i've been looking for a 4wd ATV to add to the fleet for a few weeks now and I came across a 2001 Wolverine 350 a town down from here. The price is $1000 firm and the quad does look like it's in fairly good shape for the year. Here is the downside... it doesn't run. A Yamaha shop told the guy that most like the stator is shot. The part through Yamaha is over $280. Online is averaging $150-200...

from listening to it turn over, it's definitely not firing. He had put a new ignition wire/coil on it and that didn't cure the problem. As the stator is kind of an internal engine part, i'm skittish about dropping a g for this thing without hearing it run.

Do stators just fail on these things and does the diagnosis sound right?
Is it easily repaired?
Is the Wolverine 350 as tough as my Warrior 350 seems?
Is there anything I should be looking for on this machine as a trouble area?
I have until Wednesday to call him back as I can't get to my bank until Wednesday afternoon.

Thanks again for the help.
this is the machine in question, but the machine I'm actually looking at:

I have passed up on some nice bikes due to a bad stator. That's because I changed one once, and it was a pain in the ass. Your mileage will vary.

Posted by jeepdave I have passed up on some nice bikes due to a bad stator. That's because I changed one once, and it was a pain in the ass. Your mileage will vary.

that's what I was afraid folks were going to say.
Now the other option for a new 4x4 ATV was at a dealer. It's an 04 Suzuki Eiger 400. It's a 5speed manual with high and low range available through all 5 gears (like a ten speed), plus reverse. It's got 428 miles on the clock and does like it has been ridden. They want $3200, which seems high to me. Anyways, they were going to give me $1000 for my Bayou 250 sight unseen which would've dropped the price to $2200... i'm not sure if I want to get another payment, though. The upside would be that I could put a plow on this one and plow out my driveway and fuel oil barrel path come winter time. Also, from what I have read all over the interwebzies, the Eiger is a pretty dependable, low maintenance machine.

I don't know... I like the look of that Wolverine and am partial to Yamaha's, but I'm not sure I want to tear into that and find out that wasn't the problem.

My dad has one of those, he loves it. I think its a 07 or 08. Great rigs!

They aren't really that bad to change its not like you have to split cases or anything just pull a few covers and 3-4 bolts and its off. There's marks to set the timing just align the marks and put it back together. It will probably take just as long or longer to run the wires up to the CDI box than it will to change the stator. The plugs should be all one way fit and unique ends on something that new.
Can you watch the plug (grounded outside on the engine) when someone turns it over to confirm that there's not spark?

I think the engine is pretty similar to the one in your warrior they might even share some internal parts which is a good thing that was a tough little engine. I would be slightly wary of it too but I wouldn't write it off completely. Also if you can put a compression gauge on it and see a good reading (120-140 PSI) depending on your elevation that would be another good tool in determining the value. If it reads low the thing probably need re-built in which cases it's not worth it.

Uzi has a point, stator may be much easier on the newer bikes. I was working on 70's and early 80's headaches.

I was thinking that $1000 is too much to pay for a machine that I haven't heard run.
I mean, i only paid $1400 for my Warrior and drove it up and down the road for ten minutes.
Still pondering... and by the by, a stator for that thing ain't cheap!

I asked my friend Grant; he tells me your stator is pretty easy to replace.
Why? He owns one!

See if you can talk the guy down to 8-900 just to cover yourself, but like others have said, I dont think the starter should be too difficult to replace.

Posted by terapr0 See if you can talk the guy down to 8-900 just to cover yourself, but like others have said, I dont think the starter should be too difficult to replace.

stator not starter

Posted by terapr0 See if you can talk the guy down to 8-900 just to cover yourself, but like others have said, I dont think the starter should be too difficult to replace.

someone else I know had already stopped and asked about the machine, expressed the same concerns I have and offered $850 for the machine. The guy wouldn't take it. I'm going to let this machine go.

Sam, wanted ya opinion. Bought a 2001 Kawasaki Bayou 220 for my daughter. Seems to run and ride great, has new tires and doesn't look beat too bad. Gave $1,400 for it (cheapest non china I could find near Xmas that ran and looked ok ). Can't remember if you had one and if so, any advice? Any thing I should look for?

Posted by jeepdave Sam, wanted ya opinion. Bought a 2001 Kawasaki Bayou 220 for my daughter. Seems to run and ride great, has new tires and doesn't look beat too bad. Gave $1,400 for it (cheapest non china I could find near Xmas that ran and looked ok ). Can't remember if you had one and if so, any advice? Any thing I should look for?

i had an 05 Kawasaki Bayou 250 (which is really 228cc's anyway). The Bayou is one tough machine. I weigh 300+lbs and it carried me all over the place. Up mountains, down mountains, through the mud, through the snow... it's a good low maintenance machine. First thing: make sure the fuel tank is clean, it starts easy hot or cold. Check the plug in it. Also, it runs the same oil as a Honda. DO NOT USE AUTOMOTIVE ENGINE OIL in this machine. Also, change the oil when you first get it. Other thing, i'm pretty sure it's the same frame as mine, the front wheels are sort of knock-kneed which means it handles kind of funny when you're pushing the front end. Just something to consider when you're riding it hard. With me on my 250, all 300lbs, it would pull to about 35mph. My friend Appleseed is about 150-160lbs and it would go in the high 40's. Also, you can ride all damn day on a tank of fuel. You put a set of mud tires on the back of that thing and it will mudbog all day long. Mine did with the factory nobbies.

My 250 was a tough as hell little machine.

I will check the tank. Starts on the first lick no matter what. Thanks for the oil heads up! I was wondering about the front wheels on tippy toes. Figured it was normal. Pulls good and I weigh 250. Thanks for the info Sam. Always can count on ya!

Posted by jeepdave I will check the tank. Starts on the first lick no matter what. Thanks for the oil heads up! I was wondering about the front wheels on tippy toes. Figured it was normal. Pulls good and I weigh 250. Thanks for the info Sam. Always can count on ya!

if it starts right up every time... no worries about the fuel or ignition systems.

Posted by Samurai if it starts right up every time... no worries about the fuel or ignition systems.

Goody. I got it so she could ride it for at least 4 years. Figured if it will last till she is 16 then I'll see if she wants something bigger/faster. But honestly, after riding it around the yard, I like the lil sumbitch myself