i'm looking at buying my uncle's fourtrax 300 and i just wanted to know if there is anything i should look out for. are there any parts that are known to wear out fast? what kind of problems might an older one have? thankz for any info you can supply.

 

The 300 is a bullet proof quad!! I've had mine for three years, and i love it. No problems at all, except i recently broke the rear shock.....don't know how, it just broke. But if he's been running large tires, or riding in the mud...i would check the cv boots and joints up front cause a stick could tear the boot, and then mud get in the joint and mess it up.

 

ALSO PUT A BLOCK UNDER THE REAR WHEELS AND GET THEM OFF THE GROUND AND SEE IF THERE IS ANY PLAY IN THEM WHEN YOU SHAKE THEM SIDE TO SIDE. IF THEY HAVE PLAY (AND YOU WILL NO THIS) YOU MAY WANT TO GO AHEAD AND REPLACE THE BEARING. THERE ARE 2 ONE IN THE HOG HEAD WHICH IS EXPENSIVE AND ANOTHER ONE ON THE LEFT SIDE AFTER THE REAR DRUM. THIS ONE IS ONLY ABOUT 15.00. CHECK THE FRONT ALSO.

 

Yes, the 300's are bullet proof. The only thing that I would realy worry about is the CV boots. If they are torn, turn the wheel all the way and PUSH the quad to see if the crack. (If its a 4x4) Being its your uncles quad, he should tell you how he rode it, and fix anything that is wrong.

 

The Honda 300 Fourtrax quads are absolutely bulletproof. I have a 1999 300 2WD. Even though I have my 400EX, the 300 is still fun to ride. Several people I know have these 300's. I can think of two people right off of my head that ride theirs really hard, and they're still holding up. I don't know much about the 4x4's and the possible problems, but listen to these guys that have them, and I'm sure you won't be sorry. Good luck with your Fourtrax. It should last you a LONG time.

 

I own a 300 4x4, so do a couple of my friends, and I know lots more with the 2wd version. The engines on these quads are quite possibly the best ever built for durability. The whole quad is long lasting all together.

As for problems you might encounter. Definitely check the bearings, although mine hasn't had a problem with bearings wearing down, a couple of my friends quads have. Its never been any certain one, but with the 4 wheel drive you'll want to check the bearings at the front wheels. Another problem I've noticed is the front breaks. They don't go bad, but from poor design or something they are terrible for getting just enough water in the drums to let a little rust form. There really isn't much to do about it, just get some water proof grease and make sure you keep the seal lubed up. If you ride it a lot you will probably not notice anything, its just after they sit for a while they seem to form rust, but once you start riding and use the breaks some it scrapes the rust off before to long and the brakes are good again.

The quads aren't really very much to complain about, the two things they aggrevate me most are low ground clearance and they could use a little more Horse Power. After riding a while you get used to driving it and hardly notice those things. If you buy it I hope that you enjoy it.

 

our family farm has had a few....

an 89 2x4,90 4x4 (then i brought it in 1996),1994 4x4,1996 4x4.....and a 2x4 1998

sounz like they look unreliable (we have had a few)

but these girls did the work......we had 2x 4x4's and a 2x4 at anyone time......when i had mine we had 3 4x4's

we have driven these girls so hard......yet they keep going......

truth is everything breaks......but i guarentee these bikes take longer to break than ya average

we have replaced bearings.......boots......compression rings (idling when chasing cows up tracks ...slowly).....they live in cow s**t all there lives.....

but i would have another any day......if i could afford one on a student income.....

one thing we did notice was general running costs did increase with age (don't we all).......we used to run comparisons between the two 4x4's.......but any maintenace done was usually preventative.....not once did mine let me down....

the latter ones had hour meters on them.......and we calculated off those bikes......the 1990 4x4 did close to 8000hours (one set of compression rings...it had no fan......and valve guides)+ wheel bearings and boots...... while on the property.....up till when i sold it june 98......very impressive for a pertol motor

.....what more can i say

 

I ride the hell out of mine and I have only one complaint. The rear brakes are poor, but then I always ride in water up to the fenders. The front brakes are excelent. The quad is the best atv ever built. Its not fast, but I will do anything any "racer" will do. I ride my 300 4x4 harder than my Recon, and the 300 holds up better. I have over 6,000 miles (good estimate, friend as an odomiter) and have only replaced the wheel bareings, last week.

I ramp it all the time, 5+ feet high, flat landing, no lie, and have no problems with the swingarm or the shock (Recon's shock went out).

The 300 is truly the best atv ever built.

 

Buying the 300 would be one of the best investments. It gives you a lot of years for your money, and they are really fun to ride. I have a 1997 4x4 and it is very durable.