I've read a few posts where people sing praises about having a fuel primer. I assume that they cost only a few bucks and are easy to install. Is it worth it for me to get one?

Also, what about fuel shut off valves? Is there really that big of a problem that fuel runs backwards? What kind of problems does that cause?

Fuel Primers seem to be a love it or hate it item. I had one in my 96 Grand Touring and loved it, definitely less cranking if you knew how to use it right but over-use would flood the engine. If your choke system is working well don't think I'd bother.
As for a fuel shut off valve I'd be surprised if your sled doesn't already have one?

Shut-off for shure..... especially if you are on a trailer, working on it with back or front in the air, ect.

So are there conditions where extra priming is necessary...such as when it's a deep freeze?


For the fuel shutoff, are you saying that you should flip the shutoff valve every time you trailer the sled?


Thanks guys. I'm still learning about my sled.

Primers are great. I always turn my fuel off when trailering. If only I could remember to turn it back on when I get to my destination. So excited to get riding, I'm always pulling and pulling trying to start it and then remember to flip the lever.

If you trailer without shutting the gas off, and your needles and seats in the carb are marginal or failing, you can fill the crankcase with raw fuel. When you try to start the engine, the fuel ends up in the top of the cylinder and you will have a hydrolock and wonder why it won't turn over. Then you pull the plugs to see what's going on, give the rope a yank, and fuel spouts out the spark plug holes all over the place. Great. This is what you need. Fuel, oxygen, and an ignition source. I was lucky, (no fire) but I also learn from my experiences; I ALWAYS have shut the gas off when I trailer.

I had never had a problem before that; just takes one time. And when I took the carbs apart to check the needles and seats to the float, they appeared fine.

Most sleds now do not come with a shut-off. The only thing that is troublesome with this, is that if you pull your fuel lines off your carbs, you need to plug the lines with something.

The only thing that looks like a shut-off valve/switch appears to be connected to the coolant hose. Where should I look for this valve/switch?

For the fuel shutoff, are you saying that you should flip the shutoff valve every time you trailer the sled?[/b]

For trailering if you have it always use it. My Formula does not have it and it is a bit tricky starting after trailering.

As for the primer, once you learn your sled you will love it. I have never had a choke on a sled but have on other things and I think the primer is a lot easier. JMO

Hmmmmm, 97 XC600, it should have a shut off valve. Look for a small metal block, about 3/4 inch square, with a red handled lever on the top. Should be mounted inline on the gas hose between the fuel tank and the fuel pump. Primer..... you going to be ready to take off both carbs, drill a hole in both of them, put in a fitting, and run fuel line to both carbs, the primer and the gas tank? Just wondering.

There is a shutoff valve that looks exactly how you described, but it appears to be attached to the cooling system. I can't figure out why you'd want to shutoff the flow of coolant.

I guess I'm not prepared to put in a primer.

Primers work, but it is way too easy to flood an engine with it. I know cuz I did it lots of times. Chokes are more fool proof.

Shut-offs are a must and are recommended by all manufacturers if you "trailer" the sled. Trailering vibrates the heck out of the float valve and will put raw gas into the engine. Yet another reason to have EFI since they won't be doing that. Lots of sleds have burned down at the first pull after a trailer ride.

As far as a primer is concerned you don't have to drill the carb out. Just put a "bleeder hose in the intake of the carb. Priming puts a shot of fuel in the carb to draft into the engine without need to have fuel all thru the system which is what a choke does. Newer sleds should not need them, unless you get one with a primer. Besides a primer needs to be pumped before starting and then a few times after it starts to keep it running. They work best in very cold climes.

Don't need to do all that with a efi system since once primes the pump and the second pull will fire it up.

So once again...am I just confused, or is the coolant shutoff that I found really the fuel shutoff? Is there such a thing as a coolant shut-off?

The fuel shut off for my 97 700 RMK is attached to the coolant tank, it is a convenient place to mount it. If you follow the hoses going to it, they go to the fuel pump, not the coolant bottle.

Whew!! It took a long time to get to that answer. Thanks BC Dan.

Thanks to everyone else too. I suppose if I've got the fuel shut-off, I'm set. Since my choke seems to work well enough, I'll stick with that instead of installing a primer.