2001 wolverine no spark when cold

[DeathWrath]

Hi my name is shawn and I own a 2001 yamaha wolverine and it won't start with the pull cord when its cold, i pull on it and it barely does anything. I am able to bum start it and it starts almost instantly. once the bike has been running for rughtly half an hour idleing or running i can start it easily, until the engine cools down again. i changed the spark plug boot, spark plug, checked battery, checked wireing... the only thing i can see not working is the dynamo inside the motor next to the pull cord...

Edited October 9, 2010 by DeathWrath

[DirtDemon]

I would first suspect the battery not holding a charge. Generally a machines electrical system is designed to start up initially using current from the battery, once it is running, it switches over to running off of the stator and regulator/rectifier feed which also charges the battery. So when it is cold, the battery may have discharged a bit, not providing enough current to start the motor, once it has run for a while, the charging system has charged the battery enough so that it will start. If the battery is going bad, it won't hold a charge for long, thus causing the hard starting when it is cold. I would look into the battery first, then maybe move to the stator or other electrical parts once you have ruled out the battery. The Stator, or dynamo as you call it, could be your problem though. While it seems to be funtioning, it may just be worn to the point that is just not putting out enough current to get the motor to start by pulling it when it is cold, but like I said, it should be starting off the battery, not the stator. Bump starting, or compression starting will start the machine up using current from the stator, that is why that works for you. Doesn't your machine have an electric start? I would be curious to know how if it would start with the electric starter when cold.

[DeathWrath]

my bike does have an electric startor but it's busted that's why im using pull cord... and the battery measured at 12.3 befor the charge and after the charge 12.5 and it still didn't want to start up, im going to try a dif battery to see.. I am hoping not to have to change the cdi because of it's price and not guaranteeing that its not going to change much...

[DirtDemon]

Before you start randomly replacing parts, I would recommend buying a repair manual, go through the troubleshooting guide and perform some of the direct resistance tests and other test that are listed in the manual for some of your electrical components. You can throw away alot of money really quick if you just try replacing stuff before you know exactly what the problem is. Also, most auto parts stores will do a free load test on your battery.

[GEARHEAD01]

When you pull start it does it want to turn over? if it does then pull the plug boot off the plg side and try and start it with the a plug in the boot against the block. check for spark. if it sparks then you may have to much plug gap. you could try tightening it up a couple of thou. this will make it easier to start.

[tamco43]

Hi, Does your wolverine have fender flares and do you know where I can get a carburetor body cheap for 2003 wolverine 350 4x4? thanks

[pete59edsel]

Just jump the starter with a screw driver, pretty much like you would a solenoid and see what it does for ya. Will it start that way? What part is busted on the starter?