I may never go muddin again....

[cheropride]

Just spent like almost 4 hours detail my Kawi, and oh my gosh, she looks so good.  She is sweet.... Eventhough my 4 wheel drive is blown out.  That's why I detailed it, want it to look good when she goes into the shop....

But got a couple questions?

1) I left my seat, and the two bolts that hold the front part of the panel one side is actually cracked all the way through.  Man thats bull, this bike aint that old.  I am going to try to have them replace the front panel, anyone ever have this issue.

2) Lost 4wheel drive this weekend, yea, it had me stuck for 2 hours, it was so much fun. NOT.  Today when I took it out of the trailer, just for fun, put it in 4wheel drive and the light came on.  Now there is now way in my backyard I can trully tell if 4wheel drive was actually working, but it felt as if it was.  Then the light went out.  Now when I got all done detailing the bike, and again I say, she looks sweet.... I notice that when I put it in 4wheel drive the light does come on, but just barely, the more gas you give it the stronger the light.  I am thinking I have some kind of short or something...  Any suggestions.

3) I really think my engine break is trashed... but that's a whole nother story...

The reason why I am asking these questions, the bike has a 4 year warranty and I am taking it to the shop tomorrow.  Now we all know how warranty work goes, (bend over).... neighbor says they wont fix the broken panel, but I say the should.  #2 the 4wheeld drive, sounds like an electrical short you think....

Well will take any suggestions...

It's 2005 Kawi 360 4 wheel drive.....

Right now she may one be 2 wheel drive, but dang that Real Tree Camo right now looks sweet.  Oh yea, I used Shelia Shine, the stuff works wonders oh my gosh.  Even the seat is so shiny and not slippery at all.  Give it a try, it's sweet.  Hoping it will help repel the mud some too.

[06 BaNsHeE]

Yea I spend about 3-4 hours cleaning my rancher.Ended up going riding the next day in some nasty mud.That was really the last time Im riding it tho.I spent like 3 hours in two days cleaning the beast.Its worth it tho because she looks brand new

[cheropride]

It takes some friggin work to get these things cleaned though, don't they, man you think you got it all clean, and dang there is more mud....

[06 BaNsHeE]

tell me about it.I just found some mud behing the headlights kind of hidden

[JackL]

Now you know why I don't clean mine.

[qt314nfla]

Chero- I mudded my quad hard for 3 yrs.  It was a used quad but looked brand new when I got it.  After mudding it I destroyed the brakes every couple of rides.  Mud is hard on them.  What was worse was I completely destroyed an engine.  Lost most of the compression and after ATP took it apart.  I was told by Melissa that my engine had so much sand, dirt, mud, and crap in it that they had no clue how it even turned over.  A new engine later I don't mud my quad anymore.  I miss it but not to the tune of $3600 for the damage that my 3 yrs cost me.  That doesn't include the several hundred in replacing breaks.

[JackL]

Wow, I must say that is the worst horror story I have heard in a while. I have never seen mud kill a top end, a defective air cleaner sure, but repeated sinkings of mine hasn't caused that...yet.

I do change all the fluids every second ride, usually, whether or not it looks like milk.

As for brakes, I have been getting about 1000 miles on a set of pads, and my bike pretty much lives in the mud. I clean the radiator and the brake area after every ride, but that is the extent of it.

I can never imagine giving up the mud, and I don't think anyone should...it is just too much FUN!!

[cheropride]

I do the same thing Jack, also lub all the fittings and stuff.  One thing I love about my bike is that it has sealed drum brakes and that makes a huge difference.  I did notice alot more rust one certain bolts, don't know if that is actually from the mud or if that is from washing it so much.....lol  I wash it everytime I ride, but don't detail it everytime.  What a pain.  I am sure that first run will be a clean one, cause she looks oh so good.  And I know me, though I love my ride, I don't think I could ever resist the mud.  I can hear it calling me now..... I think the worse thing that I do to it actually is taking it through the deep water, from time to time.  I agree QT it can be hard on them....

[Joedirt]

Everything you do to you quad is hard on it.....they are designed for abuse...But then again I own 2 Suzuki's.... ...My Old Grizzly hated water..as does my Daughters Kawi Bayou

[cheropride]

Mine's pretty good though, I am surprised that I have only got the belt wet once.  Trust me w/me that's really dang good.

Now my son's Polaris, that thing even smells water it wants to stall......

Hubby just sits and watch us get all muddy, and pulls us out when need be, like every 5 minutes.....

[JackL]

I do the same thing Jack, also lub all the fittings and stuff.  One thing I love about my bike is that it has sealed drum brakes and that makes a huge difference.  I did notice alot more rust one certain bolts, don't know if that is actually from the mud or if that is from washing it so much.....lol  I wash it everytime I ride, but don't detail it everytime.  What a pain.  I am sure that first run will be a clean one, cause she looks oh so good.  And I know me, though I love my ride, I don't think I could ever resist the mud.  I can hear it calling me now..... I think the worse thing that I do to it actually is taking it through the deep water, from time to time.  I agree QT it can be hard on them....

