'01 Z-120 starting problems, spark plug?

raco_guy

New member
My daughter's '01 Z-120 has ALWAYS been a hard starter when cold. Sled is in mint condition, all stock except I did put an intake kit on it last year, but it started hard before that. Last night I went to start it (she did run it on Christmas break, so I know it's "running") to move it out of the trailer, and I probably pulled on it over 100 times before giving up.

1) has fresh gas and gas valve is in "open" position
2) have good spark at the spark plug
3) even when spraying carb spray (didnt have starting fluid) in the cylinder by the spark plug and in the carb not even a hiccup.
4) checked all switches, on/off button, emergency shutt off, etc.


So any ideas? One thing I thought of is how do I know what is the correct spark plug to be running in this sled? Currently it is is a NGK BR9ECS, same as my doo, which has been in there since I bought it 2 years ago. Is it possible that plug is the wrong one and maybe the threads aren't long enought to get the spark where it needs to be inside the combustion chamber?

Other than that I don't have a clue. I know the 4-storkes are cold blodded, but this is rediculous. Once warm, it starts just fine, idles fine, runs fine. Thoughts?
 

dognvenus

Member
I have a Polaris 120. I had two in the past but sold one off to a friend

...but I will say that the first time getting them out, I would fill with fresh gas, pull the plug out and put a very small amount of gas into the cylinder, put the plug back in and giver a pull. It fires right away and with a little finess of the choke and throttle it takes off.
I have learned over the years that, I have probobly pulled it a 100 times trying to get it started with no luck before I went to this method.

I dont know if the needle valve gets stuck or what the issue is, but from then on through out the rest of the season I have no issues as long as I have fresh gas in it. Usually starts on the first pull, every time.

Hope it helps, Dog
 
Top