I just purchased a used 02 prairie and with 54 hours and 537 miles. When I first pull out it makes a loud noise and it does it up to about 7 miles per hour, it sounds like it might be in the tensioner but I have no idea this is my first prairie, I've been riding bayou's ha ha. Any suggestions what I may do?

 

Congratulations on your first post.

Is is a scratchy, screetching sound? Unplug the KEBC motor connector with the machine off and try it again and see if it goes away.

It could be the KEBC bearing in the drive pulley is dry/bad or maybe the KEBC shoes.

Is it a squealing sound? Belt needs tightening or replacing. Loose belts are bad, they wear the pulleys out and that gets expensive. Keep the belt tight and it will last a lot of miles and work excellent. Loose belts cause a weak jerky takeoff. Tight ones take off smooth and quick.

The belt doesn't have a tensioner. You adjust it with shims. It is actually relatively easy to fix it. I would be very stupid for the previous owner to have gotten discouraged with such an awesome machine and sold it to buy a less fun machine just because of this.

 

Thanks for the reply and it is a squeeling sound. The KEBC is that the moter that sits on top on the right hand side above the brake? Just unplug it and try? When I do take off it doesn't jerk or anything it takes off like a Rocket, its a far cry than my ole 89 300 4x4 Bayou which I love dear and never will depart from ha ha. This man asked if I wanted to take over payments on this prairie and I couldn't beat the price so I took it and love it. I'm just concerned with this noise.

 

Yes, the KEBC is on top of the belt cover (the funny shaped one, not the rectuangular one). Just FYI, the KEBC should make a whirring sound when you are stopping and starting and when you turn it on and off.

It is probably just a loose or a glazed belt. The first guy that owned it probably never tightend the belt and 500 miles is about how long a belt lasts on a new machine. They can go 1500, 2000 or more if cared for.


Go to my website and read the tech tips if you want to fix it yourself. Or, take it to the dealer. Pulleys get worn fast with a slipping belt. They are a lot more expensive than belts.

Also, FYI, don't ride in high range at all unless you have to go fast. Riding slow in high range is one of the worst things you can do to shorten the life of a belt. The less you do it the longer that belt will last.

The first time you hear a belt squeal is when you should get it fixed. Don't keep driving. Get a V700 belt for it.

 

I was also thinking about rejetting it and going with a pipe and K & N filter can you tell alot of performance difference after adding these items, I know it doesn't need it but I'd like to be able to beat the other 650's around here. Also I just called and ordered a v700 belt for it. Are they hard to put on? Also how do I tighten the old belt until the new one comes in?

 

Don't do a K&N. They don't fit well in the 2002 650 airbox. Get a Twin Air. I upgraged to a 2003 airbox and got the 2003 twin air. Just a little bit more power.

Get a pipe, I guess, but don't make your 650 loud. Might try modding the stock one. It adds power, plus isn't too loud. See tech tip on my website.

Replacing the belt is really easy. See my website.

Tightening the belt is actually not hard. May take 30 minutes for an experience ATV Mech. You have to make a tool to do it. $5 in parts and a little hacksaw work and you can make the tool. You also need a circlip tool. The rest is just wrenching and greasing and stuff. See my website for info.

 

You have been so much help and I really appreciate it, one other thing when I put the twin air on do I need to drill holes in my air box and put vents in? I did this on both my Bayou's but did know if I should with the prairie. Do you have some good riding in New York? We just got back from the hatfield McCoy in West Virginia it was great.

 

KAWRULES...NYROC's not going to beat his own drum, but his website is an accumulation of a lot of data, from a lot of sources... it is easy to use & IMO, as valuable as a shop manual... I don't personnally reccommend air box holes... you can purchase the Diamond G snorkle, & get much better performance gains than by "venting" the filterbox...

enjoy your 650, they are awesome machines...

 

Pensylvania is full of great trails. Much better ATV state IMO.

There is a lot of easy riding in Lewis Co. NY, tugg hill, taugg hill however you spell it. I have a found a lot of smaller, more challenging places to ride around here. One of which is washington park near Adams, NY. It is a heavily rutted mud pit. I wrote down most of the places I have been on my website, link on front page.

 

His website is great I've been all over it and it has all kinds of helpful tips. Where do you suggest that I get the snorkle and other mods for my 650. I love the machine.