Buddies 447 runs good and strong. Has regualr maintenance intervals and has been problem free.
Recently has become difficult to start, but runs fine when it is.
He has a primer system (just removed it) and has been using starting fluid in back spark hole to kick it over.
Electric start won't do it. Sometimes hand pulling it will, but its getting harder and harder to start.
Once it turns over and catches, it runs strong and good.
We are looking for some things to check.
He replaced the fuel pump. And the floats in carb are floating.
He has asqueeze bulb in the fuel line.

What are we missing? It can't be too serious if the engine runs fine I figure.
He is willing to reinstall primer, but it hadn't been helping.
I KNOW we got some big brains here...help us. Nearest Rotax reapair guy is 7 thousand miles and a 14 day quarentine away

Sounds like low compression to me? Has it been hot (overheated) lately?

Might need rings?

I moved it to the general topic so he could see it. Don't know if hell chime in. I will relay.

Henry....I saw you mentioned "hell"...I assumed you meant "heli" which you call me......But, I am no expert on 2 strokes, as I had 18 forced landings while being the chief mechanic involved with my engines!

My repairs was new ignition, new carburetors, new rings......then finally what cured it...a brand new 582!

So, I would just bolt on a new engine....yep...

I assume you guys checked already the spark plugs.
Some can act up like that!
Once they heat up they will work just fine.
But the initial spark making ain't that great.
It could be a simple crack in the porcelain part that you can't even see and voila.
Just something I have seen happening before.

There is a small box called an ignition damper.
It is located between the coils on most engines
Has the same symptoms when bad.

Awesome guys...thank you. Hopefully he will be more specific.

I am going with low compression also. Experience with 2 smoke bikes, would not kick start, but would push start and run just fine, always compression issue.

Fuel-air-compression and spark. 2 strokes run about 6:1 compression to start with so they are more sensitive than a 4 stroke.

Adding to what Scotty just said... a poor battery or a touch and go earth can make it that the starter uses all of the power so there is not enough for the ignition to fire... so check earth and wiring in general and make sure the battery has enough beans for the job. Try jump starting it with a bigger car battery with over 500 cca and see if that starts it to eliminate battery output issues.

Just thinking out loud (and it hurts too)

We need to know what model 447 it is? Eg points or electronic and does the owner have much experience with Rotax 2 strokes?

Thanks so much guys, sounds like we cant go wrong by replacing the rings AND the ignition. Not too costly to do both...