Seller Gave Up Too Early On This $700 4x4 ATV (HUGE LOSS)

[@Yolobrohs]

Thanks for taking it off my hands. i would have never thought to have check the flywheel key. have fun with her!

[@chuckwalla325]

Are you going to buy it back ?

[@allenharris2549]

Don’t kick yourself too hard. The work you did is FAR beyond what I could have done.

[@Yolobrohs]

@@chuckwalla325 things long gone

[@oshitt1]

Respect, conceding that you messed up, while lifting up the beneficiary. It takes a real man to do that.

[@Callofdutyjoey]

@@oshitt1oh hell yeah it does, it’s a really decent quad if you take care of it and don’t always drive it super hard. My buddies uncle has a 2004 I believe Polaris sportsman 700 twin efi and it’s a utility quad and it’s still fast as shit and will power slide at about 40 but I’m scared to go any faster than that going sideways. My personal quad is a 2019 Honda recon 250 tm1 and it does about 43 tops uncomfortably. Lmfao.

[@southcoast2008]

Wow Joe, your diagnostic skills are absolutely amazing. It's so nice to see a 2-dollar woodruff key fix this problem. It's about time you had a cheap fix as you usually have to pump many dollars into fixing these machines that you purchase. This is a good buy that you thoroughly deserve as not many cheap fix bargains come your way. Well done Joe, your never give up attitude and perseverance is most commendable indeed. Cheers Dave from Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

[@forzanoob]

After his last honda you are right. And I feel that. There isn't many cheap deals for none running bikes and quads right now. People want 2k for locked up dirtbikes.

[@mikespain8655]

From what I have seen, many times he gets off cheap on parts. As long as you have the time and skill set, and gross profit is there, you proceed forward.

[@MrDTruman889]

Getting those plastics off LOL. When I was a mechanic at a powersports dealer, we used to joke that when you work on a Polaris, you just turn your toolbox upside down on the floor, because you are going to use every tool you own. Love the videos, keep up the good work.

[@EC-mc7vg]

Been a auto mechanic for 40 years, while watching I was saying to the screen she's jumped time like a car with a sloppy timing chain. Glad you found the issue.

[@vettemaniac2237]

You are one smart and patient young man. Well done!

[@speedfreak8200]

Agree, and very methodical

[@puchmanwal1685]

wish he wasn't so pessimistic he always expects the worst brilliant videosy

[@matteedstrom]

Smart????

[@teafuse583]

@@matteedstrom?😊

[@Military-Museum-LP]

I had a 490 KTM that kept shearing the key till it ruined the crank. Ended up welded flywheel on. It’s still running today.

[@racequad9]

what caused it to keep shearing off the key?

[@kryten1021]

@@racequad9 the key only locates the flywheel in it's correct place it uses the contact of the taper on the crank and the taper on the flywheel to keep it in place , if you find a sheared key and the two surfaces aren't good its always best to lap them in using valve grinding paste until you have good surfaces then clean all grinding paste off and fit a new key and tighten to the specifed torque, another tip i've seen people fitting too tall a woodruff key thats prevented the tapers meeting and keeps shearing the key, oh also don't lube the tapers I've had customers that have lubed the tapers on cranks too, the contact areas should be dry, possible causes are flywheel not tightened correctly or tapers not good or wrong key fitted holding the tapers off each other even when torqued correctly

[@deborahchesser7375]

Sure it wasn’t a 495 ?

[@Hyngyynj]

What happens if u ever need to remove the flywheel haha

[@CaRod-h9w]

​@@HyngyynjI was just about to ask the same question seems like a quick bandaid repair 😂

[@862057]

You say that you were getting flustered troubleshooting but you were right on target and doing everything in the right order. Push rods should always be perfectly straight, btw. Watching you over the years you can see you have graduated to a top notch mechanic. I'm also impressed with the way you can get things in and out of the shop, like a machine. I was mechanic/service manager for 45 years and you got this down to a high-speed science, good job. Not many people can earn a living like you are doing.

[@upperroomtoo]

Interesting find. So the valves backed off putting massive back pressure in the cylinder sheering off the key. It was compounding issues. Good find and fix.

