Prairie 650 owners, I just bought a new Prairie 650, and put my first 2 hours on it today. I ride in the desert, no mud here, but lots of dust. Anyway, this is my first new quad, and I want to take good care of it. My question is, how important is it to get it clean after I ride it? And how clean do I need to get it? I brought it home after riding, and of course it was pretty covered with dust. I rinsed it off, and wiped down the plastic, but I can still see dust film, on parts that I did not wipe, and who know what and where else. I know I am probably just obsessing, because I love this quad and want it to last a long time, but I guess I just need to know from all you guys who have owned quads for a while what you do to clean them after a ride, and how clean do you try to get them, I mean I’m just going to take it right back out in the dirt again tomorrow. Also, my house has a water softener installed in it, and I know that it softens the outside water as well. Will this "soft water" (with salt) hurt my quad? Should I take it to a car wash to wash it after I ride? I have read that, that may not be good for it either. And finally, due I need to lube it as described in the manual after every ride and every wash? Were can I get a cable lube tool? How do you guys lube your quads? Sorry for all the questions, but I just want to make sure that I take care of it the way I should, like I said, this is my first new quad, and I need it to last a very long time.

Thanks!

 

Cable luber is available thru dennis Kirk or other distributors. The amount of salt that a water softner puts into your water is of no concern, but if it bothers you, tap into the line before the softner and run that for your outdoor water supply. That would make more sense, you won't be using your salt supply to wash cars, atv, etc. and watering plants. I envy you driving in the desert, today we where running thru the trails with 6-8 " of snow cover. It turned mild today and that means every quad sinks. I spent a half hour winching my 650 out of a 4' drift. Winter SUCKS.

 

Yea, I guess this climate here in Vegas is easy to take for granted. It was 60 degrees today, but pretty windy. I was complaining about that :-) I hope it isn't as windy tomorrow, but even if it is, I will be back out there.

Thanks for the info about the cable lube tool. I guess they are generic, and not specific to any one type of cable and quad. I will order one. How often do you need to lube the cables? And how clean do you try to get you 650 after a ride.

One other question. When I first start it up and it is cold, I can hear a kind of popping sound coming from the air filter cover if I kind of give it a little gas, not really a back fire, but a little pop, kind of stutter. When it warms up, it doesn't do it anymore. I just assume that it is because it is cold. Is this normal?

Thanks

 

I suspect that in your climate you will not have to lube your cable very often. The primary purpose of lubing the cable is to prevent it from freezing. If you ride in a cooler climate and the temperature changes from say 40 to 30 degrees any water, or moisture in the cable will freeze, preventing the cable from operating properly.
This past Monday my brake cable froze on ,and I had to back the adjuster out to free it up. To make matters worse the pads where froze to the rotors. The last time I took it out it was mild then it turned cold and froze my cables. Now if it's mild I don't apply the parking brake when I put it away. In regards to washing, a good weekly bath followed by a rinse off now and then will do it a world of good. Don't be too much of a clean freak. My previous quad I spent more time washing than riding. Ride first, wash later, it's meant to have fun on.
On the poping issue, all the 650 are cold blooded. Mine does the same thing.
One thing you want to keep on top of in your dusty climate is the air filter. Inspect and maintain frequntly especially in your environment.

 

Thanks for all the info jett. I know what you mean about the quad being for fun, I will try not to be such a clean freak [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img] I think I'm just still really excited about having the Prairie 650, and I want to make sure that I am taking care of it right. I'm sure after I have it for a while, I will come back to reality [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] I'll just do like you said, rinse it off in between rides and give it a good wash a couple of times a month.

Sounds really brutal to ride up where you live. I don't think that I could handle that kind of cold. I think that I would have to just store it for the winter. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img] I used to live in Colorado, and didn't mind the cold too much, but now that I am used to the warm here in Vegas, I don't know that I could go back.

Thanks again for all the info.

 

I clean my 650 with just diswasher soap like DAWN and garden hose with high pressure knozll with water.Make sure to get dirt out of front brake area and inside front strut.I wipe down plastic with Pledge it makes it shin.
I use foam tire clean on the tires and for the black plastic inside wheel wells plus use it on the black plastic trim just spray it on and do nothing else you can also use amorall too
I use 1 can every 3 or 4 rides .I spray silcon lube on engine and boots,black plastic in wheel wells just about every where. Plus just read today about lubing the top steering clamp makes alot easier to steer.
Other then that I just wipe it down with paper towels.
DONT KILL YOURSELF YOU WILL NEVER GET IT AS CLEAN AS THE FIRST DAY YOU GOT IT.
ENJOY IT
GB in NJ