Each month we receive an overwhelming flood of technical questions from our readers. Everyone at ATVR including the night janitor carries an extremely heavy workload, so as a last resort we were forced to put Mike Newsom in charge of answering your questions. Mikey is one of the most talented mechanics we know, but it's his off-the-wall remarks and repulsive attitude that keep him locked away in the garage. If you dare to bear his response, send your questions to
atvrider@sorc.com. We promise not to let Mikey use your name and embarrass you in front of your buddies.
Ask: I recently purchased a Crossrunner 250 ATV for a very low price because I just couldn't turn down the great deal. Now I am trying to find parts for the rear brakes and not having any luck. Whoever owned it had completely removed the rear brake system. It has no lever for brakes and has no brake drum or hardware. The wheel mounts to the hub and the ATV works fine but lacks brakes. Any help you can provide would be appreciated.
Mikey: Sounds great, I have an unbelievable deal on a timeshare that you may be interested in as well. Just kidding, that would be as bad as admitting that I had purchased this China-made Crossrunner with missing components. I've always recommended buying these units in pairs so you'll have at least one set of spare parts available to keep one machine operational. It sounds as if someone may have taken my advice and has laid the parts quad off on an unsuspecting buyer (this would be you). Fortunately for you, I have had some luck locating a few Crossrunner dealers. I'm not going to name the dealers and promote these machines, but I'll tell you that they can quickly be found by performing a Google search. It's possible that one of these dealers could point you to a parts distributor if there is one. Good luck, and if your search fails, you could always consider buying a second Crossrunner for a parts machine.
Ask: I have a 2002 Yamaha Breeze that smells like oil when it's hot. Not only that, it also leaks oil out of the hole on the bottom of the gas on/off switch when it's very hot. The oil will leak everywhere, causing smoke when the oil touches the hot engine. The gas tank has a hose that goes into the gas on/off switch, so I'm praying it's not gas that's leaking. What could be the cause of this issue?
Mikey: The questions that reach my inbox never cease to amaze me. From what I understand, you can't distinguish between gas and oil even though it's dripping from the petcock/gas on/off switch? That should certainly be a dead giveaway to even the untrained eye. Park that Breeze and visit your Yamaha dealer to purchase a new petcock before you blow yourself up! A petcock rebuild kit may also be available, but I would be afraid to recommend this procedure after reading your inquiry. After a well-supervised install you should thoroughly inspect your ATV for any other leaks before, during and after riding. I don't wish to see or hear about you on the evening news.