As some of you know I just purchased a 400i auto a few weeks ago and I am a little displeased right now.

I have mainly plowed snow and did a small amount of pleasure riding (flat ground) over the past few weeks but Saturday I got a chance to play around with the quad. I went out in my yard and stopped on a small incline (maybe 30-40 degrees) and then tried to go the rest of the way up it and it just bogged out. Not wanting to push it I backed off the throttle and then tried it again in low range. I went up with minimal effort in low but I would have thought that with that small of a slope it should have went up in high range.

Maybe I am wrong and should be using low range more but the RPM's seem to rev very high. Can you offer any help on how often you use low range compared to high. I may be using the Auto tranny wrong as I have only used low to plow heavy snow and pull my small trailer around.

I have 46 miles and 10.5 hours on it and am going to change the oil and filter tonight. I sure hope this thing has more nads after it breaks in because I am wishing I would have spent the extra $$ on a 500 or 650 if this is the way it will always be. Right now it seems like a dog....

I do love the way it plows, egronomics, and looks but I really feel like a 400cc quad should be putting more power to the ground.

I am looking for help....not bashing my machine[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-frown.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

 

I used to own a 400 auto and I can tell ya that it's no torque monster or wheelie machine. But in your bikes defense, it isn't nearly broken in, havent even scratched the surface. Don't put synthetic oil in it yet as it will never break in if you do. Buy some cheap stuff like Valvoline or Havoline and run it for about 100 miles on that. Run it hard. Don't be afraid to jam the throttle. You need to get the rings seated in good and putting a load on it is the best way. You'll start to notice a real difference in power after 100 miles of mild abuse. Promise. :-)

The 400 will run at about 25 mph in low and 50'ish in high. I was able to climb most anything in high but there were times that it didn't like it. You did the right thing by putting it in low. That's what you're supposed to do.

Break it in hard, ride it like you want it to run and you will notice a difference.

My guess is that if you had it in high and put it back on that slope again and really gave it some gas, that the rear wheels would break traction or the front end may come up on you. That happened several times with mine. If you had it in 4wd then that's a different story. 4wd will put a lot more load on the engine as it has to turn more. You will notice a power loss when running 4wd.

For running up a steep hill in 4wd you should, wihout a doubt, be in low.

 

Thanks for the reply....I am really hoping that it wakes up after a few more miles.

Another Question.....

Along with the owners manual there is a small wrench in the baggie......I read through the owners manual and it shows nothing about this or what it is supposed to be used for (unless I missed it). Any ideas????

 

ethernut said it good. I was in the same situation you were. I couldn't get out of a simple rut in high, and was thinking "what's going on here!" I noticed a HUGE difference at the 200 mile mark. You will soon be able to take that same hill in high. Keep putting miles on the machine, and brake it in! YOu will be happy. Good luck!

 

The wrench is for adjusting the suspension. If you do use it, jack the bike up so the wheel you're adjusting is hanging free. If you dont, you may snap the wrench as it's made pretty cheaply.

 

Ahhhaaa!!!

Thanks[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

bowtech
i have a 02 375 which has the same tranny/motor as yours just as everyone has said you will see a difference after break in i have 400+ miles on mine and i use it for hunting and trail/mud riding on the trials i run in high and in low if there is mud and alot of hills. but i can run in 4x4 hi and go up most hills with no problems but thats not very often as i like to just cruise around and play in the mud. ihave gone on the marango mud ride in louisiana the bike held up great ran in hi and lo the bike did respond better in lo.

 

Actually, you have a different engine, yours is liquid cooled 371cc's and the new ones are air and oil cooled 376cc's. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

catterman
i have the air oil cooled 376 the 02 375 was made for 1 year then cat changed the 03 400 to the air/oil cooled motor ilooked at the 02 400 but didnt like the liquid cool motor[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Have no fear, Bowtech. As above numerous times, it's likely that better times are ahead. My brother in law has an '03 400 auto that he was VERY concerned about when he first got it. He put a few miles on it (over 200, I think he said) and it woke right up. I own an '05 500 auto with low miles/time on it and his 400 runs like I hope my 500 wakes up to. The few times we've done any serious running together on these bikes his 400 currently outdoes or holds its own with the 500, no problem. I'm not unhappy with the 500, by any means, but can't wait for it to "wake up" too! Riding his 400 was the main reason that I bought AC in the first place...

Hang in there-

MB