A TRICK to start your SKANDIC 900 ACE in EXTREME COLD temps!! (When it's too cold for it to start)

In this video I show a technique that you can use if you get caught in extreme cold temperatures and your Skandic 900 Ace won't start. As a reminder, any technique such as this one is not an approved one so extra care and caution must be taken before you apply. Let me know what you think in the comments and thanks for watching!

[philspaces]

I cannot understand why everyone seems to be dumping all over a guy for trying to help out.

Thanks for posting this. I have used this method using different engines for heat sources. I had never thought of using a generator and a 1/2” pipe!! Well done! Thanks again for sharing

[richardpopko]

You are absolutely right. Those plastics don’t bend or pull at low temperatures when we need to access the engine they are frozen stiff. manufacturers should take note.

[arcticwanderer]

Lived in the interior of Alaska for many years. I would open the cowling at night and put either a hot air corn popper or hair dryer inside, close the cowling and put a blanket over it. Run the extension cord into the house and about 20 minutes before I wanted to use the snowmachine the next day I would plug in the chord. Made pulling the starter chord easy and the belts would work fine.

[busse]

The last winter was -39c in Sodankylä Finland.We was have Lynx 59yeti 600 ace engine, same sled is ski-doo sandic.The weather was very freeze and we think, can four stroke sled cold start with no pre heating.I walk go to sled and pull kill switch on, and press the start button.What happened, start motor spin very slow some round but motor start fire up!These sleds work very hard conditions, and pull heavy loads on the 100cm deep snow.In the arctic circle is lots of safari shop, they trust only on rotax 600 ace engines.Best kilometers what I had to see is 30000km.I think ACE engines was not powerful of the markets, but there is fuel effency and they you can trust every conditions :)

[beaubjarnason]

Great idea, could’ve used this tip earlier in the season when I froze my sled up solid. Been really enjoying the channel, all sorts of things I am doing or want to do but with your methods might make my life easier. Thanks a lot.

[marcell]

Great solution to a northern problem. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and ideas.

[alaskatrac]

Hi Chuck, I am a fellow trapper from Alaska and trap up on a line north of the Arctic Circle. I hope to buy a Skandic 600 ACE in the future . I have started machines in very cold weather, but this was a slick trick I have never used. Thanks for sharing. God bless and protect you this winter. Arctic Circle Dave

[practicalporters]

Excellent. I Added a block heater and battery trickle charger so when the generator is running it gets 3 way starting power. Keep up the good ideas of common sense life thats not so common anymore.
Cheers
Practical Porters Alaska.

[PJ-sipo]

First thing when I bought my 900 SWT I got a block heater installed and it takes less than 30min to heat up the engine down -25 so I put my hands on the engine and it is warm and 1hour would be plenty at -43 because the engine is enclosed, the engine heater is very efficient

[yuriy-]

Hot water coud be used just as well. Boil it, fill some plastic bottles and place near the engine or below it, cover with some decent insulation blanket. Water has much more energy capacity than exhaust gases so will work pretty good.
Also i've seen examples of using gasoline blow torch with steel pipe to achieve same result. But that's pretty dangerous, open flame.

[Tsouns]

Nice trick. You could also plug in a heat blower or a hairdryer to the generator for extra heat. Travel size hairdryer is easy to keep along with the generator at the cabin.

[benson]

lot of surveyors keep a length of flexible dryer venting pipe in there trucks to use the truck exhaust to heat up the atv or snowmobile engines. works great. Add a battery booster pack to your kit as well. I had a 2 stroke skandic wt because i wanted some thing that could sit in a snowbank for a week at -40 and start right up but for long runs the fuel economy alone would be reason enough to go 4 stroke and carry a little generator in your sleigh. My gas was free.

[wolfmantroy]

I live in AK. When it gets even -25 F I use a hairdryer to warm my snogo. Just put the dryer under the hood blowing towards the engine block. Go in and have a cup of coffee. It will fire right up when I come out and be much happier.

[robertsimard]

Good morning Chuck. We have been seeing pretty mild winters here in northern ontario for the last decade. Have not seen minus 40 and only a few days a year at minus 30 so I have not had any issues starting my machines. I like your idea though. It might come in handy. I have a 2009 expedition 800 4 stroke with the original battery. It's never failed me. Gonna change the battery this fall, still works good but it's certainly time.lol. I mostly use the old girl for breaking trail and hauling wood. Save my 2019, 900 expedition for fishing and long trips. Great video.

[ramongandia]

What I use on these machines is a can of Sterno "Chafing Fuel". This is identical to regular sterno cans, but has a wick once the take the lid off. Open the door panel, and stick it
under the exhaust manifold where it comes off the motor. Do your morning chores, come back to the machine and instant start. Guaranteed to -44F within an hour or two.

No generators to lug around. You can carry the can of stern in your parka pocket.

On my new 2021 Expedition 900 ACE SWT, the sterno can was precarious in there, so I
cut a little piece of plywood and a little piece of wood. Put that in, above the starter,
and your sterno on top. It is now secure, and even if the machine rocks in the wind, wont
come off.

For crying out loud, don't drive off with the sterno burning in there!

Ramon, Nome, Alaska USA

[jdhoger]

Good trick, I've actually done this in -42 with a Big buddy heater under my old chevy trucks oil pan and within about 20 minutes the oil was warm enough to flow and it started right up.

[farnorthpicker]

Well you’re thinking outside of the box! That’s a good idea.

[tomlarocque]

Like it, that's a cool idea and I will hopefully remember it. I like to bring the battery in myself :)

[CharlesUFarley]

My SWT 900 has always stared for me so far in Goose Bay knock on wood. Best sled I’ve ever owned.

[TKIDaniel]

I've done a similar trick starting out diesel trucks after a weekend of riding. It was a cold weekend in northern ontario and our 2 stroke sleds were working well. But when we needed to pack up and leave our trucks wouldn't start so we piled snow around the truck engine and the front of the truck and put a sled exhaust right by it and sealed it up. Let the sled run for a while while throwing snow on the condenser and the truck fired right up. The only downfall of the cummins 5.9 engine