In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

Calling All ATV Owners...

Discussion in 'Chainsaws and Power Equipment' started by SkidderDone, Dec 29, 2017.

  1. VOLKEVIN

    VOLKEVIN

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    I have a 2005 Brute Force 750- it's a 2 cylinder 4-stroke V-twin engine with.....carburetor. I think EFI came with the 2008 model, but don't quote me on it.
     
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  2. TurboDiesel

    TurboDiesel

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    I really wish I had bought a twin. They run sooo much smoother and quieter!
     
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  3. Hammy

    Hammy

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    We bought the bike for the fact that it is light and small to get around the property. We did not buy it with the intention of trail riding at all. I do know that it is capable but we won’t get a trail pass or even register it again as it won’t leave our property. I can take it down most of the walking trails we cut through our woods. I would have to seriously widen the trails to even think of taking the tractor down them. Then there is the weight of the tractor when the ground is soft. ATV takes care of all these problems and it’s fun to drive:)
     
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  4. SteveinUT

    SteveinUT

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    I've got a few. An 05 Yamaha Grizzly 250 2x4, an 07 Yamaha Grizzly 700 4x4, an 08 Yamaha Grizzly 350 4x4. I also have a 17 Honda Pioneer 1000 4x4. The Grizzly 250 and 350 have been FLAWLESS. Never one single mechanical issue. I just change the oil every season and they keep on purring. My Grizzly 700 has been great, except I have replaced the stator twice in 7000 miles. I am no mechanical whiz, just a shade-tree, and replacing the stators wasn't too difficult, but they ARE expensive. I think each of the new stators cost $200 or so. The Honda is new, so I can't speak to the longevity yet. It's got a REAL transmission, vs a CVT belt, which I like, and can be used in manual and auto modes. Oil change is kind of a pain, but so far that is my only real complaint. But, you won't find one for $5K yet. They are still too new.

    I use my Grizzly 700 for plowing the roads on my property and hunting. Just keep in mind to use an ATV to plow, virtually every plow on the market requires you to have a winch on the machine, for lowering and raising the blade. Honestly, altho I love my 700 Griz, the wife's Grizzly 350 4x4 is what I call old faithful. It really is a good, no-frills machine that will go most places the 700 will, but it's obviously less powerful and no where near as fast, and has a narrower wheel-base and solid rear axle, which makes it feel a bit more "tippy" than the 700, with it's front and rear independent suspension.
     
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  5. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    Was that for charging system or ignition system problems? Either way...unusual.
    You can get manual lift blades, but unless you are only plowing a long driveway where you will only be lifting/lowering the blade a few times per use, then you will want the winch option...it gets real old real quick plowing a parking lot this way...always nice to have a winch anyways...
    I also do not like the manual lift blades because, 1. they cannot be lifted up as high off the ground as with a winch. 2. the lift handle can be in the way if you have long legs...the lift handle is a good place to crack your knee on if you hit something with the blade too!
     
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  6. stumplifter

    stumplifter

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    +1 on the manual lift assessment ^^^
    That is what we have and all of the factors mentioned are true..... so add a winch to the 'must have' column while shopping.

    The manual fit our budget and works but can be rather inconvenient. :confused:
    Although the blade comes on and off easy peasy.
     
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  7. SteveinUT

    SteveinUT

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    It's an '07, so it's fairly common. Yamaha fixed the issue in '08 and added an additional oil jet to cool the stator better. It's an update I'll retrofit to my 07 the next time the stator craps out.
     
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  8. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    Hmm, never seen one do that...worked on a bunch of '07s too...meh, that the way it goes sometimes, feast and famine. I never had the transmission apart on a 1500 Goldwing in 16 years either...then 3 in one summer! :picard:
     
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  9. nsmaple

    nsmaple

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    Maybe we got lucky, but have had great luck with our old 1997 Arctic Cat 454 Bearcat. Sure ain't pretty, but it doesn't go in many beauty contests either.

    Has a great Suzuki made drivetrain with hi/lo range, 5 speed 'real' manual transmission, and full time 4wd. So it's a great workhorse - but not that great for trail running. Top speed is only 35mph or so, and the full time 4wd can make turning a bear. It has a pretty low C of G too, also great work working & towing over rough stuff & up & down hills while still giving enough ground clearance. I have scraped the trailer over cradle hills & stumps but never the skid plate on the bike. But that also means not an overly capable suspension so strike 2 for trail riding.

