| Author |
Message |
    
Dean Durie
New member
Username: Jeepdoc
Post Number: 2
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 208.250.32.7
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 09, 2005 - 08:46 am: | |
I just picked up a Sierra Trail Boss an so far I love it. No that I have actually driven it anywhere since it has no motor but I like that it seems to be built well with lots of good, heavy componentry. I plan to make this my winter project and clean it all up and replace bearings, seals, the chains and what ever else needs work.
As for the motor I am leaning toward running a 4 stroke. I will using this mainly in wooded and swampy areas and I dont think I'll need to go much faster than 20-25 mph. I was wondering what is the minimal HP I will need to be able to comfortably operate this machine up to 20mph. I was thinking about trying to swap in a 200+ cc motor from a 3 or 4 wheeler. I was thinking I could use a jackshaft to gear the drivetrain so I could run around in 3 gear on the 3 wheeler trans most of the time and if I had a long stretch of farm lane or field I could shift up the trans and have a higher top speed and I could also down shift it when I need more power for steep climbs or pulling something. I would be using it more like a range selector (like a hi-lo transfer case in a truck) than a trans that I would be shifting all the time since I would still use the CVT. Could I make this set up work? Or would the 2 clutches(one on the 3 wheeler trans and the one of the CVT) not work well together?
Also, the Trail Boss doesn't seem to have much ground clearance with the stock tires. I saw one picture on this site of someone running 20 inch tires on their Trail Boss and I was wondering what brand there were and if there was any trouble making them fit. Can you go even bigger than that??
Thanks for all you help and I LOVE this site!!
--Dean |
Philip Croff
Intermediate Member
Username: F14crazy
Post Number: 54
Registered: 05-2005
Posted From: 204.38.93.23
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 09, 2005 - 10:45 am: | |
Not sure how big a Trail Boss is, but in my Amphicat I'm using a 13 hp Honda GX390 industrial motor. In my tests so far it's got plenty enough power to move it. Amphicats are kinda small though. |
Missouri's Max Dealer (Brandon Price)
Intermediate Member
Username: Brandon_price
Post Number: 61
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 69.27.205.60
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 09, 2005 - 09:57 pm: | |
I've had a few Trail Boss ATVs and they are fun. The transmissions can spin forward and reverse without shifting gears. That's fun but it is extremely hard on the drivetrain. Broken chains and sheered rear axle pins are common. Stregthen those two areas as much as possible during your rebuild.
Engine area is somewhat limited in the Boss. I wouldn't want to cut the upper body if yours is still in good shape. The Briggs Vangaurd 14/16hp engine would be plenty of power. I am not sure if the body with allow the V-twin design to fit, so check that first. A bigger engine will just cause you more problems with breakdowns.
Be careful on hills. The Boss's transmission braking is very dangerous. |
Chad (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 208.250.9.1
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, November 10, 2005 - 01:29 pm: | |
I have had 2 trail bosses.. I used a 14hp kohler 4 stoke in the last one with a 4 stoke clutch and it was a great motor for the application.
Plenty of power, speed, and turning was no trouble even on blacktop.
Brandon is right on with the drivetrain trouble with transmissions and shear pins. I ended up reboring the drive sprockets a bit over and the output shafts as well and went with oversided spirolock pins from Mcmaster-Carr instead of a regular spring pin and that made a significant difference. These look like a spring pin but have a few extra turns inside of them. They will still shear if needed but hold up better during the long run. |
Dean Durie
New member
Username: Jeepdoc
Post Number: 4
Registered: 10-2005
Posted From: 208.250.32.7
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 - 10:07 am: | |
Thanks for all the info guys. I will keep my eye out for a 14-16 hp 4 stroke this winter and hopefully I will have one by the time I get the rest of the machine cleaned up/repaired. I'll also make sure to do something about those pins. It seems everyone has had problems with those in the past.
Thanks again and I will sure I will be asking more questions soon.
-Dean |
Restoration of older ATV's