Hey, I just got my A/C yesterday. I've been riding a friends 04 A/C 250 4x4 lately and decided I wanted one of my own. I'm planning on selling my Trans Am just because I never drive it. But I was planning on buying a 04/05 ~400 "sport" ATV. But yesterday we came across this pretty darn cheap. Its probably better for me to get more experience first anyways.




It has been sitting for a few months so it was running rough, but the more I ride it the better it has been running. I have a few questions though. As you can see the tires don't have a tremendous amount of tread left. Should I go with some meatier tires in back to help on trails and mud or go with 4 of the same all the way around. Also, how hard are the handle bar grips to change out? They are kinda worn and I want to buy new ones.

 

2 tires for the back will run you over $100.

Personally what I would do instead of 2 new tires is to get a winch - for about what you would spend for 2 tires or less. You can get an Xtreme 2000 delivered for around $80.
Being a 2x4 you can mount it on the lower part of the frame under the seat, you don't have to mount it on the front. Probably serve you better than 2 tires.

http://www.xtremewinch.com/

Handlebar grips - just cut them off and slide new ones on. (soapy water helps them to slide on easier).

 

Grips are easy to change. Cut off the old ones with a razor then use the razor to scrape off any remaining glue. Most of the time when I get grips the dealer will give me a small tube of glue for the new ones. Coat the clean handlebar one side at a time. The glue gets tacky really fast( I found out the hard way.) so you have to be quick about twisting the new grip on .

If you dont use glue they will most likely slide right back off. I found that out the hard way too. haha

 

Ah thanks. I've got 2 local ATV shops around me, so tonight I'm gonna check them out. One I know is a Arctic Cat dealer but I think they might have had a fire so I'm not sure if they are open right now...lol

I'm also gonna do a tune up, just change the oil, oil filter, air filter and spark plug. My mom's boyfriend....who's ATV I was riding...has an extra winch that I'm gonna put on mine. I'm also gonna get a can of seafoam to run through it. I rode it for about 2 hours yesterday. It runs pretty good but still has a few hiccups every now and then because it sat for a few months without being ridden.

 

Maybe the seafoam will do it's thing and stop the 'hickcups'..
Sounds to me like you are gonna have some fun tinkering and also riding...
The machine looks good from what I can see in the picture. Over the years I have been supprised many times as to where a 2x4 can go. I have been in 4x4 low range before to get through a section and a 2x4 got through - how he did it I don't know but he did. I have lead groups and thought for sure we would have to tow or wait on the 2x4 because for sure he would not make it and by gorry he somehow got through.
So I am sure you will have many hours of fun and since you can get a winch on it you probably will supprise yourself where you can actually go. I have also seen where some sand hills the 4x4 will struggle and some of the 2x4's will just zip right up like nothing.
It probably is a weight factor and weight distrobution but it is funny to see.
Enjoy, have fun and keep it safe....

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: buckaroo50

Maybe the seafoam will do it's thing and stop the 'hickcups'..

Sounds to me like you are gonna have some fun tinkering and also riding...

The machine looks good from what I can see in the picture. Over the years I have been supprised many times as to where a 2x4 can go. I have been in 4x4 low range before to get through a section and a 2x4 got through - how he did it I don't know but he did. I have lead groups and thought for sure we would have to tow or wait on the 2x4 because for sure he would not make it and by gorry he somehow got through.

So I am sure you will have many hours of fun and since you can get a winch on it you probably will supprise yourself where you can actually go. I have also seen where some sand hills the 4x4 will struggle and some of the 2x4's will just zip right up like nothing.

It probably is a weight factor and weight distrobution but it is funny to see.

Enjoy, have fun and keep it safe....</end quote></div>


Thanks!

Another question...anyone know how much oil the 300 takes? 10w-40 right? I didn't know if I should buy 2 or 3 quarts.

 

The Seafoam is the best you can get , it's a fuel Cleaner/stabilizer that will clean your entire fuel ststem and also cleans the combustion chamber of carbon deposits ! And on the new handlebar gripes remove the old one's and use hairspray to install the new gripes , and the new tires ask them to show you their whole line of tire's ! Then pick out the one's you like best , and ask fro the single price per tire first ; and then you say i was looking at a simular tire that you could've gooten cheaper else where ! Then at the last moment just come right out with what kind of discount can you give me if i buy all four at once ; i really don't need the entire set ! But if you can make me a good deal i might just go ahead and get all 4 and just keep the old one's as spare's ! I did this to my local Suzuki dealer right up to closing time , and he said he couldn't take less for the tire's because the boss lady would fire him ! These tire's i were looking at were $98.87 for the rear's and $89.99 each for the front's ; so i told him to let me speak to the boss lady about a deal for all four ! I talked to the boss lady , and she came way down on the price ; i think it was like buying three and getting one free ; and the free one was for the $98.87 + tax ! It was to close to closing time to get them mounted and balanced , so she knoked off $40.00 + the $4.00 each disposal fee for getting rid of the old tire's ! That turned out even better for me because i had a firend who ran a gas station and he mounted the tire's for me for only $2.00 a piece i don't remember how much i saved but it was even more like getting the one higher dollar tire for free plus the money the Suzuki dealer charged for installation ; but i think it was $10,00 per tire + the $4.00 disposnal fee ! Let;s just say i got a very very good price on these top of the line tire's ! williebee

 

Alright, over the weekend I got the oil changed, the spark plug changed, and the airfilter cleaned. The bike turns over as soon as you tap the start button...so thats great. But, it still bogs down quite a bit if you give it a lot of gas off the line. Also, sometimes when its sitting there idleing in neutral it will just rev up really high until you put it in gear(which probably isn't good) or until you turn it off. I guess the carb needs a good cleaning. How big of a challenge is that? I've got my mom's boyfriend helping me, and he's done it before, just wondering how long it will take.

Once I get it running 100% i'm gonna head down to St. Joe Park [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] (about an hour south of st. louis...if anyone from MO reads this)

 

I went riding again Sunday, but unfortunately its running even worse. We finally have time today to take apart the carb and get it cleaned out. Hopefully I'll finally be able to keep up with my little cousin on his 90cc Suzuki. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: 350F

I went riding again Sunday, but unfortunately its running even worse. We finally have time today to take apart the carb and get it cleaned out. Hopefully I'll finally be able to keep up with my little cousin on his 90cc Suzuki. [img][/img]</end quote></div>

Very unlikely, but someone may have made some adjustments to the carb and got it out of wack.
And you are right - a good cleaning of the carb is your first step. At the same time check your intake manifold (rubber) for any holes or cracks that may leak air. Check the AC dealer and if not too expensive I would replace it regardless.