I'm looking into buying a Scrambler 4x4, but my dad is afraid I will have problems in the woods with chain drive having sticks getting caught in it but I figure that a small stick would just be shredded and a larger stick would be flung out of the way if it hit the moving sprocket. I know they have chain drive on 3 polaris utility models and i've seen many pictures of people riding scramblers through the woods and then hear they have the original 5 year old chain, so i figure it shouldn't be a big worry. I would rather have shaft drive but I don't want to just totally change my mind and and buy a Magnum or something just because i'm a little weary of the chain drive on a scrambler. Plus if I had a Magnum flip over on top of me there would be absolutely no way for me to get it off myself. Anyway i would like anyone's opinion on wheather or not I would have problems with a chain.

 

psycho

I have three chain drive quads and I have never had sticks or any thing else get caught in them. The only chain problem I had was my wife hit a rock with the sprocket pretty hard and it damaged the master link (The rock was jagged and missed the sprocket guard). It cost me $6 to buy a new master link. I have used my chain drive magnum for all sorts of mudding and woods riding and I am still on the original chain. The only real drawback to chain drive is that they require more maintenace than shaft drive. The chain needs to be kept clean and lubed to extend its life.

 

I haven't had any trouble with thechain drive in our 96 sp 400,cypress knees or lighter stumps,have hit them all 15mph or less

 

psychorider,

If as your dad says "you'll have problems with a chain in the woods, take him to a GNCC race. All of the pro riders use chains. About the only classes where chains aren't run too much are the utility classes. For that matter why do most MX and Enduro bikes have chains? It certainly isn't because a shaft drive is that much more reliable than chains. It's because they're lighter and allow much more suspension travel than most shaft drives. The quad and bike winners of the every Baja 500, 1000 and 2000 have used chains, along with every motocross champion, cross country champion, road race champion etc. And finally if chains weren't effective in the woods, why are we still using them and why are manufactures still making them?

It sounds like to me your dad is trying to talk you into a nice SLOW utility quad, if you ask me. If he persists, ask for a Yamaha Wolverine.

 

Mike-Actually he is trying to talk me into a wolverine but i would much rather have a scrambler, I rode a wolverine a few years ago and just wasen't that impressed. I think he is afraid of me smoking him really badly on his Big Bear. Keep the comments coming!

 

You can buy a rear swingarm guard for $80 that will keep 99.9% of the debris you find on the trails away from your chain.

 

psyco,
I spend a lot of time riding in the woods. No problems here with stuff getting stuck in the chain.

Weeds and twigs might occasionally get snagged by your chain, but they fly right outta there as the chain moves.

If you're that worried, you might consider the guard like Quadfather mentioned.

 

Chain drive on a Scrambler is not a problem at all. Get the swingarm guard though. I did see someone break a chain once because a stick got caught between the chain and sprocket. The chain ended up need replaced anyway. My friends and I only ride woods with some mud here and there and we all have chain driven quads.

 

I ride with 3 chained drive Polaris machines and in the thousands of miles we have driven , one chain came off the rear sprocket( the chain was on a machine with over 3000 miles of hard use) we put it back on took about 2 minute and we were off, other than that there has never been a problem. Shafts are easier, to take care of and are overall more reliable. But do not let the chain stop you, take care of it and you will have no troubles.

 

While i'm at it, I am going to add a few more questions:
1. (original post)Chain drive in the woods?

2. Is the engine to top end tuned for slow hillclimbs, going over logs,etc...?

3. Are the optional racks decent for small things(It will be used at hunting camp mostly, but my dad has a utility quad for hauling deer out, moving deer stands, etc.)

4. Does it have decent skid plates(it looks good from what i've seen other than maybe needing a swingarm gaurd)

5. Like I said it will be used mostly at my hunting camp but most of the time it is just trail riding, scouting, not really much of hauling things around, or heavy trail breaking. Will it do well?

6. I will probly want a new front bumper if I get a scrambler, i've seen alot of people with bumpers from DG, if you have one, do you like it, where did you get it and how much did it cost?