Mikey: I don't hear from old-school trike owners very often. Especially ones that get fuel to the air cleaner! Is your carburetor on backward, or have you been sniffing gas? I assume you meant to say that you're getting fuel to the carburetor. If you're getting fire with a hit of starting fluid and it won't run, it's a safe bet that you aren't getting fuel into the cylinder. Your Big Red is an older machine with a metal tank, and I would be willing to bet you have trash in your carburetor. It only takes a small particle becoming lodged in a jet to stop things up.
Ask: I have a Sportsman 500 and the battery will not charge on the ATV. The battery is new and all connections are good. Do I have a stator problem? The Polaris dealer wants $600 to install one. Is there a way to test to see if I have a stator problem? The dealer said if it was not the stator, he would try something else, but I would still have to pay for the stator. Tell me why I am not going to take it in to get fixed.
Mikey: I'm stoked to hear that you didn't start replacing parts at random until you happen to stumble upon the problem. That's the difference between a parts changer and a technician. My first piece of advice would be to find a new dealer. You seem to have a good head on your shoulders and chances are that you could probably fix it yourself. To answer your question, yes, you can test the stator and you should before needlessly dropping $600. This procedure is detailed in the service manual. You would be amazed at what you can accomplish with this book and the desire to ride, so quit your whining and start wrenching!
Ask: I'm having problems with my Yamaha Warrior. It keeps blowing fuses and the electric start doesn't work. The pull starter gets to be a hassle to use in colder climates. What should I do?
Mikey: Parking on top of a hill would give you the option of kicking it off when you're ready to ride. Dude, fix the starter and find out why the fuse is blowing! It's obvious that there is a short somewhere. Did the fuse start blowing at the same time that the starter stopped working? Start with the obvious, then expand your search. Inspect the wiring harness looking for any sign of chafing or damage to the wires. Don't procrastinate and wait for next winter. Repair it now while the weather's warm and you can enjoy it!