[@boebradley867]

That's exactly what I was thinking when I saw the push rod dangling. Lol. I find myself talking to the video like he can hear me. 😂😂

[@DDLovett]

I do feel for the guy who sold it to you. He obviously just got to the end of his tether with that machine and took a big loss to get rid of it. Three tiny things he did wrong cost him a fortune. No loctite, fuel screw too far out and the darn woodruff key. If only he had addressed these he would have been golden. But it seems his frustrations with the quad made him not see these.

[@Yolobrohs]

the frustration did make me not see these.

[@PaulHigginbothamSr]

The timing was spot on, remember ya'll ran it till the flywheel shifted. No start city after that lots of cranking. Sounds very good. I would rather have it in 600 if I had a choice. Bigger pistons may have kicked back when he heard the noise.

[@Chris_at_Home]

I had a 600 for 14 years and put over 7,000 miles and almost 1,000 hours on it and the only thing I ever replaced was the water pump.

[@MPDano]

That is crazy, out of all the ATV's I've worked on and checked that woodruff key to verify if it sheared. I have never actually seen one sheared. This is great to know that it actually can happen.

[@Hyngyynj]

Just bought a warrior with a sheered key. Pretty sure the crank is toast

[@chuckelbrothers]

I used to work on lawnmowers they quite often shear the keys Top job there another cracking quad

[@passenger6735]

Good fix. I was shouting at the screen 'Check the timing!!' 'Check the timing!!' 'Sometimes', 'occasionally', you just can't believe what a seller tells you! ...especially when the rocker bolt was finger tight. Ha.

[@bombardier3qtrlbpsi]

One hint the way it was turning over with the hump in the cranking. Nice job 👍

[@jameshisself7375]

I learned this lesson myself doing service work at dealerships. People mean well, but what they tell you is often incorrect. In this video the previous owner said the timing was good but we see that it was not due to the woodruff key shearing. This one feels a like a lot of luck since the previous owner knew how to rebuild the bike but not get it running. Red flag right there. When they are over confident to the point of attempting a rebuild but then failing to get it started, any number of catastrophic possibilities exist. Glad in this case it was the simple rocker arm issues and the woodruff key. Great troubleshooting as always Joe!

[@Mikeofindy]

That 100 start attempt in a row gave me a little bit of mechanical anxiety 😂

[@jakeowens1770]

He does that in all of his videos

[@Steve-qn8gn]

I didn’t notice 😅

[@slider1956]

Why would you start an engine when the seller told him all the issues valves, push rods etc. Only a moron would do that…imagine all the damage that could be done

[@Steve-qn8gn]

@@slider1956 it’s not like he was trying to start your motorized walker Michael.

[@slider1956]

@@Steve-qn8gnexcuse me? I guess you don’t know much about mechanics & how things work

[@ezio8591]

Mechanics 101: the smallest parts make the biggest difference. Good job!

[@hotdude655]

watching all these videos of fixing these 4 wheelers up, is motivating me lol, there are a bunch of 4 wheelers out here in Virginia that don't run or need carbs or carb adjustments etc....

[@nickneeley8798]

Simple fix for you but impossible for guys like me. Your knowledge on these makes my head spin great 👍 job figuring it out 💪

[@jz9985]

After all the usual checks it's perseverance that pays off that finds the problem. Thanks for the lesson.

[@scottklawon8225]

Great video. I love learning while you diagnos the problem. $2 dollar part $2 million brain!

[@Budsplace]

I raced motocross back in the early to mid 70’s. At 68 I would love to try it again! Thanks!!!

[@g57462]

Good job the woodruff key was the problem, ive had 2 changed them on my Briggs and Stratton lawnmower

[@weaselsworld]

Wow I was pretty stumped on that refusal to fire too, especially after you found and resolved the loose rockers. I was wondering what else he could have left loose, and was just thinking stator too, but I was thinking about the pickups shifting out of position, NOT THE WHEEL! Amazing how the littlest thing can stop a machine in its tracks, but great job tracking that sucker down and getting her up and running again!

[@rabbitg987]

Never ever trust or listen to what someone has said they have done cause doesn’t mean the have checked it properly or done it properly, Best rule is too always start where you feel comfortable and do you what you would do if you just had a machine fail.. Great vids, listen too your gut not someone else’s

[@DaBombDotCom77]

I appreciate your steady flow of content. It would be great if you could include cost of parts and your total profit once the ATVs are fixed and sold.

