<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: ftwflh

The 400 Sport/Scramblers are one of the most potent quads around and can be made to smoke most anything.</end quote></div>

OK... looking at your pictures, you can help me with a reality check I need...

I was 50/50 considering buying a new Scrambler 500 4x4, but that deal got nixed. It just so happened that on the way back to the sport 400 the second time, I happened across a scrambler 500 for sale in someone's yard. I stopped and rode it. I thought the 500 engine put out good power, but the atv as a whole didn't really feel much like the Sport 400...

The scrambler felt like a VERY sporty utility quad... sporty in motor and suspension, but had just as heavy of a feeling in handling as a utility. The sport 400 on the other hand feels like a serious sport quad, just a little chubby.

Like the Sport 400 feels 100 lbs heavier than a Z400 and a Scrambler feels 100 lbs heavier than a Sport 400.

Am I living in reality there, or is it that I just like 2 strokes so much I can't see the truth?

 

The 500 is supposed to be more powerful than the 400, but the 400 accelerates quicker because it's a 2-stroke and revs up faster, and it's lighter. The higher RPMs and no oil (other than what it burns) also wears them out faster than 4-strokes. They get worse gas mileage and make lots more pollution. It's a trade off but either one should last for several years.

 

The 500s ansd 400s are apples and oranges.The 500 is a great machine with tons of lowend and is best in trasils and putting around.The 400s are more for quick and topend.If you want fast go with the 400 but being a 2stroke they require more maintanence but when modded right will run with the big guys.

 

To update, I decided to buy the Sport 400.

The auto tranny makes it easy enough for my wife and the 2 stroke engine is enough to get my old school juices flowing. The chassis and tranny aren't ideal for me, but the engine is enough to take the boredom out of that.

I can't wait to get it in the woods for a really good workout, just to see what it's got.

So far though, I'm really happy with it, other than the lousy owners manual and being brand new to an engine with counterbalance oil.... that's been no fun for me. So if anyone has tips and instructions for me there, I'd sure appreciate it...


Overall, I'd say I've found a one-of-a-kind...
It looks like I took a '99 Sport 400 out of a time capsule....



ftwflh,

Where did you get the yellow and red flame shock covers on your 400?

 

I found the covers on Ebay.
To make the handling better add a set of WORKS or FOX front struts.Get a service manual and keep it serviced and checked out.
The power is there to be had with basic bolt on parts(pipe,clutch kit,air filter,and reeds) But if it still has a stock piston it is not if it will break but when will it break.You can have peace of mind for a shade over $200 if you do the work yourself.

 

i loved my sport "check pics" for a pipe i would recomend you find an fmf gnarly pipe it works with stock jetting and really improves the bottom end.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Jayblazer

i loved my sport "check pics" for a pipe i would recomend you find an fmf gnarly pipe it works with stock jetting and really improves the bottom end.</end quote></div>

THe FMF is a decent pipe but it does chabge the opperating rpms so it needs at least a spring change.
The only good pipe for stock clutching in a Dynoport.It doesnt require clutching but performs best with a from spring change.
The best bet is the RcR Stage one kit with all the goodies (reasonable too)
BUT as stated worry about the piston before a pipe.Piping will get you power but also stress on the stock piston.I DONT MEAN TO BE A PAIN BUT THIS IS THE ONLY BAD POINT TO A 400

 

Can you guys have a look and chime in on this other thread too?

http://forums.atvconnection.co...adid=544781&forumid=1


Thanks

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: ftwflh

I found the covers on Ebay.

To make the handling better add a set of WORKS or FOX front struts.Get a service manual and keep it serviced and checked out.

The power is there to be had with basic bolt on parts(pipe,clutch kit,air filter,and reeds) But if it still has a stock piston it is not if it will break but when will it break.You can have peace of mind for a shade over $200 if you do the work yourself.</end quote></div><div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: ftwflh

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Jayblazer



i loved my sport "check pics" for a pipe i would recomend you find an fmf gnarly pipe it works with stock jetting and really improves the bottom end.</end quote></div>



THe FMF is a decent pipe but it does chabge the opperating rpms so it needs at least a spring change.

The only good pipe for stock clutching in a Dynoport.It doesnt require clutching but performs best with a from spring change.

The best bet is the RcR Stage one kit with all the goodies (reasonable too)

BUT as stated worry about the piston before a pipe.Piping will get you power but also stress on the stock piston.I DONT MEAN TO BE A PAIN BUT THIS IS THE ONLY BAD POINT TO A 400</end quote></div>

I need to ride it more before I really decide on any mods....

I bought it for several reasons... brand new practically, auto so anyone can drive it (mainly my wife), has floorboards and is roomy for ridding a passenger, and has that 2 stroke spunk for ME.

So far it seems pretty ideal for what I bought it for... a quad that my wife can ride and one that's not too boring to be a secondary ride for me. But I need to ride it some more before making any decisions because so far it has my attention pretty good. After some time in the woods and some time testing the limits in performance I may or may not decide to make it my primary and buy my wife another.....

This piston talk has me worried though. I'm going to call the person I bought it from to see about this. I'd bet my last dollar it's stock... it's hardly been rode. Anyways, I'll risk leaving it as-is until I ride it more. But it sounds like this is the first dollar that should be spent on it. Not real encouraging, but.....

Anyways, as for mods there's who?.... RCR, EPI, HPD, HotSeat and who else that makes stuff for them?

I don't know why, but for some reason I just feel comfortable with RCR.
Like I said though, I have no idea why....
But I have seen some nicer looking pipes....

Anyways, I was thinking the first mod I would do is get rid of the oil injection. I don't mind it and it's nice just to pull up to a pump, and I've been told it is reliable but it could fail.... and right now the quad smokes, A LOT.

When I brought it home it was full of injector oil... blue stuff, so I am guessing Polaris blue.... but I don't know. I just know it smokes more than I care for.

Polaris is the most insistant I have seen about their oil... more than I think is really allowed. But with that being said, they do not provide you any info on type or mix ratio so you can consider other options.

I've been using Opti-2 and Amsoil Sabre with great success for many years in my 2 cycle power equipment. The mix ratios are "universal" and way up there in actual ratio... 80:1 and 100:1 with no ill effect... and much less smoke. But this engine is larger displacement and liquid cooled, so I'm not confident with what to try considering the lack of supplied information.

 

I was told there's an adjustment on the oil injector. Don't ask me where. See if there's another cable, beside the throttle cable, with a threaded adjuster going to the oil injector. If you can find it and turn it down it will use less oil. Be careful though.

I found this on another forum... take the cover off the oil injection and the upper throttle box on the handlebars, have someone push the throttle, watch the oil inj. cable cam, they should both move upon cable movement, if the oil injection cable has slack it will not move perfectly with the throttle, adjust the oil inj. to meet with the throttle cable, check the cam return spring at this time, i had mine break with the cam in the wide open position, had it been the other way i would have lost my motor. if the spring shows signs of rust you should replace it!