Maybe a good deal for Ebay parts if you don't want to mess with cost of getting it going. Actually I've seen on Ebay some pretty nice looking ATV's that people was parting out, and I could not believe they was parting it out. Sometimes older parts bring a decent price.

Tony

 

Yeah, but then I am the one that has to ship everything out. Don't want the hassle. Not that much on this machine that would be worth it. Mostly the big awkward parts: plastics, transmission etc that would be worth selling. Wheels maybe, tires are shot.....Too much PIA for me to mess with it. It make take me a few months after I get started but I will have it up and running. Then decide what to do with it. I don't have to make any money on it. Either keep it or break even and I am happy.

 

I would put it on facebook market place or Ebay as is - I would't invest a dime in it

I've got several vehicles that have been abandoned since completion or before initiation of service that I will be putting up for sale soon:

2003 Suzuki LTZ400 (needs engine work) - been here 7/29/16 (no title)
2002 Polaris Sportsman 90 (needs motor work) - been here since 6/12/17 (no title)
2009 Schwinn 50cc scooter (may need battery and carb cleaning) - been here since 9/20/16 (will sue for title)
2005 TRX400EX (just had $1600 in new parts installed) - here since 12/28/16 (no title)
1982 Kawasaki KZ750 (had $2800 parts and labor - now been setting since 12/28/16 and will need a battery and carbs cleaned) (have title)
2014 Monster Moto minibike - here since 9/20/16 (never titled)

 

I agree with latebird on this one. Sell it "as is" for whatever you can get and move on to the next project. An old worn out machine like that isn't worth the time or money it takes to repair it unless you wanted to keep it.

 

Thanks guys! Part of me wants to take on the project just because I like to bring stuff back from the dead. The other part knows that this will be a project that never ends because everything I touch will need attention. I may see if any of the grandsons want a project. I am already too late to list it I guess. Already got some of the parts for the 2wd conversion. Spindles and hubs along with front brakes. When I get time I will take more stuff apart and figure out where to go from there.

 

How about some pics of the ATV, you got our curiosity up now of the so called POS. :wink

Tony

 

Good luck, let us know if you need any help.

 

Thanks Steve, I probably need my head examined. Here are a couple photos....And from my list of shit I know is wrong:
No compression
No brakes
Chain and Sprockets
Outer Tie rods loose
Belt chewed by mouse/mice
Radiator plugged (external)
Front and rear racks welded onto the frame
Headlight mount missing parts
Fuel shut of outer lever missing
Master cylinder empty with gunk in it

The rest was all dealing with the 4X4. Chains and sprockets shot, mid adjuster bearing out, hubs loose, front CV boots torn.....

I think I am gonna strip it down to the frame and start from there. I can get rid of all the middle and front 4X4 stuff and see what is savable from what is left over.

 

well atleast the rear fenders look good !
i know a guy who might have parts for those older quads if u need something hard to find.
Not sure if it'd be worth shipping parts from Canada, depends if u really needed the part i guess .

 

I guess over the years I've learned to be cynical - when somebody brings something like that to me, I tell them to take it back where they found it, or take it where no one else will find it. Then if they insist on having me work on it, I ask for $1000 deposit and tell them they can pay the balance when they pick it up and they can pick it up next spring because I won't work on it till winter. Most take it with them when they leave, but a few are dumb enough to leave it and I work on it through the winter. Gives me something to do on cold winter days and it's not my money I'm putting into it.

 

I usually don't get any money in advance. I create an estimate and keep the owner up to date as to what is being spent. Until this I haven't had any issues. I have gotten personal checks and cash. Never had to worry. This time, I should have figured it out when he brought it or when he wanted to set a budget for the repairs. When he didn't want to make it right I should have sent it home with him. Live and learn I guess. I do like the deposit idea though.

 

Thanks! I did some checking when I put together a list for the previous owner and I was able to come up with everything I was looking for. Whether or not I can find the same stuff when I get to the project or not remains to be seen.

 

I do something similar to what latebird is talking about. I can usually come up with a ballpark figure just for parts after looking at the machine a few minutes and then double it to account for approximate labor. That must be deposited up front. If that doesn't convince them to take it home, they must clearly understand it may be a few months before its ready... Don't call me, I'll call you! Only then will I take it in.

 

Thanks for the input gentlemen, I really do appreciate it. Again, this has been the only instance in a couple years of doing this. I am just working on other peoples machines as a hobby. I believe there is a market for fixing the older machines if it can be done cheaply enough. And I really do like bringing the older machines back to life. I started with a farmer friend who grows seed corn and has 4 machines that get abused by the help. And it grew from there. The Xplorer I did last summer ended up costing about the same amount as it's value. But that same money would have bought what we started with, not the reliable safe machine that we ended with. They made the decision to fix it. Everyone who brings me a machine is told it's a hobby and it will be done when it's done. Usually no one is in a hurry or on a schedule so they don't care. I do have a Yamaha Warrior 350 that is driving me nuts right now. And his wife has scheduled a trip to the trails later in July so he wants it back and I really want to get it back. I got it to run, but it won't take throttle. Everything tests fine....except the CDI which I can't test. His wife has the Xplorer that I worked on last summer.

I have learned from this one though. Knowing when to tell them to take it home, I am not interested.

 

Well I have to say I really appreciate having people like you stave7119, polman500,and latebird and those that I had not mentioned. I've learned a lot in a short time about the Polaris. I'm not a pro mechanic, but I'm what you would call shade tree mechanic, certain things I know how to do and other things I'd need some help.

There is a lot of us out here like that needing advice or help. It's sad you get into situations like the guy that pretty much dumped the machine on you. I'm the type that wants to know what's up front cost wise before I dive into something. Sound like that guy you was dealing with didn't have much common sense to figure that out to start with or was a con. Just wanted to let you guys know you are appreciated. :smile

Tony

 

Thank you for your kind words. I am glad to be able to help.

As for the guy that brought me the Trail Boss, he was just a jerk. I provided a detailed list of what was needed. He didn't want to spend all the money and asked that I fix just some of it and make the machine run. Basically he wanted to skip changing all the chains and sprockets which would save quite a bit. I agreed to that as long as I didn't find any safety issues as I tried to free rusted chains and other parts. When I found that the rear sprockets were really bad and the mid adjuster had a bearing out he still wanted to continue, just not replace the front and rear racks that I had to cut off the frame since they were welded on. When the front calipers were shit, he pulled the plug and didn't want to pay me for my time because I didn't "fix" anything and he did not pay for diagnosis. I explained the situation to him and told him that it was not my fault he had let the machine get to this state of disrepair so that it couldn't be fixed on his cheap ass budget. He called me money hungry because I found so many problems with his POS. Didn't really want to fight about it so I just told him to leave everything and don't call me again. He had wanted the battery he provided back. It didn't happen.