300/440/550 Starting- Choke vs. Primer

[ezmoney]

What works best for you? I've got a primer on my piston port 550 but its always a bitch to start, so thinkin maybe a choke could make it easier?

Any advice?

 

[SXIPro]

Stick with the primer. Maybe you it plumbed wrong? You could also probably use a carb rebuild if that thing is so hard to start.

 

[32vickie]

I agree SXIpro, check the fuel lines. My skis started much better with the primer VS the choke.

 

[ezmoney]

I know its functioning right, I just am not a hundred percent how many times to prime it.

Also, SXIpro- I am fairly sure the carb could use a rebuild however its the stock 44mm mikuni which everyone says is junk and to go with the SBN.

So...

Does a Mikuni SBN carb require a different manifold or anything?

 

[stanton]

i give my sj three pumps or so when its cold. if it doesnt fire right away ill give it another 2 and its burning. dont kill the starter/bendix, prime it plenty!

 

[Crab]

I know its functioning right, I just am not a hundred percent how many times to prime it.

Also, SXIpro- I am fairly sure the carb could use a rebuild however its the stock 44mm mikuni which everyone says is junk and to go with the SBN.

So...

Does a Mikuni SBN carb require a different manifold or anything?

BTW, those primers go bad if they sit without fuel in them, seals dry up. Usually a hard starting 550 could mean poor compression if not fuel related.

 

[ezmoney]

Also, i dont know if it makes a difference but there is a small leak between the crankcase and the cylinder walls.

New course of action- warm it up and do a compression test. If its low, then look for a new engine. if its allright, look for a SBN?

 

[Flat Brapp]

An air leak is a disaster waiting to happen, i always ran my primer on the return line of my old 550's, sounds weird but it was the best way to get it to start the fastest, if it would prime through the return line then you always knew you were getting fuel to the carb. Do a leak down test and fix it asap, summer is almost here. An sbn is a better choice but fixing that leak is # 1.

 

[Flat Brapp]

And the sbn either requires a different manifold or a manifold spacer. Ebay for that old stuff.

 

[ezmoney]

allright great. thanks for all the quick responses so far. I guess i ought to just replace the crankcase gaskets while the engine is out on my bench cause its stupid easy. then we can worry about compression and a carb later

 

[SQUARE JOEL!!!]

allright great. thanks for all the quick responses so far. I guess i ought to just replace the crankcase gaskets while the engine is out on my bench cause its stupid easy. then we can worry about compression and a carb later

Are you positive the leak is from the cases????? A leak down test is quick and gives you very valuable information!

Also, there is no gasket for the cases.....just your preference of sealer, be it 1211 or 518 etc.

 

[ezmoney]

Yeah im sure theres a leak cause I can see where some fuel/oil has seeped out. It doesnt seem too bad tho. The ski runs like a champ but is just a bitch to start

 

[D-Roc]

550 piston ports are a little bitch to start, the sbn will help alot. fix the airleak and be sure not to flood it with too much fuel, they hate to be flooded.

 

[Motorheads5]

sound's like you might have a few problem's, but d-roc is right the 550 don't like to much fuel on startup. we start cranking before we squirt the primer that eliminates flooding one squirt is usually more than enough.