Hey i bought a 99' Bayou 300 4x4 back in November..... The past few days ive been riding the Bayou around in the back yard (in the snow) and ive noticed the engine gets kinda hot, but since it doesnt have a Oil Temp light i dont know when it gets too hot...... and today i was riding it in the snow, which was a bit wet and heavy, and it got really hot so i shut it off......any insight or comments would be great!!!! Thanks, Scott

 

Make sure your oil level's right (check it before running the engine, after the oil has settled in the sump) and your mixture's not too lean (perform a plug check; the plug should NOT be white or chalky). If you're running at very slow speeds, make sure the pilot screw setting is o.k.; 2-1/8 turns from
the bottom is the starting point, I think (check carb maintenance article in Tech Tips from ATV Connection home page).

Slow going denies the engine the airflow needed to cool it well; with plenty of oil, circulating as it should, and a proper mixture, however, you should have no problem, provided you're not "lugging" the machine, running in too tall a gear.

Good luck!

Tree Farmer

 

Hey, thanks for the help..... If i take it out today i will check that stuff..... =)

 

Hey, well i took it out again today this time the snow is frozen and hard, esy to get over, and it got really hot, i dont know whats with it, i used 2nd most of the time cause 1st is to low and thrid is too high, and it still got really hot.........arggg

 

What are you considering "HOT" You must remeber this is an internal combustion engine with combustion temps around 4,000 degrees. IF, it is running hot, you should notice loss of power, knocking and or pinging. possible smoking out the tail pipe.

The engine will "feel hot" to the human hand. that is normal.



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Brian in North Carolina 2000 Rancher ES 4x4 1998 Bayou 220 4x2

 

I had a 1996 300 bayou and rode it a lot in the hot Texas summers with no problem. I'm not familiar with that white frozen stuff called "snow" , but it seems to me anything would feel hot considering the surrounding atmosphere. Until you notice a loss of power I wouldn't worry about it. If it's a major concern, take it to the shop and let them make sure everything is normal. sound's like it may be time for your initial tune up anyway.

 

Hey thanks, ya it just fells reall hot on my legs, i dont want to like burn up the motor or anything...... i guess im just a little paranoid about something happening to my new atv..... thanks -scott

 

All four wheelers get to be really hot after they've been running long enough. Even if you just touch the engine it may feel hot enough to burn your hand but it's not too hot still. And you can't always tell if your four wheeler is over heated by a knocking noise because some of the Kawasaki engines have a knocking/ticking sound all of the time on them right when you start them. good luck.

 

If you can't stand the heat try an aftermarket oil cooler. They're fairly easy to install and if you do some shopping you can find one at a decent price.

 

I've seen this issue discussed before and if my memory is correct, your oil temp should never exceed 240 degrees. A simple way to check it is by placing a common meat thermometer into the oil through the oil filler plug.