Rode the Prairie 700 and absolutely loved it. I can't afford a 700 though so I will be hopefully finally purchasing an '02 or '03 used 650. As of right now, I ride a Rubicon. The power difference is night and day, but I've found my current machine's ease of use to be second to none. This whole thing about checking and adjusting belt deflection has really got me in a bind. I'm am certainly not a mechanic. As a matter of fact, I am minimally wrench-inclined. After I finally do this whole belt adjustment one time, with the EPI puller and compression tool (no way in hell I'd be able to make one, yeah, it's that bad), will I have the routine down pat. enough for it to not be an inconvenience as long as I own the machine? I really don't want maintenance to be a factor in the quad I ride, but this almost seems borderline of too much for a novice gearhead like myself. Would it truly be a problem for a rider like me?

 

Regarding making the compression tool, the only work to 'making it' is to cut two slots in a PVC cap and you're done.....then put the contraption together and you're ready to go. The white plastic PVC pipe caps are cheap, so you can practice til you get it right. You can cut the slots with a wire blade on a common hacksaw.

If you ride with a kawi guy or two later on, they probably would help you. It's not like you have to do it weekly or even monthly. A guy in south america rode his P700 for 3400 miles before his belt gave out. No worries, mate. One thing I would not do is pay Kawasaki sky high prices for their unnecessary tools to change out a belt. You can afford to take some time and make some mistakes for the price of their 'tools'.

You should get a shop manual, ~$50, and between the manual and nyroc's tech tip, you will be surprised at what you can do. You will have to buy some tools if you don't have any, but you can use them over and over on your quad and for other jobs through the years....everybody had to learn sometime.

 

No, I have access to the tools (although maybe not the impact) and will be getting a manual regardless, but just anything mechanical tends to intimidate me and I certainly DO NOT want to tear up something on my ATV.

 

RedGoblin,

I am like you... (not a mechanic) The prairie 650 is the first quad i have ever owned and i LOVE IT!!! I absolutly hate twisting wrenches, but with the help of people on this fourm and nyroc's site ..... Bring it on! There is alot of info on this fourm and on nyroc's site that will make maintance on your machine a snap.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img] As kawiyowee said (Get a shop manual 50 clams) How do you think the dealers work on quads there not all experts ya know..... belive me i know first hand.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif[/img]

As for the belt problems with a little bit of time you to will become a regular at it.... i think i can almost do it blind folded now LOL

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] P.S. At 60.00 per hr shop rate That's a hell of alot of b#$r and pizza, im sure there are people in your area that like pizza and b#$r.
And if not that's what were here for right guys.

P.s.s There are alot of people on this fourm that know a heck of alot more than i do....nyroc, alltoys, shotgun, ETC ETC ETC

 

Once you did the belt adjustment the first time, was the second time easier?

 

Second time is a snap. A good pair of snap ring pliers, spring compression tool (look at my pics & do a search for improved secondary spring tool) Primary clutch removal bolt, and an assortment of shims (.8, .6, 1.0) Torque wrenches need one for ft/lbs and inch/lbs. Takes about 30 minutes