I'm about to look at a used 96 Trailblazer and 96 Sport 400L. I need help in identifing any common problems with these bikes so I can look for the potential problems when I check them out. Anything in particular I should look for?

Thanks.

Rob.

 

I just bought a 97 Trail Blazer..look around the output shaft and above it for any signs of leaking..or a hole..

if you read the polaris thread..i picked one up with a hole in the case! A little JB weld fixed it up!

It runs great though! it has almost bald back tires..but it still goes right through mud. I had it up over the foot rest.

 

These are both relativly simple machines to service. Look at the chain and sprockets check the sprockets for missing or "hooked "teeth These are easy to replace and not that expensive. Just give them a good going over look for leaks ,listen to the engines run and make the decision if you are not comfortable with them pass them by. But both of these machines are good solid quads , I have never done anything major to a 250 in my shop. Have done a couple of topends on the 400 which by the way is the most HP in a single cylinder Quad you can buy and is a very modifyable engine if you ever want more power. ....Dang I,m rambling again......

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Kevin Gowdy aka Kagey 1999 Polaris Magnum 500

 

Max6x6,

How did a topic comparing two Polaris machines digress to a Max? He wanted input on the Polaris, not with machine "you" think is best. These topics would be more enjoyable if you just answered his questions.

Oh, sorry to everyone else for digressing but ... I am sure you know why.



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Eric Baatz 1996 Suzuki KING QUAD Remember the KING Lives!!

 

To get back to the original question....

I'm a big Polaris fan, but like everything else, they aren't perfect. One problem you should be aware of if you buy the quads. Older models, (and I think '96 qualifies), use the battery as a voltage regulator. Don't ask me how it works. But, if you try to pull start the quad with a dead cell in your battery, you will blow out every light bulb on the machine. I think it's ok to pull start if you hae a good battery that just needs recharging, (although I'm sure someone else out here knows more about it than I do). It doesn't make sense to have a recoil starter if you tear up the quad when you need it most.

I have a '97 250 trailblazer, and it has been a great bike. Probably about 2000 miles on it and it still runs great. We have even sunk it twice in creeks recently and filled the engine up with water, (unintentionally of course). Both times we stood it up on the grab bar, let water run out of the exhaust, pulled the spark plug and cranked it over until all the water was out, then re-installed the plug and fired it up. Now maybe this is standard fare for all two stroke engines, but it still amazes me that this didn't cause any problems and the quad still runs great.

Everyone I know with the 400 motor in either a sport, scrambler or explorer loves it. Awesome power, and awesome potential to build more HP into it.

I recommend you switch to synthetic two stroke oil. Less smoke and smell, and less likely to foul plugs.

Good luck and happy trails!

 

WEEEEEEE!!!!!
Away we go in our Max !
They should make that a new X-games event!

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Andrew Thomas

'99 Scrambler 400 & '99 Trailblazer, both with RCR mods.

 

Max6X6, a nice man in a Max (yes, SOME Max owners view their machines realistically and accept others' preferences), manning a check-point at this fall's Tour de Forest, said a website exists (Route6X6.com, or something) for Max/Argo riders and fans.

Have you considered posting there?

Insinuating yourself and your Max into topics like this one, where the originator specifically asked for information about two particular QUADS, NOT inviting discussion of the relative merits of MAXes compared to everything else on the planet, must serve some purpose in your view.

Please share your purpose, if anything other than emphasizing your often-repeated premise, "The Max is superior to all other ATV's; Max owners are brilliantly intelligent. All other ATV's are grossly inferior to Maxes and their owners are universally stupid and beneath contempt."

Why interject Max where no relevance exists?

I apologize to the originator for this post, irrelevant itself to the topic at hand.

Tree Farmer

 

Good point Tree Farmer, but it's probably no use. If you check out his website you'll see that he appears to be all of 15 years old. Mother probably wouldn't let him get a real quad. Tiss Tiss Tiss...