layin on the smackdown Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 I have a 2007 Polaris 350 hawkeye...over the last 3-4 weeks i have had one heck of a time getting this thing to finally turnover and idle without me standing there with my finger on the throttle...It has seem to be getting progessively worse...I cant get it to start with the ignition key, and have to start it by pull starting it which seems to take forever....I have been trying to run it a little everyday just to keep it "warm"...i thought maybe the battery - nope, still good as new...Checked the spark plug, golden (and i cleaned it up a little)...Checked the fuel filter (at least what i thought was the fuel filter) and it seemed clean, other than being a little moist with what i gathered to be fuel...a little while ago, i got her running, but i noticed black exhaust coming out instead of the clean gray/white exhaust, especially when i throttled it up...Does this have anything to do with it? here is a little history of the last month as well...On halloween, my buddy tipped it on its side....sometime either right before then, or right after then, my brother in law filled it up with fuel from his "farm tank"....Is the fuel the culprit? Maybe not clean enough as regular fuel? I am mechanically challenged, so i don't know where to start... You guys on here have a great track record with handing me advice adn being successful, so any suggestions you have, shoot em at me... Thanks for your help guys!!! dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted December 8, 2010 Report Share Posted December 8, 2010 You might check with your dealer on this. Polaris has a switch built into the throttlelever which won't let the engine rev unless pressure is applied to the lever. This is a safety device to prevent stuck throttle issues. I had a simular problem with my wifes X-Plorer. I disconnected the thing! P.S. Yes, I did school her on the Kill Switch. Could be a fuel problem also. Unhook the fuel line at the carb. If fuel flows freely through the filter this would pretty much rule this out. Keep us informed. Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92xj Posted December 9, 2010 Report Share Posted December 9, 2010 Could be a fuel problem also. Unhook the fuel line at the carb. If fuel flows freely through the filter this would pretty much rule this out. Keep us informed. Lynn It wouldn't rule it out if it was bad fuel. How long has the 'farm fuel' been stored for? To me, with the dark exhaust smoke it sounds like a fuel problem. I would drain the tank and try fresh fuel as a starting point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted December 9, 2010 Report Share Posted December 9, 2010 Sounds like Lynn is on the right track for sure. Just wondering how old that fuel was. If it's old and lost volatility it could be an issue too. Smaller engines HATE old gas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted December 9, 2010 Report Share Posted December 9, 2010 I had a major issue with water this summer dan. Drain the tank and swab it out with a broke arrow with a cotton rag until its all dry. Pull the choke where it screws in the carb too and make sure the needle is moving freely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layin on the smackdown Posted December 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2010 Well here's the deal...I went ahead and asked my father in law for some advice (as much as i hated to do so :helpsmilie:)...told him what i told you guys and he seems to think the spark plug is not producing enough spark to burn the fuel and that the fuel may be bad....When i did pull the spark plug, it was black around the tip where the spark jumps and a little on the threads - so i wiped it down real good and cleaned in between where the spark jumps...i don't know if its suppose to be covered in black soot like it was or not, but the plug didn't seem to have too much of a gap at all where the spark might not be making a good connection...He also said that black smoke means unburned fuel which is a sign of bad fuel or lack of spark to burn the fuel....as far as how old the fuel is - i have no idea, but i do know that the fuel he gets is usually from the bottom of a tanker that he gets at a discounted price...It runs fine in vehicles, but maybe not a ATV????? Does this help? any other suggestions? thanks again everyone!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted December 9, 2010 Report Share Posted December 9, 2010 Gotta agree with Ben on the exhaust being a fuel problem. Bad fuel may run ok in vehicles but not so great in small engines Dan, would tend to agree with the father in law on that. If it were me, I would probably clean the tank and carb and never use that fuel in anything of mine again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted December 10, 2010 Report Share Posted December 10, 2010 The more I read the more I agree you probably have a fuel issue. I'd drain the tank dry. Add some " Sea-Foam " fuel additive and refill with fresh gas. Oh yeah, I'd change the fuel filter too. Bad gas will turn the spark plug black from incomplete ignition for sure. I'd also put a new one in making sure it is properly gapped. Keep us up to date. Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBow Posted December 12, 2010 Report Share Posted December 12, 2010 Black smoke in the exhaust is, as others have noted, unburnt fuel. Water in the fuel will create white smoke and oil in the fuel (or slipping past the rings) will create gray or blue smoke. Something you haven't mentioned checking was the air filter. A plugged air filter (or blocked air intake) may also cause black exhaust as the fuel mixture is starving for oxygen and will not efficiently burn. Just food for thought. TBow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawg Posted December 13, 2010 Report Share Posted December 13, 2010 Sell it and buy a Honda. BOOM.....problem solved. Gonna agree with Ben on the fuel. My ATV sat up for almost a year when I moved to MS back in 08. Came home and had to drain it, buy new plug and air filter. No problems after that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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