Drum brakes....I didn't think any modern quads had those. That was the only real problem I ever had with my big truck and buggies. When I was clamping the rear brake lines on all of em in the middle of the woods, I decided I didn't like em all that much. The stupid shoes and springs were never my favorite either...haha

I always felt deep water was no problem for the bikes...until it was running in through the exhaust or the intake while the bike was on it's side...haha, it is the reason I have a manual now, and the automatic Vinson I also have sits in the back yard for the most part.

I don't know what happened with the manufacturers, my 84 atc200s three wheeler has honestly been to hell and back three or four times, and other than some bearings and three ropes done after the rides, it has never failed me. I consider it my most reliable machine. Honda, we use to make it simple. LMAO!!!!

[JackL]

Everything you do to you quad is hard on it.....they are designed for abuse...But then again I own 2 Suzuki's.... ...My Old Grizzly hated water..as does my Daughters Kawi Bayou

I do like the Suzuki's. Never even had to put a dab of dielectric grease on em, unlike every other brand of off road vehicle the guys I ride with have had to pack em with to stay competitive. 

[cheropride]

Do you think though that they should replace that front panel that cracked.  It is cracked under the seat, where it bolts to the frame.  I am sure it will be an uphill battle, for their most likely excuse will be normal wear & tear, NOT.  That pretty much ticked me off to see that cracked like that, there ain't no way I weigh enough to crack the panel.  The other side is starting to crack too, which means once that cracks the whole front panel will be lose....

[JackL]

Do you think though that they should replace that front panel that cracked.  It is cracked under the seat, where it bolts to the frame.  I am sure it will be an uphill battle, for their most likely excuse will be normal wear & tear, NOT.  That pretty much ticked me off to see that cracked like that, there ain't no way I weigh enough to crack the panel.  The other side is starting to crack too, which means once that cracks the whole front panel will be lose....

I think they should replace it...but considering I watched BMS deny my buddy two CV's on a bike that had 30 miles on it because his 25" tires weren't stock, I wouldn't get my hopes up. The standard fix around here is to drill holes on both sides of the crack and ziptie it back together. Running the drill through the cracks tip will keep it from running more.

[cheropride]

Taking it down tomorrow, was going to take it today, but too much going on today.  I will let you know what they say.  I am going to try and do it the nice way, cause we purchased two 4 wheelers from the same place within one year, also due to the 4 year warranty, I have brought in for the 100 hour servicing, and also purchase other stuff from them, like helmets and stuff.  So perhaps they will take into consideration that we are pretty good customer, may help.  If not, then I will assure them that I can find another place to service our 4-wheelers. 

I have a feeling though, it may be in for awhile, cause it has a couple of issues.  Kind of rips me since this unit is an 05, and has this mainy issues already.  Husband's Honda hasn't given us any trouble at all, and heck, he don't even service as much as I service mine.  Heck, I am the one that changes the oil in his, cause he wont. 

Thanks for the info....

[KB]

Cheropride, just a tip, after you clean/wash your bike spray some WD-40 or Silicone spray all over the motor & plastic's really good.
It'll leave a film on it & makes cleaning it a lot easier next time.

Just don't spray it on your seat (or you'll be slippin & slidin off of it) or brake pad's.

Simple Green is a good cleaner but Grease Lightning works better but be careful w/ G.L. on aluminum wheels unless you don't care if they shine or not, I put my G.L. in a lawn sprayer, pump it up & spray, you'll feel like you have arthritis if you use the trigger spray on the quart bottle.
You can buy the stuff by the gallon at Wal-mart or Home Depot.

[gtnwood]

Am I the only one that use's "SuperClean and Purple Power" That stuff is the sheoot, and you can git it by the gallon at Wally World etc...

[KB]

Ya Gtnwood ,I think your the only one that has the purple power, LOL

Seriously, I've seen that stuff before & seen some "Formula 88" in a brown 1 gal. jug at Advance too.
Theres just somethin about Grease Lightning, I think it works best IMO.

[cheropride]

Hey thanks for the tip with the sprayer that's a really cool ideal, and I want to get some of that Grease Lightning, I wish I had it when I cleaned that thing.  I tried something new, this stuff called Shelia Shine, a friend gave it to us.  It used mainly in restruants.  Used it on the entire bike, the cool thing is that it puts a protective coating on it, and looks really sweat.  Better yet, I used it even on the seat, and it is not slippery or anything.  cool.....  I will let you know if helps repel the mud any......

[JackL]

Ya Gtnwood ,I think your the only one that has the purple power, LOL

LMAO!!

[450rcrazy]

Hope barneys is not the shop you bring it to .You can read my thread on warranty work in the good bad and ugly section under Barneys St Pete sucks and from other replies so does the Bradington location.

[big-daddy]

Now you know why I don't clean mine.

Is that why you smell like crap?