[@RocksNRuts4]

he aint telln the irs that lol

[@97delkron]

I had an 04 sportsman 600 I bought new. Great quad. Never any issues with it. When you are in 4x4 and go in reverse you only get rear wheel drive unless you push and hold over ride button. This will engage the front wheels while in reverse but it will engage rev limiter at part throttle. I assume that is what that set of contacts in throttle are for.

[@rolop847]

The contacts in the throttle is for when the carb cable gets stuck wide open, so it then shuts down the motor (no spark)

[@636STUNA]

I just got a 2004 600! Had all kinds of issues but it’s running great now.

[@delles1548]

I really enjoy your videos, so I just subscribed for more. Growing up decades ago on a small, rural farm, we had to work on everything from lawn mowers, ATV's, trucks to tractors, so it is nice to see youth who actually know how to work on machines. Often, I tell young people today to learn a trade skill instead of going into very deep college debt and then not earning the salary they thought they would. Locally and now living in another state, it is near impossible to find anyone who knows to fix modern machines.

[@71rcode72]

Joe you are the man. Keep up the great work. We are all enjoying and learning!

[@dalemettee1147]

Good job Joe! You'd think that the theory is simple. Compression, Fuel, air, ignition. But sometimes another problem get in the way, timing. I wonder what causes a thing like a drift pin to shear. That must be a lot of torque on that part!

[@Steelaworkn]

Awesome. And the mystery is solved once again. Thanks for being here.

[@Poppinwheeeeellllllieeeeez]

FUEL, AIR, SPARK, COMPRESSION AND TIMING. This should be everyone's mantra when diagnosing small engine issues. Joe is a habitual timing overlooker.

[@DylanDubs-xe3ej]

Habitual for sure!!! And isnt much of a good diagnostic tech like some try to say. If he was he would diag the problem from bwginning. Not do his usual go down the list of shit until something sticks. Not much better than a parts cannon guy really. He can install parts but diaging the literal issue from the beginning he struggles with i think

[@thegusk520]

@@DylanDubs-xe3ej You are both A-Holes. Get a room.

[@blairfright9622]

Always recheck what others say they do, I’ve have found this many times with power equipment.

[@clok1966]

Those purple camo Polaris 4X4, own one myself, and you would have thought they would have seen how they would weather and change from brown camo to purple. Good thing I live in Viking territory can say it's Viking Purple. mine has been a rock, if you keep the rad clean so they dont overheat, they are a pretty good machine. SO easy to put a temp gauge on them.

[@seansysig]

Siphon out crank case oil and run some cheap oil in it a couple times to rule out head gasket. Also perform leak down test and listen by crankcase oil check fitting.

[@lowe1677]

you need to make a list and stick it to the garage wall of all the easy checks to do first when a bike wont start,will save you a lot of time,as sometimes we forget the simple easy fixes.well done nice score.

[@rosshill2565]

Father was a Machainic, and always told me to keep it simple stupid then work up to the hard things. It works 80% of the time fixing things.

[@claztube]

I'm sure I'm not the 1st to acknowledge as we his audience sees it everytime Joe goes at one of these puzzles with sleuth like genius. It's to me like Joe is THE Sherlock Holmes of engine repair, size not always the (Woodruff) 'key' as today we did see.

[@rhiantaylor3446]

Listening to you try to start it you could hear it firing and stalling the starter because the spark was timed far too early.

[@kartguy]

I got a Warrior 350 he kept bump starting because the one way starting gear was out and he didn't replace it. So when I got it and replaced it shortly after the woodruff key broke I know that quad can't be bumped started but just thought I'd throw that out there too. They are important and can break easy plus cause complete loss of spark or intermittent. Good score as always buddy!

[@theshirehighlander7292]

I have a bike that I almost gave up on...A TW125 that I got second hand. It starts soo easy when bump started. I couldn't have figured this out. I bought a new starter motor, new carburretor. I cant wait for the weekend to check out the woodruff

[@kartguy]

Hope it is whats wrong buddy!@@theshirehighlander7292

[@inasnap7133]

Great job , just to add , unhook exhaust and try to start , some one may have put a rag in it , mud daubers, etc , ask how I know , lol. Easy way to check push rods , roll them on the floor , work bench , the flatter the better. Great content!

