I have a 01 scrambler 400 4x4. I was out riding this weekend and noticed some weird things. First was the brakes. It seems that the left front is working better than the right because when i get on the brakes the bike pulls left. i bled the brakes but the problem still persists. The next thing i noticed is that on gravel roads the front end seems to wander/ get kinda light feeling at speeds around 30 ish. not a real secure feeling. This is the first time ive ridden this bike for a long way on gravel. I bought it used and just wondering if this is normal or if i should be looking for worn components. Tires are stock if that helps. Also it has kind of a knocking/ rattling sound coming from the engine area. i noticed this when i first got it and i checked compression which was right at 115 psi. The noise is only noticable at idle but seems to disappear with a little throttle. Any insight is greatly appreciated.

 

To anserw some of your questions you will need to jack up the machine with all 4 wheels off the ground.first check the tierodends and steering post bushings for play.next spinn the wheels to see if you have a caliper dragging.While you are looking in the front check the A arm bushings and wheel bearings for excess play.Now shake the rear end and look at the swingarm bushings for movment from side to side.Now check the axle bearings for play.All of these can cause it to pull.
On the rattle pull the front clutch off and start it.Bet the noise quits.THe buttons in the clutch are bad and it is time for a rebuild.

 

as for your gravel wandering, the nature of gravel riding will give you that feeling of loose steering. if it still coninues when you hit hard pack, or pavement, sounds like your tie rod ends could be bad. one or a few of them. usually not ALL at once. but you never know until you check.

replace them and youll have a better steering feel no matter where you ride.

X

 

yea i never noticed the wander on any other surface but it is usually rough terrain. thought maybe i just didnt notice it before. THe other thing about the brakes that i noticed is that sometimes i grab the lever and it will squeeze halfway to the grip then if i let go and pump a few more times it gets stronger. this only happens occasionally.

 

if you need to pump the brakes, you need to flush the brake system and get some fresh fluid in there. that happened to me a while back, bled the lines till they were full of fresh fluid. never had an issue since.

X

 

thanks ill try that tomorrow.

 

My brakes do the same thing. Can you jiggle the handlebars without moving the tires. That happened on mine and it was a bushing. The clicking from the engine area, mine does that to and I'm not that worried.

 

probably wont get time to check things out until tomorrow but for those that have done it how hard is a clutch rebuild. what parts are required? I was thinking of putting a clutch kit in it but i want to see what happens with just a dynoport pipe first.

 

Rebuilding the clutch you need special fixtures to hold it and break the spider loose not to mess anything up.Best to pull the clutch and take it to a shop to get it rebuilt.
Dynoport pipe is great .Works ok with stock clutching but really wakes up with a spring change.

 

the only reservations i have about messing with the clutching is that i use this quad to push snow with. it works well now, could use a little more bottom end.