Category Archives: BRP Traxter / Quest

Latest Project 2003 500 Traxter

Well, got a 2003 Traxter 500 on trade for about $400, but the guy confessed that it smoked like chimney. Put gas in it, cleaned the spark plugs and put a fresh battery in it….sure enough. Smoked so bad that it drove me out of my shop in short order. Think I found the reason it is smoking, but now need to find the reason the oil ring failed. I’m thinking the cylinder is "egged", but gonna mic it first chance I can. Everything looks great on the body and the even the CV boots are in great shape. I hate having them bored….pain in the rump. To add insult to injury, my 2000 Traxter 500 seems to have had the magneto go out on it. WAY to many projects….

Here is the latest project……..

Attached Images
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Rebuild Quest-John Deere 650 EXT

I’ve rebuild the engine on my 650 EXT. I’m getting ready to put the head on. I remember reading somewhere about the centrifugal weight on the timing gear and how you can just leave it off Is that true? Also, can you remove the pin that goes in to that cam that the weight pulls on?

Any help or info on this is appreciated! Thanks!

JD Buck 500 Engine and Tranny Issues

I’ve been reading this forum for a while. I’ve got a JD Buck 500EXT we’ve had for about 5 years. Never had any issues until the last year. It started smoking blue smoke back in the summer. Still starts good and sounds good other than the smoking. About two months ago started having issues with driving. When in gear driving it was like it didn’t have any power, then the rpms would build up and it would take off. If it was going slow or kind of idling it was worse. Yesterday I started it and shifted into High, it jerked and I heard a popping sound. Now it won’t start in gear with brake down, when it turns over it is lunging forward. It starts in neutral fine then when you shift into High or Reverse it jerks and kills the engine. I was able to get it running in gear at first and it shifts through the gears fine, but soon as you stop, the engine dies. I have no experience troubleshooting Atv tranny’s.

Questions. Is it worth fixing both the engine and tranny, has low hours and miles on the unit? Do I have to use John Deere parts for these issues? Any ideas on the fix for the tranny? Thanks for any input.

2001 Traxter won’t go into Diagnostic mode

Anyone come across this?

Bike starts up and drives but won’t auto shift. It will shift manually.

I’ve searched all over and found nothing. Bike is in Neutral and first gear, put in the jumper (brand new from the parts store) underneath the LF connector and the bike in the off position. I turn the bike to on and no diagnostic mode.

Bike starts up and runs, if I push the start button.

Am I missing something? Any help would be great. Thanks

2001 Traxter won’t go into Diagnostic mode

Anyone come across this?

Bike starts up and drives but won’t auto shift. It will shift manually.

I’ve searched all over and found nothing. Bike is in Neutral and first gear, put in the jumper (brand new from the parts store) underneath the LF connector and the bike in the off position. I turn the bike to on and no diagnostic mode.

Bike starts up and runs, if I push the start button.

Am I missing something? Any help would be great. Thanks

Front propeller shaft

my front prop shaft on the front diff side has broken,and i am trying to remove the broken clevis/yoke and the bolt is on super tight..i used a propane torch to heat it up.impact wrench,liquid penetrate…..nothing is working……….any ideas folks :tools1: :tools1: :th_smiliepullhair:

ECM question on 05 traxter 650

bought this old turd with the intent to get it running, looks like someone was taking parts off it but not anything that can’t be replaced.
making progress but I noticed the ECU has one big plug and two small gray wires going into it. ONe of the gray wires goes to the ground terminal of the battery, but the other one is broken and I can’t find the other end to determine where it’s supposed to go.
Anybody have any ideas? I’m guessing +12V but i don’t want to fry it if that’s not correct.

slow crank/no spark

My 2000 Traxter has gone from running great, to trying to start at first crank, to now it has no spark at the plugs and turns over sloooooowly. Battery has 12.4V and tried to test the resistance on the coil and seemed to be in spec. The plugs on the brain are all clean and very snug. Fresh spark plugs but nothing.

Any ideas?…please don’t tell me it is the sprag clutch…changed that about a year ago and would not wish that on my worst enemy. Took me over a month of my spare time and just about lost my religion over it.

2002 Traxter shocks interchange with Honda

A big shout out to Brett at Highlifter for being patient with me and verifying that ’01 and up Honda Rancher and Foremean front shocks will fit my Traxter.
Ordered them today, so no more spring seats slipping over the stupid little bumps on the shock body allowing tension to come off the spring!:th_smiliepissed:

$159.95 per pair and two day delivery:th_smiliebanana2: