Hey guys, just wondering if anyone has some insight on 2 stroke four wheelers. Have found a nice used one and the only thing I’m not too sure of is it being a 2 stroke. How do they handle the cold? Reliable? Any other tips?
Btw it is a polaris 400.
I run a 1987 Susuki 2 stroke all winter and it has started in as cold as 10 degree weather ,but as you can see I added an extra start battery on the front,its a little hard to see the battery box but I just let it warm up for a while before riding.
My most dependable ice fishing rig was my Polaris 400 Sportsman. Never had it not start in any cold weather. Not cold blooded once it starts and warms up. I wouldnt think twice about getting another.
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My most dependable ice fishing rig was my Polaris 400 Sportsman. Never had it not start in any cold weather. Not cold blooded once it starts and warms up. I wouldnt think twice about getting another.
Dittos here…. Polaris Sportsman 400 as long as the battery is good starts all the time… Used around the farm.
This is the exact wheeler I’m looking at…1996 sportsman 400. I have heard nothing but good things. Thanks for the input…anyone have any idea on how to get the lights working? I’ve heard there is an electrical problem with this one where all the lights stop working?!?
Ditto on the cold start. Very strong engine. Will consume plugs if the oil mix is not right. Just remember before you let your 13 year old run wild on it the thing will go about 65 mph. At least a 1994 model would.
I also have a ’95’, starts and runs great, just don’t gas it real hard until it warms up a lttle or you will blow a seal, that’s what I was told. Carry an extra plug with you, I’v blown a couple NGK’s out in no-where land and had to change it or walk. I finally put a champion in it and have’nt had a problem for years. Great machine.
I used Polaris Synthetic in mine and when I sold it , it still had the original plug in it . Not sure if I was just lucky or what. Mine was a 2000 with 2000 miles on it. It now belongs to Ice John. I will say this , for a 400 they haul a$$ …….. it would eat my new Suzuki 500 up and spit out the back 
. As far as the lights , the Polaris wiring in those days had a little to be desired. There is a circuit board under the plastic cover over the radiator ( under the front rack )That is the first place that I would start for no lights.
Just make sure your jetted for winter temps. Gotta fatten em up a bit. 
Extra plugs on hand a must. It sucks to walk. Be careful at high altitude, like 8-10 k feet. They will run great but will have a hard time staying running at a idle. Great buy. 
Since you are buying a used wheeler, I would go thru the clutches and clean and inspect them, pretty easy for a mechanical guy, take apart the secondary and clean, check the pins in the primary, and you may want to consider a clutch kit, the stock clutching like sleds is pretty lame, you can get some extra performance with a kit that usall consists of weights and new springs in the primary and secondary and a helix.
Also dump the stock tires for good ones.
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m38.l1311&_nkw=atv+tires&_sacat=See-All-Categories
Thanks for the info Kirt, Now I just need to get married and have a feew kids so I can have all the free time you have. 
Oh yah Ball and Chain 
The 400 polaris motor is one of the most reliable motors they’ve ever built. Strong, reliable, fast…will leave the 500 sporty, HO or 600 in the dust. 
My bud ran the same machine your looking at for many years, he beat the crap out of it…just kept going! Keep the fluids full and run it.
I run a 98 xplorer 400, great machine that gets the majority of it’s use during the winter…plowing snow and ice fishing…never misses a beat. I’ve never had a need to change jetting unless high alt. Hasn’t given me a issue…knock on wood.
BIRDDOG
Yah but it is a 2 stroke 
I thought they were evil 
thats what the goverment tells us 
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