Ask: Hey Mikey, for whatever reason, the four-wheel-drive on my 2002 Suzuki Vinson is not working. It'll display that it's in four-wheel-drive, but it really is not. I hear a clicking sound when pushing the 4x4 button. Do you have any idea what the problem could be?
Mikey: You could just leave the Vinson in 2WD and stick with the girls, or if you're not afraid of getting your hands dirty, I can give you a few tips to help determine the root of your problem. I assume the clicking you have described is the actuator engaging the 4WD. You can remove the actuator from the front differential to see if the actuator is indeed working. If not, you may have a bad switch. You can also manually engage the 4WD by turning the nut where the actuator engages for further testing.
Ask: I just had my Yamaha Blaster serviced by one of my dad's friends to fix the carburetor, and now he's saying it backfires and that I might have an electrical problem. Where could this problem be coming from?
Mikey: If the Blaster wasn't backfiring before daddy's buddy got hold of it, I think you know what the problem is. You failed to mention what the initial problem with the carburetor was, so this makes diagnosis difficult. The Blaster is a simple machine, so figuring out the problem shouldn't be too complicated. It is a two-stroke, so begin with a new plug, check the spark, check for bad fuel, drain the carburetor bowl looking for water or trash, clean the air filter and, last but not least, figure out what daddy's friend did to the carb.