Several on ebay, probably made in China?

 

Be helpful.

 

Battery. Or battery connections. This machine must be new to you. Every few years it's time for a new battery since 2001. Get the darn expensive BatteryMinder and hook it up often. It won't overcharge and your m/c style battery will last longer. Always ready.

 

Thank you JRHill. You could be right about the battery getting bad. It's been several years since I replaced it. I usually start the Traxter every month or so during the winter just to charge up the battery and this last winter the battery was dead a couple of times when I tried to start it so that should have clued me in that it was going bad. I just assume it was OK because it would run my winch when I needed to load the machine on to my trailer. Maybe the battery doesn't spin the starter fast enough to engage. I'll put in a new battery to see if that helps. If not I'll probably junk out the machine and I'll only be out the cost of the battery.

 

Junk the machine because of the low battery?!? I've got a winch on mine and its a MAJOR electrical hog that it takes the charging system a long while to replace. I have to do a maintenance charge afterward or run it for more than a warm up after winching. That's why they have a pull start rope. They knew people would waste the battery. nd hopefully not park it with a depleted battery.

@Ponyroper , can I buy you machine? I'll reimburse you for the battery too.

 

@JRHill I think you misunderstood me. I didn't say I would junk the machine if the battery was low. It's a great running machine when it runs. What I meant was if it needs parts and they are not available and it can't be fixed it might have to be junked. Even if parts are available the local Can-am dealer would charge a minimum of $3-400 for a minor repair. I can do very minor repairs if I have detailed instructions but if it doesn't have 4 legs and fur it's a mystery to me. I bought the machine for next to nothing with 245 miles on the odometer because it had been left set for a couple of years with ethanol gas in the tank and wouldn't run. Someone on this forum suggested it needed the pilot jet replaced and I found a set of You Tube videos showing how to do that and since then it purrs like a kitten. I'm hoping I can figure this out without taking it to a dealer because at it's age it would be hard to sell for anything but parts. Also, nobody is familiar with this old brand so even if it ran it would be hard to sell in this part of the country. The one time I took it to the Can-am dealer for brake work the mechanic didn't believe me when I told him the rear brake is on the left handlebar. I had to explain it to him. They charged me over $600 to fix the brakes. It's not even worth that now. By the way, I would make a large wager with you that you can't start this machine with the pull cord. I've tried and it has so much compression that I could barely turn over the engine much less get it to spin fast enough to start. I'm 6' and 245# so I'm no weakling.

 

I'd still buy it. But you gave me everything I need to negotiate it down.

I've tried and it has so much compression that I could barely turn over the engine much less get it to spin fast enough to start. I'm 6' and 245# so I'm no weakling.

I've NEVER started my 500 with the pull cord in 20 years. To me it's a joke - and it was on the 650?!? Right now I could go out to the machine in prime and not get it through a compression stroke. It won't happen. If one could do it you would break the cord.

 

Well the problem is definitely the starter not the battery. I found a YouTube video of a Traxter with the identical problem to mine and advice on how to fix it. It's way too complicated for me to tackle so it's going to stay a garage queen unless I can find someone to fix it for me. Thanks to those of you who made suggestions.

 

Darn, sorry. It could still be a simple thing.

 

I'll still buy it for $300.

 

Well let's see. I figure the local Can-am dealer could fix it for $7-800. Once it's fixed I should be able to sell it for $1500-2000. It seems your bid is a little low especially if you can fix it yourself. Offer me $1000 and I might consider it. Below is a link to a YouTube video of a machine that sounds just like mine. Unfortunately the only thing in the video that I understood is how to take the seat off so there is no chance of me fixing it. In case someone is seriously interested in the machine I live in central North Dakota. If you want more info or pictures send me your email address.

How to Replace Broken Sprag Starter Clutch on a 2000 Bombardier Traxter 500 (Easy Fix)