[@Highoctanegarage]

Joe u can get a box of woodruff keys from harbor freight Insted of ordering I use them all the time alot cheaper u get a box of em

[@dominickserignese8837]

You know never to trust somebody else's mechanical work. Always reject their work. It runs great!👍

[@jayjudd6518]

It was a run around from here, I was going down every rabbit hole with you. I had no thoughts then your mind again came up with the theory of operation oh boy. Congratulations. 😊😊😊😊

[@DeadShotX-X]

This is why it pays off to pay attention to the little things. They can ruin the entire project. Great find. Makes sense why it sounded so rough cranking.

[@beachthor1]

Nice job dude! I have been stumped by an old chainsaw I am rebuilding, it has good spark, compression and I’ve rebuilt carb 3x, gonna check the timing after watching this.

[@JasonStevenson72]

You just can't trust anything anyone selling something says... Glad you got it fixed, and should be able to turn a good profit on it.

[@mannfatboy8371]

He can really fix anything….great buy!

[@AnthonyRBlacker]

Did you say the part in the box had an aftermarket ding on it? Ha you're the BEST mechanic Joe

[@TroyRosenbaugh]

Amazing how fast the sun turns those plastics purple. Our quads in the military, in the desert were the worst for it.

[@mrfixit7743]

I had the same carb issue on my golf cart, the previous owner hooked the starter generator up backwards, which caused it to blow gas, not suck it in!

[@Jeff97405]

Good job.....good job in filming and not making no nausea....like the beeping in the background....sounds like someone working...got 2007 450 working on....thanks..

[@boebradley867]

Another awesome job! It is just a matter of testing components in any type of combustion motor. Most people don't want to go thru the motions.

[@junkforlessutube]

You stated that the last owner checked timing. You may want to confirm that the cam timing wasn't set based off the moved flywheel. Also, you your comments at 17:40.. Polaris, the MTD of motorsports. They didn't take the time to make a proper wiring harness until the mid 2000s.. automotive style bendix... anything to shave off a few bucks.

[@lead5s]

i never doubted you, i knew you would figure it out, great fix man!

[@MOAB-UT]

Great job. Double check torque on all critical bolts. You are very handy! Well done.

[@TroyRosenbaugh]

Been uncovered in the sun a long time, turned it purple. Our atvs i. The desert did same thing, ammo wraps don't keep color in hot sun.

[@pcservice709]

Really enjoy watching your accountant.

[@pcservice709]

I have learned a lot.

[@tomnekuda3818]

Good job......it really pays to stick at it!

[@hargray2]

You need to lap the flywheel to the crank with compound anytime a key gets sheared. The key is only for alignment. The tight taper fit is what is supposed to hold it in place.

[@Robert-xe3os]

That was one nice find glad you got it running

[@geraldschrader8511]

Awesome job of troubleshooting an unusual failure! Looks like you scored on this one.

[@honestjay8120]

Your definitely good at what you do man seems like you can fix anything with a engine

[@levimc6783]

You lucked out on that one great fine thoes old polaris where the best ones polaris made i sold my 2004 sportsman with 18000 km on it and bought a new 570 and had nothing but problems

[@Jimsalos]

Excellent troubleshooting, Joe! I am looking forward to seeing you take that thing for a ride

[@Hanky_Bannist8r]

Wow good job Joe ! You have come a long way since I started watching the channel.

[@Tim72-m5c]

It definitely seemed like a fuel issue when you’re trying to start it. like I said in my other comment I’m surprised you didn’t check the valves. but like I always say you’re a great mechanic you know more than I do. Lol…..

[@jtbear011]

That’s great diagnostic info for Polaris owners. Thanks really enjoyed that

[@flhusa1]

Check the carb vent hose for blockage. Spider web or mud. If you can't blow through the vent hose hose abandon the factory one and run a new one. The end of the vent hose should be up in between the handle bat's at the highest point.

[@jeffkulessa9398]

Joe congradulations in finding this one! My hat's off to you. Maybe you may want to dig up that Yamaha dirt-bike and check out the flywheel key on it too. 😊😊

[@Marius-gz3zu]

I just had the same thing happen on a Yamaha Grizzly 660, no spark and sure enough woodruff key was sheared off. Just got lucky it didn’t ruin the crank

[@thebigguy8306]

Somebody has a hankering for quads. Love the channel, always a learning moment. Keep up the hard work, Have newer Polaris - like Toro - gone to sealed engines where you can not work on them?

[@mongosaqqara]

Nice work and patience...Now take that thing for a Beating!

