I was just curious about breaking in a new motor. Is it like a freshly built V8: just keep easing it up through the rpm range, don't let it idle a lot, don't run WOT for too long, let it cool completely between runs, and change the oil after a day or two, then after a week or so? Also, my friend says its better to speed-shift a quad, and that the clutch is only needed for starting/stopping. Is this true? I've always used the clutch when there was one. And finally, how do you keep new fenders looking new short of leaving it stored and never riding the machine? Any good protective waxes or anything? Thanx alot.....

 

The manual says to run the ATV for about 10 hours, not exceeding 1/2 throttle. Not allowing the engine to idle or sustain the exact same RPM for any period of time during break in I've heard is key.

The CT Racing cylinder break in sheet gives a slightly different story.

"Richen the jetting in the carburetor, up two sizes on the main jet and one clip position on the needle.

1) Start your engine and let idle occasionally blipping the throttle for four to five minutes. Allow the engine to cool completely. Repeat this "heat cycle" process four more times.

2) Warm up the engine again and ride the bike for five to seven minutes at a very easy pace, vary the rpm, don't ride at one speed. Don't ride at more than 1/3 throttle or more than 1/3 rpm. Let the engine cool down completely and repeat the initial break in ride. Let the engine cool down.

3) Check the base nuts and head nuts for proper torque, check the coolant level and add coolant as necessary.

4) Ride the bike for five to ten minutes at a moderate pace, vary the rpm, don't ride at more than 3/4 throttle or more than 3/4 rpm. Let the engine cool completely and repeat this secondary break in twice more.

5) Replace the spark plug with a new one. Ride the bike for five to eight minutes at a moderate pace, vary the rpm and shift up and down the gears.

Complete the break in by riding at an aggressive pace for fifteen minutes, vary the rpm and don't cruise at part throttle, ride hard without revving the engine too high."

This information was copied from:

http://www.ctracing.com/cylinder.htm

I personally followed the manual but am keeping in mind the CT recommendation as well.

I've heard many a motorcycle mechanic criticize younger riders for speed shifting, I think you're better off doing as you have in the past; if there is a clutch, use it. Your common sense sounds quite possibly more common than that of the person you were speaking with.

As far as keeping the plastic nice, a long time ago on these forums when they were even based on a different software package I created a topic on that subject. When I started reading all of that information I had from the old forum, I had no idea there were 50 e-mails I had saved.
Here are the highlights:

These are some of the most common products listed to clean ATVs/Plastic/Scratches/Etc: Armor all, Pressure Washer, un named auto waxes (like turtle wax or similar) and simple green.

"I like to take my garden hose after my quad. I do a couple of things different though. I use HOT water to wash and rinse. I've found that it seems to clean easier. I just take the garden hose and attach it to the drain outlet of my hot water tank and run it out the window to the quad."

"Hi guys,
I saw a couple of posts on how Armor All will eventually make black plastic dull with a white cloudy look. Instead try Mothers Back to Black. It's a little bottle of wax type stuff that works great on black plastic."

"Armor All contains petroleum products that eventually dry out and cause damage to the vinyl. Protec has a vinyl restorer/protector, which contains no petroleum products."

I rub a thin coat of "Black Magic" vinyl protectant (available at K-Mart, Wal-Mart, etc.) over the plastic only.

I hope some of this mile long post helps you and anyone else who takes the time to read it!

 

i got on mine and beat the **** out of it, runs great now. put stage1 on it now i beat it harder lol. good strong motor.

 

As far as breakin goes I spoke to a friend who works at an engine shop and they do a lot of quad motors. They also have a dyno so he was telling me that following the perscribed breackin for the DS will give better performance. I wasn't to sure at first. His brother has a DS that he baught at the same time I baught mine. He did not follow the breakin procedure at all and I followed it to a "T". We both had the DS dynoed before and after breakin. The result was a whopping 2.8 horsepower difference. Mine was higher. We also dynoed after 10 hour maintenance and the power #,s again were hiher.

As far as speed shifting goes, I used to race 250cc bikes and speed shifting is the only way to go on a mx bike. But the DS is a different story. With the power and torqe of the DS as well as the draction you really should use the clutch at least a little to reduce the amount of stress put on the tranny durring shifting.
This is just my opinion.

Ride well everyone!