I'm buying a used '96 Explorer which seems in pretty good shape but I have little experience with them. If anyone has any experience with these units I would really appreciate your input. I would be using the machine for some hunting and getting into fishing spots etc but it would not be abused.
- Is the rear chain drive ok & trouble free or should I continue looking for something in shaft drive?
-Should the rear chain have a cover to ensure it doesn't rub or plug up with stuff?
-Does anyone know of a website that shows all the specs etc of these older ATV's
Thanks

 

you should buy my '99 xplorer. my quad has been trouble free. the chain drive is fine, and it doesnt rub either. i really like the 2-stroke 4x4.

 

It should have a guard on the bottom, not the top. If they put top much guard on there it would clog up with stuff overtime. Yeah chain drive is good, it gives you an option of changing the gearing with different sprockets, somthing you can't do with shaft. Chains are cheap if it were ever top break, you'd spend a lot if you broke a shaft drive. Keep the chain lubed and replace when necessary and you won't have any trouble.

You can find part diagrams, and buy parts here http://www.partsland.com/

 

I own a 1997 Explorer 400. I have over 5000 miles logged on it. Bought it used with about 1100 miles showing. This quad is fairly comfortable and has "a lot" of get up and go. I find it to be a high maintainance machine. The maintainance is not necessarily costly but there is a fair bit of it. The grease fittings have to be attended to regularly. The chains have to be adjusted and lubricated regularly. I recently replaced both rear drive sprockets and chain. I have also replaced four bearings in the front and middle bearing carriers (they were making some strange noises). Counterbalance fluid (oil) has to be checked regularly. Front hub fluid has to be checked and changed regularly. All of this can be done by the owner fairly easily and inexpensively but there is the TIME element. Your time. The quad starts easily and gets about the same mpg as a 2000 sp500. There are no motor issues that I know of. I just inspected my drive clutch (pulley) a few days ago and ended up replacing a cover bushing and all three weights and pins. Again, a fairly inexpensive job if parts are readily available but takes a fair amount of time. It is a fairly light quad by todays standards. My wife and I ride together on this machine often. One nice thing about the Polaris is the length of the seat. Quite comfortable for two up riding. Overall it's a good quad if it hasn't been abused, but I figure there are machines out there that rarely have to be touched maintainance wise other than oil changes and valve adjustments. Hope I have been of some help to you. By the way, use good injector oil. A full tank is good for about 600 miles. Enjoy !

 

just what Gyette said. There are few breakdowns or failures of parts on these machines as long as you do the maintanence, which takes time. If you don't grease it, you will have all sorts of chassis troubles, if you grease it like you should, it will hold up great. Just remember every couple hundred miles that you will have to grease stuff, adjust chains, and check fluids. You should lube the chains every 50 - 100 miles, as well. If you can do that, you will have probably the best-performing machine of its era.

Farmr

 

i love my 2000 xplorer, a lot more fun than a 4 stroke in my opinion , i bought a 2001 500 ho it was a good quad but just not the same so i sold it and kept my 400 xplorer, there is a fair bit of maintenance but i enjoy it , had a few problems my own fault though i beat it pretty hard , it"s the old saying if you want to play you have to pay. for what you say you are going to do with it i don"t think you will have any problems.

 

Hey Rap66t, how many miles (hours) on your Xplorer, and how much are you asking?

 

I have a Polaris Explorer 400. I really like it and its very reliable. The 2-stroke 4x4s r really fun