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I purchased an 01 response in November hoping to gain easier access to property we own back in "the swamp". I admit that I know NOTHING at all about atv's/utv's so I didn't really know what I was getting into.
My first breakdown came in my front yard. After getting the "Devil Machine"
hereafter known as the "DM" home, I wanted to take my wife for a ride and it wouldn't start. This was simply a loose connection on the battery leads where the previous owners had relocated the battery from the engine compartment to the rear. I quickly found this and noticed all kinds of extra wiring under the hood that seemed out of place.
The second event came a few days later. After driving a short time on normal ground I decided to take it to "the swamp". I talked my brother "65 yrs" into going with me. We gingerly tested the water to see if "the DM" would actually float and move and when it did, we made our way into the near side of swamp where the "DM" showed its stuff. We were nearly back out of the swamp when the inexperience of the operator bit us. I slid it off into a pit of swampy mud that I could move in but could not get turned to climb out either end. I ended up wallowing around in this pit until it became the consistency of gravy. While in this situation, the throttle cable broke. Having no winch and no easy way to operate the throttle, we abandoned the machine in "the swamp" and walked out. The next morning we threw some limbs across the hole and used the inside of the broken throttle cable to run through the hood so I could operate the throttle by pulling on the wire. The argo came out easily.
The third event was actually a series of events, the first being able to get the "DM" off the trailer before a hunt and then it not starting after I got it loaded with my gear. I carried it back home and it started and ran fine. Later, I need to move some gear at "the swamp" and the argo ran fine until we hit the last deep water before getting back to the truck. It then would not run unless the choke was pulled part of the way out. After arriving at home, I found the fuel filter full of pieces of rubber. I then replaced all the fuel line from the tank, as well as the fuel pump. I also found the tank was not venting due to a clogged vent. After fixing this the "DM" seemed to run better than it ever had. However, I am still changing fuel filters due to rubber chunks still coming out of the fuel tank. Possibly a tank removal and clean is in my near future.
The 4th event involved the tires. The tires were well worn so I decided to replace them. After getting the new tires back on, I wanted to test drive so I bailed off into "the swamp" again. The "DM" would not swim!
It was better with the old worn tires. The only thing I could figure was that I had put the tires on backwards
I put the "DM" back up on the blocks and rotated the tires and all was well again. I did notice while changing the tires, that bearings/axles will need to be replaced in the near future.
The 5th event happened just a few days ago in the snow. The "DM" just didn't seem to have any power. It had backfired a couple of times the trip before and I thought that was strange since it had never done that before. I found that one of the plugs had fouled. I had noticed that the "DM" seemed to be running rich from the day I owned it. Hopefully that is what caused the plug to foul, but I haven't got this checked due to sickness.
My over all opinion on the "DM" is that
1. Maintenance is extemely important if you don't want to be walking.
2. It doesn't seem to be that hard to work on.
3. Parts are not cheap.
4. When all is working well, it is an awesome machine.
What I have done so far to the "DM is install a winch bracket and 4500lb winch. Replace all the rubber fuel lines and fuel cap. Replace all the tires. Replace throttle cable. Repair exisiting wiring.
It has been a learning process. Thanks to all who have posted their problems and solutions prior to mine. They have been a valuable resource to me as a new owner.
My first breakdown came in my front yard. After getting the "Devil Machine"
hereafter known as the "DM" home, I wanted to take my wife for a ride and it wouldn't start. This was simply a loose connection on the battery leads where the previous owners had relocated the battery from the engine compartment to the rear. I quickly found this and noticed all kinds of extra wiring under the hood that seemed out of place.The second event came a few days later. After driving a short time on normal ground I decided to take it to "the swamp". I talked my brother "65 yrs" into going with me. We gingerly tested the water to see if "the DM" would actually float and move and when it did, we made our way into the near side of swamp where the "DM" showed its stuff. We were nearly back out of the swamp when the inexperience of the operator bit us. I slid it off into a pit of swampy mud that I could move in but could not get turned to climb out either end. I ended up wallowing around in this pit until it became the consistency of gravy. While in this situation, the throttle cable broke. Having no winch and no easy way to operate the throttle, we abandoned the machine in "the swamp" and walked out. The next morning we threw some limbs across the hole and used the inside of the broken throttle cable to run through the hood so I could operate the throttle by pulling on the wire. The argo came out easily.
The third event was actually a series of events, the first being able to get the "DM" off the trailer before a hunt and then it not starting after I got it loaded with my gear. I carried it back home and it started and ran fine. Later, I need to move some gear at "the swamp" and the argo ran fine until we hit the last deep water before getting back to the truck. It then would not run unless the choke was pulled part of the way out. After arriving at home, I found the fuel filter full of pieces of rubber. I then replaced all the fuel line from the tank, as well as the fuel pump. I also found the tank was not venting due to a clogged vent. After fixing this the "DM" seemed to run better than it ever had. However, I am still changing fuel filters due to rubber chunks still coming out of the fuel tank. Possibly a tank removal and clean is in my near future.
The 4th event involved the tires. The tires were well worn so I decided to replace them. After getting the new tires back on, I wanted to test drive so I bailed off into "the swamp" again. The "DM" would not swim!
It was better with the old worn tires. The only thing I could figure was that I had put the tires on backwards I put the "DM" back up on the blocks and rotated the tires and all was well again. I did notice while changing the tires, that bearings/axles will need to be replaced in the near future. The 5th event happened just a few days ago in the snow. The "DM" just didn't seem to have any power. It had backfired a couple of times the trip before and I thought that was strange since it had never done that before. I found that one of the plugs had fouled. I had noticed that the "DM" seemed to be running rich from the day I owned it. Hopefully that is what caused the plug to foul, but I haven't got this checked due to sickness.
My over all opinion on the "DM" is that
1. Maintenance is extemely important if you don't want to be walking.
2. It doesn't seem to be that hard to work on.
3. Parts are not cheap.
4. When all is working well, it is an awesome machine.
What I have done so far to the "DM is install a winch bracket and 4500lb winch. Replace all the rubber fuel lines and fuel cap. Replace all the tires. Replace throttle cable. Repair exisiting wiring.
It has been a learning process. Thanks to all who have posted their problems and solutions prior to mine. They have been a valuable resource to me as a new owner.
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