Have a 2004 Z250 (same as Ozark) and it has an issue.

With the bike in neutral, engine off, pulling it backwards the rear-end is binding/screeching every few feet or so. It is not locking up, it just suddenly and briefly grabs. Took it to the dealer and they acknowledged the problem and adjusted the shifter linkage and the reverse cable. It is still doing the same thing.

Did a search on the forums thinking it was the clutch adjustment. Tried adjusting it and the problem is still there. Also tried slacking off the brake cables which also did not help.

Not sure what else to look at, any ideas?

Thanks

 

Have you checked your bearings and chain. The rear cog may have a bad place in it, but that should effect forward and backwards travel. Take the chain off and see if it still does it, that will atleast tell you if it's in the rearend or in the tranny/chain/cogs.

 

the z250 is shaft driven

 

I think it might be your bearings. I am having the same problem with mine, only when I push it forward. The bearing on the left side of the axle was pretty well worn, so me and my neighbor (a mechanic) figured that with the bearing being worn, it is offsetting the axle just enough to cause the brakes to grab. The new bearings should be in Friday, so hopefully I'll be able to let you know what happened by next Saturday night.

 

Took the right rear wheel off, pulled out the hub, dust cover and brake drum. Everything is still new and very clean. Put the hub and wheel back on without the brake drum and rolled it around. Problem solved it seems, no more binding.

Backed off the brake cables completely off and put everything back together again. Perhaps the drum is warped or egg-shaped. Have to take it out to see if it does it again.

 

Mine did the same thing. Once I backed off the brake cables completly it was fine. I completly cleaned my brakes and sanded down the drum and this didn't fix the problem.

 

If you get the specs for the min diameter of the drum you could take it to your local brake shop and get it turned.
Suzuki didn't put any type of auto adjuster on their rear brakes did they? I wonder if backing up in neutral if they've got some sort of mechanism to apply the brakes?

 

There's nothing in the brakes that would cause them to lock in reverse. They are just plain old drum brakes...

 

I just finished putting the new bearings in, and problem solved (at least for now). I went riding for about 30 minutes without a sign of my brakes locking up or any noise.
A few words of advice, if you do replace your bearings, do not buy them from Suzuki. They are extremely over priced. For the one bearing it was $58, another was $27, and the seal was $15. I got both bearings and the seal from a local bearing place for $45 total.

 

Problem not solved.

It is still doing it. I have run out of ideas of where to look. Anyone know where to look at next?

Z250kid: Thanks for all your input. This quad just does not have enough use on it to start looking at bearings, but I may have to consider it.