I think I bought a clunker quad

[yfzgirl]

I bought my son a used 2004-ltz-250 quadsport because he's getting older.The problem is that whoever had it before never took care of it and never washed it or did any periodic maintenance to it.To make a long story short I did my own maintenance & cleaned it up.The problem with the quad is that when he's riding and gets to 3rd or 4th gear it starts to bog out & stall on him like it's out of gas but it's not cause it has a full tank.Does anyone know what's causing this?

[brody81]

I would check spark plug, fuel system, and carbon buildup on the pistons in that order.

[justin_o_guy]

I'd look at the fuel delivery, too. It may be starving out. The tank screen may be nasty.
If he stays in 2nd & raps it out a while, does it crap out?
Have you tried pulling the choke a bit when it starts to die out to see if it picks up?

If it was a coil issue, wouldnt it show up at the same RPM in 1st & in 2nd & in 3rd, etc?

Like the guy said, check the plugs. Maybe run it till it bogs & hit the kill switch & pop one out quickly?

[yfzgirl]

I did checked the spark plug and cleaned it up but there's nothing wrong with it.As a matter of fact I thought it was the spark plug too but that's not where problem lies it's some where else.The choke is fine.It doesn't bog out in 1st,2nd, or 3rd but it bogs out in 4th gear and it always seems to happen in 4th gear.It bogs out and shuts off every time I give it full throttle in 4th.like you Justin, I'm gonna drain out the gas,check the gas filter, and check the carbs and see maybe if I can find out what the heck is going on Thanks guys I'll get back to you on this as soon as I find out whats going on.

[Slacker]

I know you're not dumb, but you did clean the air filter right? Even if you did, or after you do, ride the machine in a low dust place without the air filter. If it clears up you just have to re-jet. Sounds like a jet or air problem.

[Raptor700RSE]

I know you're not dumb, but you did clean the air filter right? Even if you did, or after you do, ride the machine in a low dust place without the air filter. If it clears up you just have to re-jet. Sounds like a jet or air problem.

NO! Please DO NOT ride with out a filter ever. Thats a terrible idea.

[Slacker]

A quick buzz down a paved street isn't going to hurt anything Wait until after it rains if you are concerned. I can't count the number of boats I've ridden in or driven that have no air filters at all. I wouldn't going spinning donuts or screwing around too much in the dirt and I wouldn't follow anyone on a dirt road, but long and far enough to bang through the gears, it's fine.

[quadmistr_2010]

wow thats a thumper.. dang quads always giving us men problems i agree with everyone on this page though.. lol hope that "helps" and hope she gets to running good

[Raptor700RSE]

A quick buzz down a paved street isn't going to hurt anything Wait until after it rains if you are concerned. I can't count the number of boats I've ridden in or driven that have no air filters at all. I wouldn't going spinning donuts or screwing around too much in the dirt and I wouldn't follow anyone on a dirt road, but long and far enough to bang through the gears, it's fine.

I disagree 100%, but I'll leave it alone .

[justin_o_guy]

I support the No air Filter for a test run, 100%. Wont hurt a thing. But, No Dirt, stay on cement or asphalt, unless you can manage to stay out of the dust created by running in the dirt. As long as no one is running ahead of you, putting dust in the air, youll be fine. Dont be running thru the dust you raise. either.

My dad bought a car & ran it for about 30,000 miles with no air filter. He figured out what was going on when it started using oil. It was used in the oil field in West Texas, running up & down those caliche roads. Took quite a while for the damage from all that crap to get serious enough to actually impact the way the engine worked. Ive seen motorcycles used as street bikes with no air filter, but they didnt exactly run them every day..

[MikeR]

Sounds like it could be fuel tank venting problems. Next time it starts acting up, loosen the fuel cap and see what happens.

I know someone who had a similar problem with a Can-Am and that was it.

[Slacker]

I support the No air Filter for a test run, 100%. Wont hurt a thing. But, No Dirt, stay on cement or asphalt, unless you can manage to stay out of the dust created by running in the dirt. As long as no one is running ahead of you, putting dust in the air, youll be fine. Dont be running thru the dust you raise. either.

My dad bought a car & ran it for about 30,000 miles with no air filter. He figured out what was going on when it started using oil. It was used in the oil field in West Texas, running up & down those caliche roads. Took quite a while for the damage from all that crap to get serious enough to actually impact the way the engine worked. Ive seen motorcycles used as street bikes with no air filter, but they didnt exactly run them every day..

FINALLY!! Someone that will think beyond the new school. I'd like to take poll on this site and see how many people here have set valves with the engine running. That like many other things would never be seen in a book but it's the best way to do it. I'm not that old, but I know some old school guys forward thinking enough to look beyond the book, glad I'm not alone here.

[Raptor700RSE]

Im only 28, so i guess im old school? Bottom line is, your quad is covered in dirt all the time. I doubt anyone has there quad showroom clean while they or working on it. What happens when the loose dirt on the bottom of your seat shakes off, or any of the other million possibilities of dirt getting there. You guys are right, u can run without a filter and you will probably not have any major issues, but it doesnt take much to start taking the coating off your cylinder. Next thing you know it's time for a rebuild. Is the risk worth it, is there ever a situation where running without a filter is gunna solve your problem, No.

[Slacker]

Of course running without a filter solves nothing. I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone to say otherwise. It can help diagnose a problem, and your right, it won't solve it. I wonder if she got through the problem while we were bickering?

[yfzgirl]

I did clean the air filter on it as a matter of fact I replaced it with a knew K&N air filter because the one that was still in there was the cheap sponge stock air filter.I even did an oil change and put in a new oil filter cause it looks like the person who had it before me never changed the oil either from the day they bought it.There's no ? about it, it needs to be rejetted and I'm also gonna clean the carbs.The mechanic wants work on it but I'd rather do it myself and save money, it's not like I don't know what I'm doing I've done this many times before with all of my quads.Thanks ! I'll get back to you guys as soon as I'm done