Sportster LT wont start

[slingo56]

I have a 2002 LT with the dual engines. Had it to the dealer for new impellers last fall and to be winterized. Put it in today but can't get it to start. Both engines try to turn over but weakly. Get power as I can run the blower.

Dealer had the battery out for the winter. I put it back in, there were 2 black wires and one red on. Put the red to the positive terminal and the 2 black to the negative.

Any thoughts?

Also, if I want to try starting on land, do I just need to hook the hose up to the outlet? Anything else special that needs to be done?

I'm 2 hours from the dealer and have to use a public boat launch so if I can get this resolved myself, that would be much preferred.


Thanks

 

[Thewetterthebetter]

I'm really new to these things but I have been reading a lot lately. I know that it can take a while for people to reply so since I am reading this now I can safely tell you this.
1) a strong battery is necessary
2) don't jumpstart the boat give the battery a charge with the battery switch off
3) check your spark plugs to see if they are wet if so you engine is flooded with uncombusted fuel, if they're not wet you are not getting fuel.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Waterluvr]

Don't worry about getting water to the engines just to start and get them to idle for 30 seconds, won't hurt a thing to run them for that long and that's enough to get you back to the boat ramp and dunk it so the shaft seals don't overheat running it on a hose.

Start with a fully charged battery, grab a nasty old towel and pull the spark plugs and ground them. Have someone bump the starter button for five second intervals one engine at a time while you hold said towel over both plug holes and see if a bunch of oil doesn't come spilling out very common for the rotary shaft seals to leak in one or both of the crankcases making the initial start of the season hard and fouling the plugs with oil and fuel.

 

[Coastiejoe]

Pull the spark plugs and crank the engine. Does it crank fast, slow, and or does oil come out of the plug holes?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[slingo56]

Pull the spark plugs and crank the engine. Does it crank fast, slow, and or does oil come out of the plug holes?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Talked to the mechanic who worked on the boat in the fall. He suggested spraying gas into the carburetors. Any issue with this? I assume I have to take the engine cover off to access?

 

[Coastiejoe]

Talked to the mechanic who worked on the boat in the fall. He suggested spraying gas into the carburetors. Any issue with this? I assume I have to take the engine cover off to access?

No issues but it needs to be mixed gas and oil. Did you pull the plugs and see if it cranks?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[slingo56]

No issues but it needs to be mixed gas and oil. Did you pull the plugs and see if it cranks?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Any issues with using a can of 'engine start' for this? I assume I have to remove the engine cover to access the carburetors? Any special concerns with this?

 

[Coastiejoe]

Any issues with using a can of 'engine start' for this? I assume I have to remove the engine cover to access the carburetors? Any special concerns with this?

Do NOT use "engine start" as there is no lubricant in the can. A 2-stroke gets its lubricant from the fuel/oil mixture and passes tough the crankcase and then into the cylinders ect ect.

I am pretty sure you will find that your battery is bad. It has enough power to operate the low torque stuff such as the blower and what not, but can't crank the engine.

Since both engines are reacting the same, look for a common fault....

 

[slingo56]

Do NOT use "engine start" as there is no lubricant in the can. A 2-stroke gets its lubricant from the fuel/oil mixture and passes tough the crankcase and then into the cylinders ect ect.

I am pretty sure you will find that your battery is bad. It has enough power to operate the low torque stuff such as the blower and what not, but can't crank the engine.

Since both engines are reacting the same, look for a common fault....

You got it! Back to the cottage tonight. Brought a new battery up but first I noticed that the negative connection wasn't completely tight. Fixed that and I was the able to get both engines to fire. Stupid really, I assumed that since the blower was getting power that all was good.

Thanks everyone for the input and hopefully this will help someone else.

 

[Coastiejoe]

You got it! Back to the cottage tonight. Brought a new battery up but first I noticed that the negative connection wasn't completely tight. Fixed that and I was the able to get both engines to fire. Stupid really, I assumed that since the blower was getting power that all was good.

Thanks everyone for the input and hopefully this will help someone else.

Glad you got it going,,, I was waiting for the answer to my question in post #4...