I am a proud ownerof a 1997 sportsman 400. I am wanting to change my counter balance fluid. I have a quart of mobile 1 10w 30 motor oil. Do the counter balance's use motor oil or is it something else....thx for any help[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]

 

my scrambler takes 10w-30 not sure about your machine..

 

Sportsman is a 4 stroke. I dont think there is a balancer. It should be the engine oil. But someone else will reply soon to help you. Welcome to the form.

 

no the 97 sportsman 400's are 2-stroke..

 

Oh I didnt know that sorry. Mine takes 70cc of 10w30. Make sure you check it and make sure it is not milky. I just changed the counter balancer bearing and seals. Just got it running again today.

 

The Mobil 1 works great in the counter balancers. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] You can actually hear the difference.

 

excuse my ignorance - I just bought a 96 scram 400 - so what exactly is the counter balance oil? I have ready that this is something to be checked and I want to be sure I check mine.

 

case Here is a drawing. # 43 is the fill and 4 is the drain. It takes about 70cc of oil. Make sure it is not milky when you drain it. The fill is under the seat under the air snorkel. It is grey or black with a flat slot across it. Should be metal. I just use a long big flat screw driver to reach it. You might have to grip the screw driver with a pair of pliers.

The counter balancer is actually what the water pump is driven off of. It actually stops the engine from vibrating. The 2 stroke oil lubes the balancer but the Counter balance oil lubes the gears that drive it.

Look at my pics and you can see what I m talking about.

 

When I fill it, I don't even look at the top fill, or even open it for that matter. I open the plug in the front of the motor, near the exhaust port, and when it starts to come out of that hole I stop.