2008 Arctic Cat F6 - won't start

M

mgsimon

New member
I have a 2008 F6 EFI, I bought last spring. When I put it up for the season, I add Sea Foam, ran for 10 minutes, then drained the gas.
When I tried to start it for the first time, I added fresh gas, but I can not get it to fire. This is my first EFI machine, so I don't know if there are any tricks to starting the first time of the season.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
 
J

JimAndros

Active member
Assuming that nothing failed (like a stator or fuel pump), the main problem is that the fuel system has no pressure. The pump will need to pull fuel up from the tank & pressurize the fuel manifold. Your pulls on the rope will only give momentary spikes of voltage to the pump. it won't be enough to fill the system unless you pull long & hard and be sure the tank is full to within a few inches of the top. If the tank is full, the pump doesn't need to suck fuel up (because it will be submerged), it only needs pressurize the fuel rail.

You can also remove the console, unplug the fuel pump connection and apply 12VDC to the fuel pump electrical connector to help get your fuel system pressurized the 1st time. Be sure you don't accidently apply the 12 VDC to the wrong 1/2 of the connector - you don't want to apply voltage to the ECU.
 
T

thebreeze

Member
It can be bad to store the pumps dry for extended periods, but that is not likely your issue.

You probably just have some air in the fuel line/fuel rail. Keep pulling. It will fire. Try a new set of plugs if that doesnt get you anywhere.

Remember, a motor needs 3 things to run. Fuel, sprark, and air.
 
M

mgsimon

New member
It has an electric start, and I let it crank for a while.

I will try again.

Thanks

I will keep you posted.
 
R

ridehard

New member
Pull your plugs and put a little gas in there. Then turn it over it should fire. You would know your ignition is functioning then. That may also be enough to prime your system.
 
A

anonomoose

New member
Next spring, forget the sea foam and put stabile in there and start the unit for a few minutes every month...end of problems...been doin that for nearly ten years with no issues.
 
E

ezra

Well-known member
pop off valves in the tank?
I second dumping gas down the plug holes to see what happens.
some times more than once to get it going
 
A

amazza76

New member
anonomoose said:
Next spring, forget the sea foam and put stabile in there and start the unit for a few minutes every month...end of problems...been doin that for nearly ten years with no issues.
Click to expand...

No offense as it may have worked for you but I disagree with your advice. Unless you are allowing the sled to get up to operating temperature, just running it a few minutes will cause condensation to form in the crank case, pipes, etc.
 
R

ridehard

New member
I too start my machine once sometimes twice a month and let it warm up before turning off. Everything stays lubed and does not dry out.
 
T

Team Elkhorn

Guest
mgsimon said:
I have a 2008 F6 EFI, I bought last spring. When I put it up for the season, I add Sea Foam, ran for 10 minutes, then drained the gas.
When I tried to start it for the first time, I added fresh gas, but I can not get it to fire. This is my first EFI machine, so I don't know if there are any tricks to starting the first time of the season.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Click to expand...
I was always told to store our '07 EFI Cats with at least half a tank of stabiled gas for this very reason. This year I never even had a chance to look at them, let alone start them up. I think I only plugged the battery tenders in once or twice this summer, (I have a cord running out to the trailer). Last weekend I finally made the time, and they fired right up after sitting nine months, like they were running the day before. I do drain the old gas out and put it in the truck so the sleds have fresh before we ride them though. And the good news is it seems the original batteries are good for another season too.:D
 
M

mgsimon

New member
Thanks for all the input. I have not had a chance to get back to it yet. Ya know CHRISTmas.

Hopefully in the next couple of days.
 
firefighter1

firefighter1

Member
The one post about hooking the fuel pump connector to a 12 volt battery will probably fix the issue. I had a 2006 crossfire and had the same thing happen, pulled it over for 30 minutes and nothing, so I brought to the dealer and he disconnected the fuel pump connector and took a jumper wire to a battery and boom I heard my pump start priming. Hooked the connector back up and first pull started right up. Dealer told me they can get moisture in there over the storage period and it will freeze up with what he said is a little rust and it takes more juice to free it than just pulling it over. Don't know if that's exactly true but and soon as I told him what it was doing he brought the battery and jumper wire out and 1 minute later it was running so apparently this has happened before.
 
A

anonomoose

New member
amazza76 said:
No offense as it may have worked for you but I disagree with your advice. Unless you are allowing the sled to get up to operating temperature, just running it a few minutes will cause condensation to form in the crank case, pipes, etc.
Click to expand...

Full warm-up which for my sleds is about ten minutes...keeps things oiled up and avoids issues down the road. Temp gauge up foot rails hot and battery re-charged...besides I just like doing it. I have never had a muffler go bad in more than 40 years.

Nothing can be much worse than shutting off a motor and leaving it for 6 or 8 months. I do run the fuel low over the summer and add all new in the late fall...I have found alcohol does not age well.
 
M

markf419

New member
sledboy482 said:
I've used Stabil for years. I also have my tank full of fuel and do not start the sled at all during storage. I've never had any problems with any of my Cats doing it this way.
Click to expand...

Ditto. Never a problem .... Yet. With all the corn in reg gas these days, you might be asking for trouble now, unless you run premium gas which, correct me if I'm wrong, is corn-free. I usually run reg but I think I'll start running premium now or at least towards the end of the season.
 
S

snake

Member
markf8sp said:
Ditto. Never a problem .... Yet. With all the corn in reg gas these days, you might be asking for trouble now, unless you run premium gas which, correct me if I'm wrong, is corn-free. I usually run reg but I think I'll start running premium now or at least towards the end of the season.
Click to expand...

not all premium is ethynol free,if in doubt,ask the station owner or attendant.believe me,I have seen all the headaches with ethynol in sleds and boats=I work on them for a living. if you can stay away from it=do it! and the notion that its cheaper is incorrect,you dont get as far on it!
 
M

mgsimon

New member
Thanks for all the help. I got it started. Finally hooked a large booster to the battery, spun the moter very fast, after about 20 seconds it fired up.

Thanks again and Merry CRISTMAS

Mark
 
T

Team Elkhorn

Guest
Great to hear, and Merry Christmas to you. Now get out and ride it if you have snow.:D
 
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