• Don't miss out on all the fun! Register on our forums to post and have added features! Membership levels include a FREE membership tier.

SHOT/pull start in cold weather

T

TheRedrooster

Member
Nov 5, 2012
43
5
8
44
Has anyone had to pull start an 850 in -20 to -30*C (0 to -20*F)? Just wondering if they are as hard to start as the 800's were in the cold. I have a freeride coming and am wondering if I should have got the electric start instead.
 

Snow4life

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Sep 30, 2012
354
165
43
Aberdeen, South Dakota
"did that just start on the first pull?!" Neither me ore my buddies could believe it. The 2 pros we were with took about 10 pulls and the 800 etec did not start until we got it in a heated shop.
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    117.4 KB · Views: 128
Last edited:

PaulAnd

Well-known member
Premium Member
Oct 17, 2010
2,186
586
113
Northern IL.
Not sure about the shot/850 first cold start..
But my 850 start's on the first inch of pull no matter how cold it is!
 

winter brew

Premium Member
Lifetime Membership
Nov 26, 2007
10,016
4,332
113
56
LakeTapps, Wa.
If it's that cold and you have power, you can throw a drop light under the hood by the recoil overnight to keep things a little warmer. Doo also has a heater kit.
 

Andystoy

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Nov 27, 2016
123
106
43
Mine is an 850 ETEC E start, always starts on first try down to -25C. My previous 800 ETEC pull start used to start on the second pull down to -25C. Two hands on first controlled pull and a bit more effort on second pull. I suspect that the 850 shot will also start on the first or second pull depending on strength of the person pulling the rope.
 

sledhead_24_7

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Premium Member
Jul 30, 2008
2,480
997
113
Jackson Wy
I pull started mine as well as 3 other 850’s several times last winter, all were in -35F to -40F. Every time 1/2 pull on rope.

Purred like a kitten
 

NHRoadking

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Premium Member
Apr 23, 2012
1,660
2,003
113
"did that just start on the first pull?!" Neither me ore my buddies could believe it. The 2 pros we were with took about 10 pulls and the 800 etec did not start until we got it in a heated shop.

So, are you saying your 850 started on the first pull?
 

sledhead_24_7

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Premium Member
Jul 30, 2008
2,480
997
113
Jackson Wy
So, are you saying your 850 started on the first pull?



Yes, every time. Most of the time it was running by roughly half a pull.

Warm it starts on 1/4 pull.

Though my 800 Etecs never started that good when at -35F -40f, ever.
 
Last edited:

NHRoadking

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Premium Member
Apr 23, 2012
1,660
2,003
113
Yes, every time. Most of the time it was running by roughly half a pull.

Warm it starts on 1/4 pull.

Though my 800 Etecs never started that good when at -35F -40f, ever.

I wonder if the lack of Isoflex grease in the 850s is why they start so much easier than the 800s.
 

farmboy84

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Nov 26, 2007
566
323
63
39
New Prague, MN
I've never pulled my 850 more than one. Coldest I've started was -20.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk
 

sledhead_24_7

Well-known member
Lifetime Membership
Premium Member
Jul 30, 2008
2,480
997
113
Jackson Wy
I wonder if the lack of Isoflex grease in the 850s is why they start so much easier than the 800s.



I think lack of Isoflex is part of it.

But new stator and magneto are the biggest part. Since they are built for super low resistance yet still produces good power out put.
 
M
Feb 7, 2009
1,142
606
113
37
Wabush, Labrador
All my 800etecs that had issues were fine the first winter or two. After that they were horrible. I was told after I sold them it was from condensation in the air box. Does that make sense to anyone??
 
Last edited:
T

TheRedrooster

Member
Nov 5, 2012
43
5
8
44
Just wanted to give an update. It was -34C here without windchill (-30f) and we went to see if the 850 would start. It took 3 pulls and was a bit stiff to pull over but it fired up. The 800etec would not start. We had to pull it over while pushing the start button to get it to turn over. It wouldn’t fire. We had to put a heat gun under the hood and cover the sled with a blanket for an hour. New battery and starter were just installed. Thankfully he put the pull start on or we wouldn’t have gotten it running.
 
J
Mar 10, 2017
227
122
43
Eastern Idaho
2018 with 400 miles on it, -10* F a couple days ago, not all that cold, but not warm either. I was pulling the rope out slowly just to turn it over before I was going to try to start it, and it actually started with that slow pull when I wasn't trying to start it.
 
Premium Features