New to the forum, but not new to fixing quads.

Well I went riding with my kids tonight and my sons DS50 finally stopped moving about 15 mins into the ride. It reved fine but wouldn't go. On the flat it would move, but on the slightest incline it just sat there and jerked, but wouldn't move.

We did run thru a small creek and ran up some small hills, which he didn't get up, just slowed to a stop about half way up. Engine reving, not going.

I am wondering does this sound like a belt issue or a clutch problem? I am looking for any input on this before I dig into it.

I am used to working on quads with a manual gearbox, not a variable belt setup.

 

Well I couldn't stand to just sit at a computer and wait. I went out and put it up on the hoist and started digging in.

This may make me sound stupid, but I never had the opportunity to see one of these quads go before I bought mine. I have owned it for about 9 months. We don't ride it that much on the trail just around the house on a couple acres. And my son always drives it and was happy it went OK. I always thought it was slow even when I put a new unrestricted cdi box in it.

So I'm in the barn taking the rear fenders off to get to the clutch cover and stained my shirt from the exhaust pipe. It had some oil dripping from the tip. It made me think that every post dealing with the cdi box stated that they removed the screen in the muffler. So pissed off I stopped what I was doing and took out the three screws and looked in. I saw a black plug. Honestly 8 pin size holes left open. I popped out the screen/plug and hit the key. HOLY CRAP it does rev up and sounds awesome!

I threw the screen away, put the muffler tip and fenders back on and took it for a spin in the dark. Wow, it screams even with my big but on it.

Everyone take note, TAKE THE SCREEN OUT! Three screws, three minutes, WOW!

So to answer my own question. The engine when choked out by a plugged exhaust pipe screen will only make enough power to roll along on flat ground, but will idle fine. So before you dig into the quad, think of all options first.