Ok.. Got a 1987 lt4wd sitting outside and just can't decide if it should stay there or go. Needs a bit of work; brakes, u-joints/axles, oil seals and a a general make-over. Runs ok, but needs the carb cleaned out. Oil leak on engine/valve cover and a bit uncertain if it's loosing a bit of oil into the cylinder.. So some definitively need to be done-work and some most likely need to be done-work. And I need reliability so I need to get it fixed before it breaks.

Cost-wise I reckon it will come to close for comfort compared to buying a used early 2000 350-ish machine, especially considered the work effort. However I quite like the rather small machine, offroad it works great and I'm not a speed guy anyway.

Question is, is it worth it? Are these machines reliable and will I in the long-term get a more reliable, cost-efficient and cheap/easy to fix machine, than with a 6-7-8 year old "modern" machine?

As an example: I've been looking at a 2001 Honda fourtrax 350, because of the gearbox as I would prefer to manually control the gears since I need to train a sleddog team with it. For that matter, any atv with a manually controlled gearbox (preferably) or with a gearless variator will do. I reckon these bikes have a bit more electronics than the old beater and in general a more complicated engine/cooling system/drivetrain/etc, giving me and my wallet a harder time if something takes a dump on me.

I'm really scratching my head over this, as I'm just on the point where I don't feel I get a economic advantage by fixing and running the old bike. So are these machines worth the effort or should I just let someone else trash it till it breaks and go newish instead myself?

Thanks,
Simen Jorgensen

 

I would say if you have the know how to do all the repairs yourself, it would be worth fixing up the old quad. At least you would know what you have after that. It probably would be alot cheaper than buying another used/new quad. You could always get a newer 2000ish quad, but again, it will be used as well and might have some underlying problems waiting to happen. Now, if money isn't an issue, than I might go out and buy a new quad, brand new.

 

restoring an atv is much like restoring a car IMO. its a labor of love usually. because the atv your gona repair probly wont be as fast, comfortable, or as nice looking as some of the newer ones. but if you like the bike and have the time i would deffinatly do it. you nkow the history of that mechine and what its capable of doing. $ wise it would probably be cheaper to restore yours, just keep in mind you probly wont get that money back you put into it, if you decide to sell.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: cherokee99

just keep in mind you probly wont get that money back you put into it, if you decide to sell.</end quote></div>

Oh this is such a good point, sooo true!!

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: cherokee99$ wise it would probably be cheaper to restore yours, just keep in mind you probly wont get that money back you put into it, if you decide to sell.</end quote></div>

Cheaper but cutting it close, at least if I go for the cheapest "new" quad i can find, which looks ok but has a questionable past. My problem is that I can't leave things alone, I need to fix everything that shows signs of wear, even if I know that it'll most likely work fine for quite a long time.

I have a proof of that sitting outside, an old f250 which I have been working on for 3 years now. Just don't know when to stop and leave something alone, costing me way more time and money than I planned for. And I will never ever get my money back if I sell. So I have to keep it :-) But that I at least know is a dependable truck, which will probably run trouble-free for years. Just don't know for sure about the quad:

Are these "bullet-proof"? Known issues, especially transmission and engine?

Thanks,
Simen

 

u-joints are the biggest probs i know of, engine n trannys are damb good. just keep it, your a tinkerer like me, your just gona fix normal wear; those things your fixing now

 

It's staying, Bought way too much parts already, to sell it.

Anyone know of a seat cover for a 88-94 will fit my 87? Someone (who sells seat covers..) said that 87's actually are early 88's, which sounds a bit strange to me? Alternatively know where I can find a seat cover for a 1987 lt4wd?