4 wheeler engine rebuild

[outdooraddict]

been looking on craigslist, and there seems to be now and then a decent looking 4 wheeler for real cheap (compared to the year and size).  heres why, "needs the top end re-done"  "ran it without oil" etc.  has anybody ever bought one of these situations and re-built the top end or fixed it up and ended up with a quad or dirtbike for pretty cheap and some elbow grease?

[Duffer]

"Runs but smokes" is a lot easier to fix than "ran out of oil"

Hone the cylinder, New rings, clean up heads, gaskets n seals. Done.

[outdooraddict]

what usually the issue "when runs but smokes"?  worth pursuing?  how difficult is the honing/gasket fix. 

[syoungs]

is it a 2 stroke bike?

im assuming it is based on the ran without oil part. not terribly hard to rebuild a 2 strokes top end, if you have to split the case, its a different story, still doable, but harder.

if it just needs a top end, pull the head and cylinder, have the cylinder machined, and install new piston/rings, and put it back together (basically)

if its a 4 stroke ran without oil, its an entire rebuild, still doable, but more expensive.

what are your mechanical abilities like?

[outdooraddict]

my mechanic skills are poor lol,  however, my dad is a mechanic so im thinking with his help it would be doable for the right price

[syoungs]

it will be, but splitting cases and doing full rebuilds, vs working on cars is a whole different ball game, not impossible, but it will leave ya head scratchin a time or 2 lol.

I would go into it planning the worst, and hope for the best!

[Mudman]

Done a few top ends.  If its a bottom end problem don't touch it.  Top ends are cheap and easy.  For example a Honda 400ex can hone it put new piston in and gasket kit under 400$, cheaper sometimes depending.  Head work and valves can be pricey if performance required but stock cheap as well. 

[outdooraddict]

does 4 stroke vs 2 stroke make any difference, I think a 2 stroke is to loud for hunting and getting anywhere, but maybe im just over thinking it

[Mudman]

2 stroke quad for dunes only.  They suck otherwise.

[syoungs]

For a cheap quad, some of the 2 stroke Polaris 4x4s are usable, we beat the crap out of some trailblazers with no major issues for years. As long as you dont have expectations of them running like the newer big bore 4 strokes, you'll be OK.

Stock exhaust on them wasn't to loud at all,, but they are kinda annoying after listening to them buzz, and do require more maintenance. If I picked having a quad vs not though, I'd take one.

Now if your talking a sport quad with a 2 stroke it's different story all together.

[outdooraddict]

no I just am looking for a quad to ride to hunting spots on a logging road or for the family to cruise around on, not racing or anything like that.  so those trailblazers are just fine?

[syoungs]

yeah, they are basic machines, but they will cruise logging roads just fine, think about the technology with quads in the early 90s, they worked just fine back then for people.

power steering, and big engines, and heated grips etc are nice, but not required.

keep up on maintance and use it in a realistic manner (cruising logging roads is basically what they were made for), and itll work just perfect. is it a trailblazer your looking at?

[outdooraddict]

im waiting for the guy to answer but  the ad just says Polaris 350 4x4 and when I google that, mostly all I find is the trailblazer, the pics are hard to see the quad but it has racks on it.

[syoungs]

Could be a trail boss as well, nothing hi tech about em, I believe they had oil injection, a popular mod for bikes with that is to block it off, and mix the gas with the oil yourself, probably got clogged or run dry, hence the top end needing built.

[outdooraddict]

well if he ever responds ill let you know, thanks

[Kittman]

Polaris 350L Trailboss 4x4 was made up till 1994, then was replaced with a 400cc engine.  The 350 is a 2 stroke liquid cooled oil injected engine via a separate 2 quart capacity tank near the front rack for the injection oil.  Rated stock factory output is 32 horsepower which isn't fully realized until about 6000 rpm or so.  The fuel tank capacity is 4 gallons.  Machine weighs about 560 LBS  dry.  There are 5 grease zerks on the front axle, 2 zerks fittings on the steering post, 1 zerk on  the intermediate eccentric chain adjuster, 1 zerk on transmission output left side, and rear axle/swing arm has 3 zerk fittings to be greased.  This ATV  has 3 different 520 O-ring drive chains, one for the rear axle, and two to deliver power to  the front driving axle.  Rear brakes are inoperative if the transmission is not selected in a forward or reverse gear, which means the front axle only has braking capability in transmission neutral.

These quads are not what I would consider exactly family friendly and require moderate to excellent mechanical abilities to operate safely & keep them maintained properly.  They tend to have quirks with the 4 wheel drive disengaging occasionally that  require the machine to be backed up  while rocking handle bars side-to-side.  Parts can be expensive as they have been out of production for some time.  In my opinion the atv would be good for a collector but for a family unit I would pass on the fix it up  prospect.         

[Mudman]

im waiting for the guy to answer but  the ad just says Polaris 350 4x4 and when I google that, mostly all I find is the trailblazer, the pics are hard to see the quad but it has racks on it.

I'm not trying to be snobby, just to help but you couldn't give me one of those Po Pos.  Honda 420 or a Prairie or even old foreman?  Vinson, King, Brute, Cat, Honda or Grizzly.  Really a mid bore 500ish is all you need power wise unless you want to do 65-80mph or ride dunes.  I rode whole life and I'm telling you Polaris are $ repairs and break often.  Call Paulsons in Lacey a former dealership of Polaris and ask them what is/was broke in the service shop most?  Polaris buy a lot is the answer.  Some real good performing machines but not reliable in comparison to others.

[cooltimber]

buy the quad not the price!