    Can't beat it for work use - so like I think others said, I would look for 4wd (pretty well standard anyway), hi/lo range, and a transmission with gears. Likely if I was looking for something to replace it, I would check out a Honda first, but I'm not really up on the new stuff being made nowadays. First glance, they all seem way too hot-roddy for serious wood work. But I don't really know. I had a belt drive let me down once on a work quad which resulted in me being suddenly pitched over the bars in a ditch - so not too overly confident in belt drives for serious work.
     
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  10. Bert

    Bert

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    Did a little wood scouting today:binoculars:...... 2017 Can am 450L Outlander.
    005.JPG
     

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  11. WiscWoody

    WiscWoody

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    Try going up one step in spark plug heat. I did that and it helped cold weather starts. I’ve left it in year round with the blessings of a Honda mechanic.
     
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  12. TurboDiesel

    TurboDiesel

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    all the serious machines have belt drives.
    running them in low range takes most of the stress off the belt.

    My belt is 9 years old, Original belt. I use it almost every day, pulling a trailer and dragging logs, or just crawling around the mountain. I run in low range unless I'm trail riding.
     
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  13. Boomstick

    Boomstick Banned

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    I've got 5 k on my original belt. It will probably live as long as the machine.(now I jinxed it)

    The IRS is better at towing stuff too.
    I agree low is easier on the belt I usually don't use it much, when pulling in mud holes or snow I need momentum and tire speed.
    IMG_20170904_163303099_BURST000_COVER.jpg IMG_20170917_170955869_BURST000_COVER.jpg
     
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  14. TurboDiesel

    TurboDiesel

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    Those yamahas are geared pretty good. Low range isn't needed much.

    Yikes! That thing is way overloaded in that second pic!!:jaw:
     
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  15. Boomstick

    Boomstick Banned

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    That's been the machines life either under mud or water or that.
    The original belt still pulls 62mph down from 68 so I know it's worn.:rofl: :lol:
     
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  16. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    FYI, changing a plug up or down one or two heat range(s) won't hurt a thing on a 4 stroke, as far as the engine itself goes...the "hotter" the heat range, the more insulated the center electrode is from the outer plug base...so it cannot dissipate heat away as fast...therefore the plug itself stays hotter/cleaner. It can/will make the engine start and run better if a plug needs to go a range hotter, so to keep itself burnt clean.
    Changing heat range on a two stroke can be a little more risky though...
     
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  17. WiscWoody

    WiscWoody

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    And there’s a flat tire on the wood dolly in the second photo also. :doh:
     
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  18. Rope

    Rope

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    Have a 11 Can am 800r outlander and a 13 Honda foreman 500s efi. I get wood with both, the 500 is lighter, better fuel mileage and with the manual shift in most cases it does the job well. The 800r has power steering and 72hp vs the 500efi 33ish. They are both good machines. Power steering wins. The foreman is geared low but is not as low as low range of the Can am. I have hauled and towed way more with the Can am. A few of the fellas here also have Can ams. We use them hard moose hunting, hard terrain and heavy towing. They get used hard, I do not worry about the independent suspension. Whatever machine you get, make sure you get good aftermarket tires, lots of plys for tread and good side walls. I have 589's on the foreman (over 1k miles) and executioners (over 3k miles) on the can am. Both are good tires, I may go with mega mehaims next, they are a little softer tire. Good luck with your choice.
     
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  19. WiscWoody

    WiscWoody

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    02E68881-52FE-4A58-B2DE-FA3451647B02.jpeg I told you about my ‘06 Honda Rubicon back when this thread was started, you can find one of these with low miles and hours for around $3500. Here’s my winter setup for it but this year I’m not using the tire chains bc I just put new tires on it this last fall and it’s doing fine without the chains for plowing and getting around on the snow covered lake I live on.
     
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  20. huskihl

    huskihl

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    I wish people weren't so put off by belt drive transmissions. I've bought 2 Sportsman 500's new. One in 99 and one in 02. Still have the 02. All of my friends own Sportsmans too. Out of 15 or so, theres only been 1 belt failure. And he always pulled a 5' wide disc and did food plot work in high range. We were riding together when his belt blew 12 years ago. Our machines were the same age, so I went with him to the dealer and bought a new belt as well. It still hangs on a nail in the garage.
     
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