Advice?

[Fire Sweep Ranch]

We are looking at this bike tonight. Just wondering if anyone see's any red flags... does it seem cheap? Lots of people wanted to go buy it, but we were lucky enough to be the first to respond so the seller is letting us get first dibs at it. A Grandma owns it, and does not use it much anymore. We need a ranch bike for chores... and thought this would be a good fit. Any history about these bikes we should know about (wish we were warned about the 6.0 diesel in our Ford truck before we bought it!). The one thing that confuses me is the "400 liquid cooled" on the tank, and it also has "350 liquid cooled" on the front in blue (in front of the handle bars). Any explanation for that?
Thanks guys!

1996 Polaris Sportsman 4x4 - wheeler. Runs good, has gun mounts and storage cushion. $1100.00 obo. piog

 

[highgrit]

Sounds like a good price. The only draw back is if it's a 2-stroke engine.

 

[bigbull338]

1 thing about it you cant or wont lose much if it swarms on you.if its a chain drive be ready for the chain to jump off alot.

 

[fitz]

Personally not a big Polaris fan, but at that price and it runs, I'd try it. If I didn't like it I'd price it at 2K and move it.

 

[SJB]

it's not a 2 stroke, and they are good solid bikes. most of what people don't like about them is usually personal preference. i had a 96 sportsman 500, and it was a solid bike.

make sure it shifts into and out of 4 wheel drive, and works good in 2x4 and 4x4. if it starts, runs, shifts, and stops, you can't go wrong.

 

[dun]

Only explanations for the difference in labels is either polaris screwed up (doubtful) or the tank has been replaced

 

[Fire Sweep Ranch]

Well, we bought it. It is a 2 stroke, so need to learn how to mix the fuel... it runs great. The reason it has the two different parts is that they parted out an older bike and used it to replace some things on this bike. It is powerful, and did everything we asked of it. They let it go for $1000, so I think we got a good deal....

Thanks for the suggestions. Our other 4 wheeler is a Polaris also, and we like it a lot (it is a 325 Sportsman).

 

[HDRider]

Well, we bought it. It is a 2 stroke, so need to learn how to mix the fuel... it runs great. The reason it has the two different parts is that they parted out an older bike and used it to replace some things on this bike. It is powerful, and did everything we asked of it. They let it go for $1000, so I think we got a good deal....

Thanks for the suggestions. Our other 4 wheeler is a Polaris also, and we like it a lot (it is a 325 Sportsman).

I gotta think being a two stroke is going to be a different personality. When did the quite making 2 strokes?

 

[highgrit]

I think you did good. Being that it's a 2 - stroke, you should carry a spare spark plug and the tools to change it. Putting around is hard on a 2 - stroke, but they sure can make the power.

 

[HDRider]

I think you did good. Being that it's a 2 - stroke, you should carry a spare spark plug and the tools to change it. Putting around is hard on a 2 - stroke, but they sure can make the power.

Could you lean the gas some, little less oil?

 

[dun]

Check online for a users manual or call the polaris dealer. A lot of the 2 strokes don;t have to have the fuel/oil mixed. Some have a seperate reservoir and some use oil from the pan as the reservoir and mix it itself.

 

[highgrit]

I think Polaris built 2-stroke ATV's in 2000. I can't remember when Polaris quit putting 2-strokes in their ATV's. And I should know this, CRS is here to stay.

 

[John SD]

No need to mix oil with the gas. Put the oil in the reservoir on the front and top off every couple tanks of gas so you don't forget. Use any good TCW3 oil.

The thing to remember about a 400L engine is it has a counterbalance shaft with a very small reservoir requiring 4 stroke oil. Something like 12cc of oil. Read the manual or get advice from someone knowledgeable on the liquid cooled 4 strokes for checking/changing this oil.

If the chain jumps off, then it is out of adjustment, the sprockets are shot, or both. The rear chain should have 1 1/2" of slack in it when the ATV is sitting with no weight on it.

