I have a dilemna as I'm shopping for a new ATV. I want a work one, primarily, for plowing snow and the occasional path mowing. I am very attracted to the Suzuki Eiger 4x4, both for price and for features. However, it's air cooled with an oil assist fan.

I've heard people say to get a liquid cooled (polaris, arctic cat) one if I'm going to be mowing.

Well, if there were two brands I cringe at the thought of buying, it's those two. No disrespect to the owners of, but nothing about them appeals to me other than their cooling systems.

Soooo, what I really want to know is, do any of you with air-cooled motors have problems overheating when mowing or plowing?? If I was relatively sure I could get away with not going liquid cooled, I'd buy the Eiger in a second, but that's a lot of money to spend on something that doesn't help me work.

Opinions or thoughts greatly appreciated! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Well I dont plow or mow but I do Mudding. When you get stuck mudding and your pushin the throttle and your not going no where hardly no air can get to the engine and kool it down correct? Well my 02 Eiger hardly ever runs hot when doing anything hardcore, On the other hand I ride with a 03 Grizzly with a Liquid Cooled engine and it runs hot and the fan comes on just riding normal. Im not trying to bash the Grizzly im just saying what it does. You want go wrong with the Eiger.

 

Well, that's kind of what I figured, but wanted some real opinions from owners of the Eiger. My mower is aircooled and hasn't crapped out, but then again it's purposebuilt so I didn't know if an hour of idle-speed on the air/oil cooled Eiger in the heat would give it fits or not. I rode one and was just blown away at how much nicer it was than the other quads I had been on so I really want one and the price is right so I will probably get one if it will pull-mow or plow with no problems.

 

I have a polaris sportsman 500 that I drive through our woods at a fairly low speed (5-10mph) and after about a half an hour you can tell the engine is pretty hot. I have heard from some dealers in MN where I live that Liquid cooled is always an essential for low speeds for over 30 minutes. just a thought.

 

I've owned two types of Kodiak (both air and liquid). To be honest I would not turn down either one of them. My old air cooled Kodiak was bulit proof. I've had more problem with my liquid Kodiak just sitting around than my air Kodiak ever had. I use to work my Air Kodiak very had and it never skipped a beat. In my opinion if you really like the Eiger go for it.

Hope this helps

 

You will not have trouble working with an air-cooled engine. I know its a lot smaller than the Eiger but my Ozark never gets hot. My friend up the rode has the Eiger and all he does is work with the thing. I kind of feel sorry for it hehe [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] You should get the Eiger it is a good worker.

 

I use my Eiger for both work and play (more play!!!) and have never had any kind of overheating problem. The Eiger holds lots of oil (4 qts.) and running that through the oil cooler means that the cooling fan rarely comes on. The fan does come on during long duration slow speed work but even then it does not run continously. I have been on muddy rides in the company of liquid cooled bikes that have overheated when the air/oil cooled Eiger has not.

Not sure why you don't like Artic Cats but they make good work bikes too.

Jaybee

 

Our Honda Rancher has an oil cooler and the fan comes on once in a while. I would really be surprised if you ever over heated the Eiger it to the point it did damage. I am sure it has a hot light anyway.

Sounds like you have been doing your home work, get the Eiger and be happy.

 

Jaybee is correct Arctic Cat does make a great work bike. They use the same 400 suzuki uses, but give you a better riding chassis to go with it. Check A/C out b4 you make your decision.

 

I went to my town dealer and he said it really dosent matter, as long you got the power to do it. But then I went to a other town dealer and he said he would get rather Liquid cooled because your engine is always cooling off, but if its air its gonna be hard to clean if you put it to ridding a lot, but you doing work right? So still i would still go with Liquid Cooled