Cold weather starting

reinman88 · 01-25-2012, 04:14 PM

I have not had problems starting until lately.

All fall when hunting my cart would start fine, with morning temps at that time in the mid 20s or warmer. Usually in the morning I would hit the gas two or three times, pull the choke out about half way, and the next time the cart would start.

Now we've gotten into winter with some colder weather, overnight temps in the teens or even single digit. Now when I try to start the cart I flood it. Usually I can just take out the plugs, dry them off quick, put them back in, and the cart will start, sometimes even without choking. Once you get it running it will be fine after that with stopping and starting again. The next day with real cold temps, the same thing.

Last night we only got down to the mid 20s, much like last fall when hunting. When I got home after lunch I went to start the cart. I hit the gas 3 or 4 times, then pulled the choke half way out, and the cart started fine.

I know these are really not designed for winter driving, so problems starting when real cold should be expected. But I was wondering if I'm doing this wrong, and there is a better way to get my cart started in Jan and Feb, aside from moving to Florida,

popatop · 01-25-2012, 05:46 PM

Mine is a 4 stroke but I pull the choke all the way out, then push the gas pedal all the way and it starts right up when its cold

reinman88 · 01-25-2012, 05:49 PM

Sorry forgot to tell everyone what I had. It's a 99 workhorse with a 350.

I'll try the full choke and gas all the way down tomorrow. I seem to remember when I bought it the guy said something about 1/2 choke, so that's why I was doing it that way.

bud light · 01-25-2012, 06:06 PM

I have a 2006 workhorse with a 350 that I keep in the garage (non heated) when it is in the 20s I full choke it. As soon as it starts put on half choke till it runs OK.

DOOmsman · 01-25-2012, 06:09 PM

I have to chuckle when you say you hit the gas a few times.
You must be old enough to have driven cars with carburetors.
These carbs don't have accelerator pumps and so pumping the
gas has no effect.
Try choking with out stepping on the gas beyond starting level.

reinman88 · 01-25-2012, 06:54 PM

Maybe I should rephrase that. I step on the gas, let it turn over for4 or 5 seconds, and left off. then I repeat the process over again. So it's more like step on it to start and let off, step on it to start and let off. I thought it wouldn't be good to let it keep turning over for a long period of time.

popatop · 01-25-2012, 08:13 PM

I start mine in Neutral and use the gas just to idle till it warms up

reinman88 · 01-25-2012, 08:30 PM

I've been doing the same thing now that it's cold.

Doc's BoneCracker · 01-25-2012, 09:48 PM

Have you check Battery? It could be getting weak. I've been running into that lately and I put it on a trickle for the night and now it starts great.

reinman88 · 01-26-2012, 08:32 AM

I can check that, but usually it's been turning over good. It's just wet spark plugs that do me in.

01-25-2012, 04:14 PM	#1
reinman88 Gone Wild Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Nebraska Posts: 665	Cold weather starting I have not had problems starting until lately. All fall when hunting my cart would start fine, with morning temps at that time in the mid 20s or warmer. Usually in the morning I would hit the gas two or three times, pull the choke out about half way, and the next time the cart would start. Now we've gotten into winter with some colder weather, overnight temps in the teens or even single digit. Now when I try to start the cart I flood it. Usually I can just take out the plugs, dry them off quick, put them back in, and the cart will start, sometimes even without choking. Once you get it running it will be fine after that with stopping and starting again. The next day with real cold temps, the same thing. Last night we only got down to the mid 20s, much like last fall when hunting. When I got home after lunch I went to start the cart. I hit the gas 3 or 4 times, then pulled the choke half way out, and the cart started fine. I know these are really not designed for winter driving, so problems starting when real cold should be expected. But I was wondering if I'm doing this wrong, and there is a better way to get my cart started in Jan and Feb, aside from moving to Florida,

01-25-2012, 05:46 PM	#2
popatop Gone Wild Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 894	Re: Cold weather starting *Mine is a 4 stroke but I pull the choke all the way out, then push the gas pedal all the way and it starts right up when its cold*

01-25-2012, 05:49 PM	#3
reinman88 Gone Wild Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Nebraska Posts: 665	Re: Cold weather starting Sorry forgot to tell everyone what I had. It's a 99 workhorse with a 350. I'll try the full choke and gas all the way down tomorrow. I seem to remember when I bought it the guy said something about 1/2 choke, so that's why I was doing it that way.

01-25-2012, 06:06 PM	#4
bud light Gone Wild Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Lawrenceburg Ky. Posts: 1,771	Re: Cold weather starting I have a 2006 workhorse with a 350 that I keep in the garage (non heated) when it is in the 20s I full choke it. As soon as it starts put on half choke till it runs OK.

01-25-2012, 06:09 PM	#5
DOOmsman Gone Wild Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Reddick IL Posts: 11,220	Re: Cold weather starting I have to chuckle when you say you hit the gas a few times. You must be old enough to have driven cars with carburetors. These carbs don't have accelerator pumps and so pumping the gas has no effect. Try choking with out stepping on the gas beyond starting level.

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01-25-2012, 06:54 PM	#6
reinman88 Gone Wild Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Nebraska Posts: 665	Re: Cold weather starting Maybe I should rephrase that. I step on the gas, let it turn over for4 or 5 seconds, and left off. then I repeat the process over again. So it's more like step on it to start and let off, step on it to start and let off. I thought it wouldn't be good to let it keep turning over for a long period of time.

01-25-2012, 08:13 PM	#7
popatop Gone Wild Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 894	Re: Cold weather starting *I start mine in Neutral and use the gas just to idle till it warms up*

01-25-2012, 08:30 PM	#8
reinman88 Gone Wild Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Nebraska Posts: 665	Re: Cold weather starting I've been doing the same thing now that it's cold.

01-25-2012, 09:48 PM	#9
Doc's BoneCracker Gone Wild Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Kansas City, Mo Posts: 544	Re: Cold weather starting Have you check Battery? It could be getting weak. I've been running into that lately and I put it on a trickle for the night and now it starts great.

01-26-2012, 08:32 AM	#10
reinman88 Gone Wild Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Nebraska Posts: 665	Re: Cold weather starting I can check that, but usually it's been turning over good. It's just wet spark plugs that do me in.

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