (Central Arkansas) when I use my " homemade" choke. All in all I am not impressed with the Arctic Cat with a carb or the Arctic Cat factory/dealer support.
I will go with Polaris or Honda on my next machine. In response to your question for pics...my last post on turning the choke from 12 oclock to 9
may have just "unstuck" the carb needle as it move "in and out" not an "up and down" action. Good Luck

 

[de3]

carb

hi ryanscat,that primer lever must be only on the newer ones,my 06 dont have one.after it sits for 3 days its a bear to start,i clocked the choke at 9 oclock,and even bought another choke,because first choke wouldnt start it. i know the fuel pump is vacume it draws from the hose that goes from intake boot between carb and motor to the fuel pump.thats how it gets its pressure to pump,last year second choke went bad,wouldnt kick off of fast idle.two new chokes total 280 dollars. also on my third battery because of so much cranking to start it when it set for a while.i fixed the problem,installed a 36mm mikuni pumper carb with a 10 inch manual choke cable thats mounts by shifter,best mod i have done.nothing wrong with stock carb just had choke problems,and not near the performance.

 

[de3]

primer

ryanscat,you were right my stock carb does have a primer,but like you said you would have to pull dog house off to get to.

 

[de3]

dude this is a articcat prowler forum:wtf1:

 

[odontia32m]

Years of hate for cold starts. I have fixed it for $15.

I had the valves adjusted and carb jetted- NO FIX! Not one bit better on cold starts in the summer less winter.:wtf1:

I tried a one way valve in the fuel line- Seemed to work better sometimes.:ugh1:

I installed a primer bulb from a boat in line with new fuel line (left 1 way valve in line)!!! I installed the bulb with a zip tie on the roll bar. I just reach back between the bed and intake and give it 1 squeeze!!!!- FIXED and it starts quickly.:slaphappy:

There are so many poor designs on this series of Prowlers, park brake, starting and Front Diff lock are a few.