On a 1997 Polaris Trail Boss 250, can the speed be limited in order to allow a child to drive safely?

 

Welcome to the forums.

As far as the factory set up goes, you can limit it somewhat by adjusting the cable. Making it slow enough for a child would be a different issue.

My first concern would be can the child reach the controls properly. Can they put both feet down on the floorboards, at the same time?

I've seen our trail blazer tip over going under 10mph, so just limiting the speed isn't all the safety precautions that I'd be looking for.

 

Thank you for your reply. Yes, I completely agree that there are more issues to consider than only the speed. The child "fits" the quad so is able to reach everything properly, but I was concerned he may (and would) try to go as fast as mechanically possible!

 

You can fab a "set screw" for the throttle. On the smaller child atv's, it's really just a screw and a bolt on some. Something like this. Not sure how that would work with the Polaris designed throttle. Not the assembly shown, just the idea of how it works.

 

I've been tossing this same idea around for a buddy of mine's daughters trailblazer 250. While they fit the bike well enough to control it and utilize all of the functions they're not experienced enough to be running wfo down a trail. You don't get enough of a drop by adjusting the cable all the way in but, I think you could use a piece of maybe 3/8 or 1/2" copper tubing on top of the slide in the carb. This would limit the slide from opening any farther than the tube will allow and it would be beyond most kids ability to do anything about it. I say copper because you would have to kind of oval the end that will sit on top of the slide because of how the cable is connected and it can easily be trimmed to the length needed. We may do this soon on his daughter's bike but if someone does it first let us all know how it worked or what you did!

 

Rather than messing with the carb or cable you can always limit the exhaust flow like was done on my son's 1984 LT50. It had two limiters,one limiter jet that screwed in top of the pilot jet if I remember correctly from his manual. The other really cut down on speed. A washer with a small hole in the exhaust. You removed one at a time as they grew more into the machine. The washer did the majority of restricting. Granted it will run a little boggy depending on the diameter of the hole you make,but something you can think about. Even a metal exhaust gasket with smaller inside diameter than the port.Other than finding a throttle that would work that had a limiting screw,I wouldn't try to alter the carb slide.Plus the spring would be affected,might be tough to even use the throttle unless you cut the spring which I wouldn't do.Just a thought.