Anyone have any problems with engines beginning to smoke after less than 100 hours of riding time? Have seen 2 Dales begin to smoke and need new top ends. Both are early models- 1 FX400 and another early Cannibal. Read on another topic about another FX400 motor blowing up- Anyone out there have similar types of problems? Very eager to here from someone out there regarding this issue and if so what did Cannondale do to help you out with this problem. Potential C-Dale owner so I am anxious to hear replies about these Cannondale engines!!!

 

What KIND of smoke, is it an oil burning smoke, you know the blueish stuff?

One of the things to check on quads that have been ridden hard is the right side frame rail. There are two hoses that go to it. One is from the starter cover the other to the valve cover. You will need to remove the hoses and blow air though it. This should force any oil that is there out. If it is not removed it will be pulled into the motor and burn causeing the smoking.

Smitty

 

I have an fx model and when I bought it it only had 10 hours on it and after I rode it for 20 or 30 hours it began to smoke a little and was always fouling plugs, come to find out cannondale had a lot of problems with this and it was caused by crapy main bearings. So they sent me a brand new motor and computer.

 

Smitty,
Both of these quads were only trail ridden. They were never raced at all. They have not been ridden extremely hard at all. They are both blowing blue smoke. They were always maintained on schedule. Both run Klotz oil in the motors. The quads are at the shop as we speak with the top ends being rebuilt. Very interesting about Cannondale giving a new motor to the owner of that FX400. Those words have NEVER EVER been mentioned by Cannondale concerning these 2 quads.

 

Hey Raptorkiller,
Who did you talk to at Cannondale about your quad. A new motor has NEVER been mentioned concerning this FX400. Interesting that they gave your FX400 a new motor and not these ones.

 

I know a guy who has blown four motors and received new motors w/ labor for free. C-Dale finally cut him off, and they should. He wasn't breaking them in properly....

 

I didn't talk to cannondale I just took it to a local dealer and they called cannondale because they didn't know much about the cannondale at the time and cannondale told them to pull the motor and send it to them right away and then they would send me a new motor and computer for free and they paid the dealer for their labor. I didn't pay a penny.Tell your dealer to call cannondale if they have not already to see if they will do the same for you.

 

Carlos, I have heard of many cases of Cannondale replacing bad engines. Do some research on here and you will see just how good Cannondale takes care of its customers.

 

After about 20 hours of total riding time, my fx just stopped working, no smoke nothing, it just died. When you tried to turn it over, it sounded like it wasnt getting gas, but it was getting spark,I took it to my dealer and they couldnt find the problem so they shipped my whole engine to cannondale, and they said it was a malfunction, and they replaced it with a brand new 2002 spec engine, all on warantee. That was about 6 months ago and everthings been good since then no problems.

2001 fx 400
american star a arms
rpm axle
graydon nerf bars
renthal race bars
big gun exhaust- *sponsor*
douglas beadlocks
cut fenders
custom ignition plate

 

Do you really think that an engine with 100 hours isn't due for a rebuild?? Think about it. This isn't a 4x4. The engines should have been rebuilt a long time ago. That's like racing motocross EVERY weekend for two years straight and then wonder why it has started smoking.