[Scottstanley]

I rode my 1992 Fourtrax 300 4WD on Saturday. It had plenty of oil and ran great. I got up Sunday to go for a ride. The starter made a sound like maybe it was not fully engaged. Then it stopped turnning at all.

If I press the start button it makes a loud solenoid-like thump. It does not turn over. I cannot crank the engine with the kick starter.

I have another similar model and the kick start is manageable so I know how hard it should be to kick.

I tried rolling backward with it in R and I tried pulling it forward with it in 5th...thinking the starter was hung in the flywheel. It did not release.

Is inability to kick start and loud solenoid thump but no engine turn over a symptom of a jammed and/or deffective starter?

If yes, in removing the starter are there any big surprises? Can I just pull it off like a car starter and place another one on or am I opening a can of worms (gears that fall off back side, springs or other timing that is hard to recover)?

Thank you for any insight you can offer.

 

[Helmut]

Welcome to the forums. The starter on that ATV isn't setup like a starter on an automobile. It doesn't have a bendix that kicks out to the flywheel. It has a one-way bearing setup. I don't see anyway the starter can keep the engine from turning. It sounds like your engine might be seized. I would remove the starter reduction cap and try to turn the engine over by turning the starter reduction gear. You will need a 6mm allen wrench to turn the reduction gear, once you get the cap out.

Like I said, I don't think the starter can cause that, but I will tell you how to remove it just in case you want to try it, anyway. First, unhook the positive battery cable. Before you can remove the starter, you have to remove the small oblong shaped cover on the left side cover. It will have a black plastic cover over it and you have to unbolt 5 bolts to remove it. Once you get the cover off, you need to remove the starter reduction gear. It will be the center gear, the one that the starter gear engages. The shaft the gear rides on may try to pull out with the gear, which is fine, just don't let it fall down into the engine. Now you can unbolt and remove the power wire coming from the battery. Now just unbolt the two starter mounting bolts at the rear of the starter and remove the starter.

 

[Scottstanley]

Helmut

Thank you for your reply.

I cut apart the oil filter and found quite a bit of metal flake.

I decided I did not have the stomach for another science project today. I took it to the shop.

Evidently, timing chain came off when I shut down Saturday night.

I think my attempt to kick start/free a jam when the electric start failed caused additional damage.

I bet if I would have walked away when the starter failed it would have saved quite a bit.

Timing chain, piston misc other stuff $916 to fix.

 

[shadetree]

Helmut

Thank you for your reply.

I cut apart the oil filter and found quite a bit of metal flake.

I decided I did not have the stomach for another science project today. I took it to the shop.

Evidently, timing chain came off when I shut down Saturday night.

I think my attempt to kick start/free a jam when the electric start failed caused additional damage.

I bet if I would have walked away when the starter failed it would have saved quite a bit.

Timing chain, piston misc other stuff $916 to fix.

occhhh..you should of looked me up..i'm in north little rock myself..i could of saved you a bunch of cash..lol.