What were the gearing changes like from the 87 to 88 models? Is there any way you can tell certain models apart by just looking at them and I was looking at buying my neighbors: what condition should it be in. I think its an 86.

 

THe 86 model will have no exhaust valve (you can tell by the little window on the cylinder),it will have a straight seat (87 up have a t- shaped seat) the 86 will be a five speed (87 and up are 6 speed) the 86 motor will most likely be grey-the 87 and up motors were blue. the 88 quadracer engine is pretty much a slightly detuned 87 motor. you can tell the diference by looking at the bolts that hold the reed cage and reed valve to the cylinder,if there are 5 bolts holding it on its an 87,if its 6,then its an 88 or later.i have no idea what gearing changes there were. My engine has 87 model year cases,and the trans/cylinder,and crank are 88. the 85 was the slowest year,86 was the second slowest,then 88-92,but the 87 was the fastest

 

I went down to see my neighbors quad today it has a T-shaped seat but the motor is not blue? Also it has sat outside for a couple of months (lots of snow) now with no protection and it its suspension is rusted pretty bad from what I can see. Would it be worth buying and if so what is a good price.

 

depends man,i would make sure wether its an 85/86 or 87 and up model. on the cylinder of the 87 and up there will be a little window you can loook through and see a little mechanical arm. sometimes people stripped the paint off of the 87 and up motors and painted them or left them grey or something. if it runs well and doesnt need anything more major than a good cleaning and tune up and a little de-rusting,i would go as high as like 7 even maybe 8 hundred,but if it needs any rebuilding or anything major i wouldnt go over 5 hundred. quadracers sell all the time for under 1000 in great condition

 

yah thats what I've been worrying about, I really dont want to get it unless its an 87 or above and I really just want an 87. With that window is this the powervalve because I know only the 87 and above have them.

 

Yes 87+ have powervalves and the window gives you a view of the Powervalve acuating arm.

Also if you decide not to buy it let me know.... i'll take it, don't care about the year.

 

I'll probably try and buy it but I really dont know what he is gonna do with it yet. Later on this month I'm gonna go down and offer some money for it. He used to take care of it and keep it in a shed but about last year this time he was working on it and I guess having problems and now its sat outside ever since in rain, snow and everything.

 

"slow" being relative of course. An 86 that has been piped, jetted well with a larger carb and K&N can SCREAM.

 

yeah my piped and jetted 86 will give a 450r a run so i wouldn't say the 85-86 models are slow by any means right not my 86 will work my 87 over to but am in the works of fixing that

 

the 86 isnt slow i raced my buddy that has an 87 that is stock and all i have done is the frame work and shocks and i eat him up and from what ive heard just my opinoin and what i researched the 87 was called the "bastered child" because they were switching it all over and tweaking it putting different motor parts together when they released but now almost everybodys has been messed with some how