[@peteraitken6494]

What a result joe quids in now mate this is going to clean up really well look forward to the follow up 👍👌🔧🔧🔧😀😀

[@kernelbadness]

Good buy! You definitely should lap the flywheel to the crank to make sure the mating surfaces are proper. Likely to spin and shear again.

[@MrStatic101]

How would you go about doing that? Like what’s the process? very curious cause it looked boogered up.

[@lukek8032]

@@MrStatic101I would hit the high spots with a file. Then use lapping compound between the shaft and flywheel.

[@MrStatic101]

@@lukek8032 ok awesome thank you!

[@jimw6991]

The original failure was a misfire due to rocker arms loose. No misfire no sudden Street on the woodruff key and no failure. What does lapping do to ptprevent a future incident?

[@kernelbadness]

​@@jimw6991 the woodruff key was sheared causing damage to the crank and flywheel. You want to lap mating surfaces to prevent future failure.

[@WCSPete1]

Absolutely brilliant Wes. Thank you very much once again

[@edwardestes8038]

Boy Joe i was way off.........I thought it was either one of two things....Low air in the tires.....or what happens a lot these days is........A small Troll or Dwarf living inside the farnicastaff....or even the muffler bearing areas........Yup Yup Yup

[@derek4073]

Good find Joe, should be a nice riding unit.

[@dennislamers986]

Great job Sherlock. Those keys are pretty tough. I wonder what led to it shearing like that.

[@jaydenbarnes7596]

that loose rocker/rod coming off cause a lot of unwanted pressure. my thoughts anyway.

[@patjohnson6252]

If you use a impact rents to tighten the nut on the flywheel that can share that wood drift key off, so always tighten it With a wrench. And torque despects.

[@brianmiller763]

Will here we go another carb rebuild video

[@tomking8597]

I’ve seen you have bad woodruff key on 2 engines after the crank was replaced. Probably need to lap the crank to the flywheel on assembly. That would make the crank fit to the flywheel better and remove all the load on the woodruff key

[@DirtRiderRM250]

Awesome diagnosis steps and great description on procedures and steps you take but why switch the 4x4 switch back and forth while trying to start?

[@victorgerhardt1504]

The birds in the background are so relaxing! LOL!

[@Hoskera]

It must be such a good feeling each time one of these motors starts up for you.

[@JamesBarnes-q2z]

I’d love to see the business side of this! Break down of numbers!

[@Chad-v4j]

Just bought a brand new 23 Yfz 450r se 😊😊

[@tomdombrovski432]

Awesome video! Great job finding the problem!

[@wirefeed3419]

If you have Fuel, good compression, and good spark, the three basics of combustion and it is still not running it should pretty much tell you that the three are not occurring at the same critical time. Regardless of what anyone has said they did do your own checks that the timing is correct.

[@royalanleach9180]

When I remove a flywheel from any ATV or Motorcycle I always use valve laping coumpound on the taperd end of the crankshaft I put the flywheel wheel on and rotate the flywheel by hand and gives the taper a ruff finish with this method you will never spin the timing key

[@snowyowl7042]

I, too, would be nervous with someone else's modifications

[@theshirehighlander7292]

I have a bike that does the same thing....But starts right up when its bump started....Will have to check out the flywheel key now now.

[@sinistar426]

Im wondering why the oil is milky. If the head gasket isnt blown, somehow, water got in the crank case. Water pump seal in good shape?

[@bigdadymofo]

I have an 06 700 efi sportsman and have had my share of frustration with it

[@alpersichino1486]

Probably sheared off from when the valves got out of whack it couldn't turn them over cuz they're probably hitting the piston or something bound it this year that woodruff key and a half

[@RATADATUAVELHA]

I wish I had your knowledge in mechanics, every time I have a mechanical issue on a bike I think "what would 2vintage do in this situation? 🤔"

[@greathornedowl3644]

I'd have run away, someone who's been "modifying" their own engine (rats nest). But you are just the guy to do it.

[@hvguy]

Keep an eye out on those china carbs. They are usually pretty good but I've had the choke system be missing the rubber seal on the face and idles like shit.

[@everydaybladesinc]

Dang the seller is kicking himself right about now. Good job.

[@notimegarage8632]

If there's no relays between the switches snd lights you should add them in to reduce draw

[@alanrichardson1672]

You love to exercise starter motors I was half expecting smoke to appear 😮