Home Forums Gear Horses and ATV's Dealer won't work on Atv over 10 years old.

My brother has a Yamaha Grizzly which was imported from England by its previous owner and has to be 15 years old . Gets serviced at the Yamaha dealer no issues.

Unless its a warranty job , paid for by the manufacturer , which a 10 year old atv would not be. The manufacturer doesn't have a say in what aftermarket parts are sourced and put on the customers atv. That is totally between the customer and the dealers service department. Once the atv is out of warranty the shop operates just like a nondealer repair shop would. Including deciding what they work on and what they don’t. Based on that the customer can decide to buy their new atv from whatever dealer will make them happy.

I had, several years ago, a 2002 Polaris 500 that wouldn't always start.
Took it to a large Polaris dealer down in Lakeland. They would not work on it because it was too old.
Took it to a private shop, repairs done.

I think the dealer didn't want to spend time sourcing parts for older units. Just a guess.

^^^^^^ The dealers are a rip-off going with a Private shop if you can find one that has a good reputation is the way to go, they work on most anything and are more affordable.

Here in SWFL I dreaded taking my machine to our dealer. Expensive and not very good. I am much happier with the private shop I found.
The guy is sharp and loves working on ATVs. Up at my lease in AL I use the dealer. They are really great to work with. We have had good service from them on our old atvs ( some over 20 years old) that I bought a new SXS from them. All my machines stay up there in my warehouse so I don't need any service down here.

boarmaster, was told that from a buddy that took his 11 year old back to were he bough it from for cv joints

The local Can-Am dealer here won’t work on any ATV that has a carburetor. EFI only.

Lol he's picky.

i had at the time 5 technicians working in the shop I managed and only 1 new what a carburetor was and how to work on it ....he was 45
most younger techs dont know what or how a carburetor even works...

always loved the people who thought dealers were rip offs until they have their machine screwed up by a person who doesnt know what he is doing but knows everything...their are exceptions and I have seen both

EFI implies computer which also implies diagnostic port. Quicker to diagnose/repair and put more volume through the shop, rather than carb rebuilds/jetting issues etc.

Ain't that the truth.

Makes sense didn't think of that but I'm just a basic mechanic.

What I should have said is some dealers are rip-offs and they are. You do have good ones out there.

Agreed. See that a lot with Harley too. People are quick to call the dealership crap and cry for the Indy but around here - there's not an independent I'd trust with my stuff over 2 specific dealers.

Sometimes the independent guy is just the dealership guy who got fired for being garbage.

Dealers are not rip offs if they won't work on a vehicle

if that is a question then no they are not rip offs....maybe you should try working on a ten year old pos that Bobbys friend worked on and cut the wires and ran new in ten different colors that dont match or maybe stripped out two bolts and you get the blame for it even if its rusted so bad covered in cow schit it was going to break anyway...and as far as things being simplified with a plug in port for a computer I would say you have very little experience if you think it is that easy

My current, 20 year old project. It's a 2004 YFZ450. Previous owner had the web around the the wrist pin come apart on the piston and send pieces into the engine. I got it for less than the price of the OMF bead locks on it are worth and I'm 99% sure the crank is still good. There's no way someone would pay a dealer to do this work.

$200 bucks got me a brand new, OEM wiring harness with all plugs. I'm replacing every bearing in the bottom end, including the transmission. All new seals. New not rebuilt OEM crank from Yamaha/Japan (out of a 2008 to make it a true 450cc, 20mm longer than a 2004 rod), OEM cylinder new from Japan, Wossner GNCC piston with coatings, new bars, throttle, head rebuild with Kibblewhite valvetrain, maybe cams and I'll do all new plastics from Maier and seat cover.

Trying to talk myself out of actual restoration - PC the frame, Houser long travels and Elka stage 3s. BUT I got this to simply get back in to racing. Vet class cross country. If this goes okay, I'll buy a new YFZ450R which are fuel injected instead of carb like this and keep this as back up/play/spare machine. Let the kids ride it, should be in the 40 to 42 hp range when done. Combined with the 2 sleds behind it - there's approximately 300 hp of stock machines there.










The 450's a good machine.

Looks like a good project you a better mechanic than me.

Found some pieces of the piston in the bottom end along with the wrist pin retaining clip. Crank is still good basically.

Glad nothing got sent up into the transmission.