Easy to adjust chain tension by rotating of the axle mount. Loosen the clamp bolts, stick a punch or large phillips screwdriver through the hole in the sprocket into the eccentric axle housing and roll the ATV forward or backward to get proper adjustment. Your goal is to have the chain tight enough so it doesn't jump off, but not too tight when the supension bottoms out. Transmissions have been broken this way if a chain flies off at high speed or too much tension bottoming out.

I owned a '92 Polaris 250 and traded for a '99 300. Both air cooled. The larger 350L morphed into the 400L. My uncle had a 400L he affectionately named Marcia after the previous owner :P I would buy a new 2-stroke Polaris if they still made them.

Like a lot of things, bigger/more complicated isn't necessarily better. My old 250 never let me down, and it would reliably start with the rope when the battery wimped out at -20 degrees.

 

[John SD]

I think you did good. Being that it's a 2 - stroke, you should carry a spare spark plug and the tools to change it. Putting around is hard on a 2 - stroke, but they sure can make the power.

Could you lean the gas some, little less oil?

I would be cautious about leaning the gas. If the oil injector is working properly, it delivers the oil as needed. More RPMs = more oil. I often used to add a splash of oil to the gas tank when filling. One of the techs at the Polaris dealer commented he thought more oil was better, within reason. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing :idea:

I can't say I ever had a spark plug foul. I did make an attempt to remember to change the plug every year or so just for the heck of it. Worst thing I encountered if you didn't remove the spark plug every so often, it grew in there and I was afraid of breaking it off or stripping the threads trying to get it out.

If the engine is indeed getting too much oil and smoking too much, there is an adjustment on the oil injector. I never messed with it on mine.

 

[John SD]

Only explanations for the difference in labels is either polaris screwed up (doubtful) or the tank has been replaced

The piece of blue plastic with "350 liquid cooled" doesn't belong there and came off a parts donor machine. My guess is the machine got rolled and original part broke. Handlebars/brake levers don't fare well when that happens either. Don't ask me how I know :oops: Tank is under the outer skin and has no labels on it.

 

[Nesikep]

I think that's a pretty good deal.. I don't know a whole lot about them, but as far as oil, unless you're going to be WORKING it hard, I'm certain the automatic oil injection will do plenty.. the only time I'd even consider adding more oil is if you're racing it, or hauling heavy stuff long distances at a time... if it smokes, it's got plenty!

 

[John SD]

I think that's a pretty good deal.. I don't know a whole lot about them, but as far as oil, unless you're going to be WORKING it hard, I'm certain the automatic oil injection will do plenty.. if it smokes, it's got plenty!

:tiphat: That is a good rule of thumb. A cold engine will smoke when first started. After it warms up, there should be little or no visible smoke except under hard accelleration. You will smell it when driving slowly with a tailwind.

 

[hillbilly beef man]

I had a 400 scrambler two stroke for a couple of years and had few complaints. The only problem I had with it was it liked to be ran hard. If I puttered around on it it would foul plugs. Run the dog out of it and plugs would last forever.

 

[Fire Sweep Ranch]

Thanks for all the tips! We get to pick it up today (had to wait for the check to clear), so I am excited about using it. It has a pull start on it also... so in the cold that will be good if the battery will not start it. Not sure if we will get the chance to run the dog out of it, since it will be a chore bike, but I will try!
Thanks again everyone. Glad I made a good purchase!

 

[John SD]

Thanks for all the tips! We get to pick it up today (had to wait for the check to clear), so I am excited about using it. It has a pull start on it also... so in the cold that will be good if the battery will not start it. Not sure if we will get the chance to run the dog out of it, since it will be a chore bike, but I will try!
Thanks again everyone. Glad I made a good purchase!

From my experience, it is difficult to putt around and not run the dog out of a 400. Got to hang on good when you mash the throttle 'cause it takes off like a rocket :P :P :P 0 to 50 happens in nothing flat. Above all, be safe :tiphat: