OT: Dirtbikes and Ether?!?

Casey in Ky · Jan 10, 2009

OK..stupid question...I've got a 2001 Yamaha WR250....four stroke...that's one cold natured bike...just about impossible to start if it below 35. I've got a guy who wants to buy it and of course he's a coming to look at it on a cold day. Antyhing wrong with a little shot of starting fluid???

bo · Jan 10, 2009

Nope. Do it often with hard starting stuff.

supergrumpy · Jan 10, 2009

emphasis on "little"

John (C-IL) · Jan 10, 2009

Why not warm it up a little with one of those portable LP heaters? That's what I do with my Deutz diesel tractor, about 15 minutes of heat and she fires right up.

T-Rev · Jan 10, 2009

I use a shot in my 93" XR600 4stroke every time I start it cold. It is real hard to start even in July. I don"t think its ideal but I"m not going to spend an hour kicking over something that supposed to be "fun".

It won"t hurt yours to do it a few times.

NCWayne · Jan 10, 2009

No problem at all if you use "just a little". The only problem with using ether with any engine comes with the use of too or in most cases WAY too much. I"ve used it with hard starting 2 and 4 stroke engines, including the small 2 stroke ones like on my old Homolite abrasive saw, all my life and have never had one lock up or blow up or have any other problems from it"s use.

Johnski · Jan 10, 2009

A couple of Harley guys I know with big $$ motors use WD-40 to help with starting. The stuff is flammable enough but not as likely to wash the cyl walls or cause other damage. HTH Jf

Anonymous-0 · Jan 10, 2009

I get good results pulling the spark plug and giving it a shot directly in the combustion chamber.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 10, 2009

Make a time for him to appear and have it going when he gets there.

RandyB(MI) · Jan 11, 2009

Reguardless of what you do about starting it , I hope you plan on telling the buyer about the problem! The next day when HE can't get it started , it may find it's way back to your place with quite an irate person with it! Would you like it if a seller did that to you? I know what I would do and it wouldn't be pretty. Do what's right , either fix it or tell the buyer of the problem. Just the wording of your post tells me you DON'T plan on telling him.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 11, 2009

The early 4 strokes were a pain to start. There is probably some type of aftermarket starting aid available. Hot starts came out to help with starting a warm but stalled bike. A dirt bike like yours has a high performance engine and they cost over $1000 to rebuild. Is there anyway to put the bike somewhere warm for a while? Even if the starting fluid doesn't harm anything, the potential buyer could figure that the engine will be damaged and walk away. Dave

OT: Dirtbikes and Ether?!?

Casey in Ky

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bo

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supergrumpy

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John (C-IL)

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T-Rev

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NCWayne

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Johnski

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