Well I bought an 04 rancher has 200 miles and looks brand new. This is my first ever ATV. After checking out alot, I feel this was my best choice for a beginner.

 

Enjoy it, safely.

 

Great machine that will last many years on just simple basic maintenance! Mine is 10 years old now, and runs like the day it was new!

Unless you know the previous owner very well and are sure they kept up on maintenance, I would get up on it before you ride it again:

Change engine oil and filter
Clean and oil air filter
Fresh spark plug (NGK Irrdium!)
Change oil in front and rear drives
Adjust valves!!!
Adjust clutch

Get a Warn 424!!! This will turn it into a selectable 2wd/4wd...the best mod you can do to this machine!


Some reading in case you are not familiar with a motorcycle engine's special oil requirements. I run Redline or Maixma Extra/Ultra/530MX in all my machines. If you are working on the cheap, I recommend Maxima Premium:

ThumperFaq: 4-Stroke Oil

Oils Well That Ends Well, Part 1 - Sport Rider Magazine

http://www.maximausa.com/technical/l...beNews2002.pdf

 

Do you have an owner's manual? If not, you can be really sure the previous owner was not at all into maintenance!

Get a service manual! Even if you never need it, you can learn a wealth of information about your machine just paging through it.....

If it only went 200 miles in 5 years, you can bet it has stale gas in the tank and the carb is probably all gummed up. I would take the fuel tank off and flush it out. Might need a good carb cleaning soon???

 

Thanks for the info. Manual was still in the bag never opened. Fellow bought it for his hunting lease and lost the spot. What is a warn? Being able to convert to 2wd might be good. I did not know the owner. This is in mint condition but like anything don't judge a book by its cover. I'll check on the items that where mentioned.

 

It most likely has sat all this time with the original factory fill oil in it. Oil goes acid just sitting in an engine.....

I always hate these machines that are only used for "hunting". I have a bunch of friends that fall into this category, and what it means is that they put a few hours on the machine during hunting season, and then it sits neglected the rest of the year! Worse yet, they don't ride it enough to develop any riding skills, so they are perpetual beginners.....

Warn 424....get one now while you can! They have been discontinued, because all the new machines have selectable 2wd/4wd from the factory!

Warn Industries - Discontinued Products: ATV 424 Select

 

If you do clean the fuel system, there is a screen that extends up into the tank from the petcock. You just pull the two screws holding the petcock and remove it.

It would be good preventative thing to spray that clean.

ReconRanger gave you some excellent info.

 

Just for grins Recon -- when I read the original post from Limit about his 04 rancher then you said yours was 10 years old, my first reaction was how hard do you ride your 04 to be 10 years old. Yea, I know what you meant. Just gave my quick glance a second look.



Limit 5 -- you might also check with your Honda shop to see if all the recalls have been done on your new rancher. My 04 rancher has had 2 recalls over the years. From my hazy memory, the first was on the front suspension because of corrosion and the second on the angle sensor.

 

My Rancher 350 is an 00 model that I got in late 99, and the very first one that my dealer got in. When they announced the new model, I went right down and put money down on a new one. Did the same for the 250EX as well...and both have proven to be superb machines!!!

 

Thanks I'll check into the recalls. The seller did mention that the ES was replaced under warranty maybe he meant angle sensor.