The fourtrax I have is doing something odd. It will only turn over four revolutions forward or backward. I took the side of the case off (Right side) and used a socket on the crankshaft - two turns left - then it comes to a stop, turn it two turns right and it comes to a stop. I think it could be in the head. Any ideas?

I do have a service manual on order.

Thanks

 

My WAG is it's going to be something like a cam chain or gear. I would pull the cam caps and spark plug and see if you can see anything. You might have even popped the head of the piston off?
What happened before this??

 

No idea whathappened before this. The machine was given to me by my brother. He told me that it was driven to a location, it weas shut off, then when they went to start it it acted frozen. Sat for 6 months and given to me. About an hour ago I realized that a piece just above the kick start shaft (Cam follower?) it has a little shaft that pases through the case and has a cable attached to it, it looked broken, I bought a small magnet on a rod and ent fishing in the bottom, bingo, found other end of missing part.

There are two problems, one is as described above, the other is at the top. The cam chain looks god on the bottom and I can watch it travel. I hope to go out in the garage tonight and discover the top end problem.