Ask the Editors: $600 ATV
Think of it as taking a class.
You have to look at a situation like this as more of a learning opportunity than you do to sneak in a super good deal on a quad. Why? Because there is a very good possibility for that price point that you are going to discover many little peccadilloes that you’re going to have to iron out along the way. However, this isn’t a bad thing in and of itself. Many of us learned our way around ATV mechanics via this exact form of education.
Today learning to turn wrenches on your machine is easier than ever thanks to the internet. Sites like Youtube are chock full of step by step tutorials on just about any facet of tuning or repair – from dialing in a carburetor to adjusting valve tolerance. If you’re patient, willing to take your time and have a few dollars set aside for parts, going through a used quad to get it dialed in can be a rewarding experience like no other.
As for this particular machine – any internal combustion engine requires three ingredients for ignition: Fuel, air and spark.
The fact that the current owner says it’s making spark and cranking tells us it has to be one of the remaining two key ingredients causing the snag. Don’t be afraid to ask questions before putting your money down. Did he do any further diagnostics to help you narrow down whether it’s a fuel or air issue? It can be something as simple as a clogged jet in the carb. Ask if its been sitting for a long time. Gasoline evaporates over time and “varnishes”, closing off small passageways in the carburetor. You can always check the condition of the air intake/ air box yourself when you go to look at it.
Lastly, we rarely hesitate to pick up ATVs in this price range. Why? Because even in the worst case scenario, one where you fail to fix the issue, you can almost always put it back up online as is and recover your investment.
