2003 Polaris Universal ATV Owners Manual - Page 49

Recoil Starter CONTROLS If the battery is weak and cannot 1 start the engine, use of the recoil starter (1) will allow vehicle operation until repairs can be made. The recoil starter is located on the right side of the machine. Polaris 4-cycle engines are equipped with automatic decompressors. This makes recoil starting possible by allowing compression to "leak" at cranking speeds. The decompressor senses when the engine is spinning fast enough to start and restores compression for starting. 1. Position the vehicle on a level surface and engage the parking brake. See page 41. 2. Shift the transmission to Neutral. 3. Grasp the recoil starter rope handle tightly and pull slightly until the starter mechanism engages. 4. Pull the rope abruptly to start the engine. CAUTION Extending the starter rope too far will cause damage to the recoil assembly. Do not extend the starter rope so far that it stops. If the starter rope handle is not seated properly, water may enter the recoil housing and damage components. Make sure the handle is fully seated on the recoil housing, especially when traveling in wet areas. 47