Hey guys, I'm new here. I've been working on a friends 86 230 quad sport. It sat for five years with out running. After freeing the piston up with some pb blaster, and cleaning the carb, changing the oil/filter it fired right up. With some tuning, and a new (mouse-less) air filter, it's now running great. However, he called me and said that after it's running for a while he says it's burning oil, and smokes pretty bad. I wanted to ask you guys about it, could it be the oil, we ran 10w30? Or do you think it's due for a set of rings, or possibly piston and rings? Also he said the clutch is slipping, I wanted to ask you guys if you could step me through the process, of changing the clutch and adjusting it. I've done it before on my own stuff, but this isn't mine and I want to be totally positive that I'm doing it correctly. Thanks you.

~Joe

 

yeah sounds to me you need a new set of piston rings (might as well redue the top end since it is 20 years old). As for the clutch the adjustment is pretty much the same as any other quad. My suggestion is that if it has been sitting for that long a new set of clutch disks probably woudn't be a bad idea either way. I know e-bay has some listings for clutch disks and if you get a machine shop to bore the cylinder or just hone it out you should be able to get the piston kit (which includes rings)for less the $100.


piston kit

clutch kit

 

I don't know what is causing the smoking, but I do know it will lead to problems. The first motor I blew up was smoking pretty bad and then it ended up droping the valve on top of the piston. The seccond one started smoking and in about a week the wrist pin locked up in it. It is possible that the valve seals are going out if it has them, or the rings as mentioned before.