2006 Polaris Ranger 500 Hard Starting when hot

dalek · 08-03-2011, 06:55 AM

My Polaris Ranger 500 4x4 starts and runs fine, but after it warms up and I stop the engine and go to restart, it cranks slowly like it has a weak battery. Sometimes it will backfire through the carb.
I replaced the battery, adjusted the valves and checked the float level. I suspected the automatic decompression valve so I pulled the plug wire and it cranks at normal speed. I think it could be the ignition timing or still a gas problem. If it was ignition timing, I think it would crank slowly and be hard to start when cold. So I a leaning toward a fuel problem. I bought this used and the previous owner told me he replaced the carb, but I am not sure.

Russ Chastain · 08-03-2011, 09:36 AM

It does sound like fuel, at least partially. My '06 500 4x4 usually starts easily and runs well, but if I have been driving slowly in the woods, I start smelling gas and the engine will stall. Gas is coming from the overflow tube on the carb, and the engine will die. If I am driving faster then it doesn't happen.

But it doesn't crank any differently when that happens. No slower than usual. I don't know why pulling the spark plug wire off the plug changed the speed of your cranking - or did you pull the spark plug out entirely?

I think my problem might be the needle valve that the float operates, rather than the float level. Might have a little bit of crud in that valve messing things up. But I really don't know. Maybe we can help each other figure them out?

In your case I think I would give the carb a super cleaning and check its adjustments.

dalek · 08-04-2011, 09:43 AM

I only pulled the plug wire, not the plug. The reason I pulled the wire was that if the ignition timing was off such as too far advanced, it would be firing when the piston was on the upstroke which would slow down the cranking. Sure enough, the cranking speed was normal without the plug wire attached. Setting the timing on these takes a lot of time and you need a flywheel puller to get to the stator. I don't want to do that yet until I've eliminated other options.
Thank you for your reply.

Russ Chastain · 08-04-2011, 10:53 AM

Unless something came loose, everything under the flywheel ought to be where it was when it left the factory. So I agree, check out everything other than timing.

BTW, a friend and I built a dalek in high school, for a Doctor Who convention. Got it signed by Colin Baker.

08-03-2011, 06:55 AM	#1
dalek Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2	2006 Polaris Ranger 500 Hard Starting when hot My Polaris Ranger 500 4x4 starts and runs fine, but after it warms up and I stop the engine and go to restart, it cranks slowly like it has a weak battery. Sometimes it will backfire through the carb. I replaced the battery, adjusted the valves and checked the float level. I suspected the automatic decompression valve so I pulled the plug wire and it cranks at normal speed. I think it could be the ignition timing or still a gas problem. If it was ignition timing, I think it would crank slowly and be hard to start when cold. So I a leaning toward a fuel problem. I bought this used and the previous owner told me he replaced the carb, but I am not sure.

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08-03-2011, 09:36 AM	#2
Russ Chastain Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,078	It does sound like fuel, at least partially. My '06 500 4x4 usually starts easily and runs well, but if I have been driving slowly in the woods, I start smelling gas and the engine will stall. Gas is coming from the overflow tube on the carb, and the engine will die. If I am driving faster then it doesn't happen. But it doesn't crank any differently when that happens. No slower than usual. I don't know why pulling the spark plug wire off the plug changed the speed of your cranking - or did you pull the spark plug out entirely? I think my problem might be the needle valve that the float operates, rather than the float level. Might have a little bit of crud in that valve messing things up. But I really don't know. Maybe we can help each other figure them out? In your case I think I would give the carb a super cleaning and check its adjustments.

08-04-2011, 09:43 AM	#3
dalek Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 2	I only pulled the plug wire, not the plug. The reason I pulled the wire was that if the ignition timing was off such as too far advanced, it would be firing when the piston was on the upstroke which would slow down the cranking. Sure enough, the cranking speed was normal without the plug wire attached. Setting the timing on these takes a lot of time and you need a flywheel puller to get to the stator. I don't want to do that yet until I've eliminated other options. Thank you for your reply.

08-04-2011, 10:53 AM	#4
Russ Chastain Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,078	Unless something came loose, everything under the flywheel ought to be where it was when it left the factory. So I agree, check out everything other than timing. BTW, a friend and I built a dalek in high school, for a Doctor Who convention. Got it signed by Colin Baker.