Diesel Quads

reilig

I have been playing with the idea for 12 months but finally at the stage where I am going to buy one - have a few cattle to sell in the next few weeks and will put them against it.

Has anyone got a diesel quad?
I have seen 1 or 2 for sale but they are rare in comparison to petrol ones. A dealer was offering me a good deal on a low hour MF 700cc diesel today. What would it be like? Dealer is a long way from me so how would they be for servicing or where would I get them serviced and are they hard on parts or have they any known faults?
I know they are arctic cats with a MF badge, so that should stand to them - they're very popular in the USA.

Looking on the internet, there are some great reviews on them in the uk. Slow, but strong as a horse and really light on diesel - I wouldn't be buying it for speed anyway.

The other diesel options that I could have are Polaris, but they are an even rarer find. Beyond that would be an Eco Quad, but reviews on them are poor - they appear to give a lot of trouble at low hours.

Anyone got any opinions or advice??

hammer73

you say that you are noy buying it for speed but what are you planning to do with it?

If its for rounding up stock then you need something with a bit of acceleration especially if the stock are a bit on the wild side.... i would think the diesels wouldnt be up to the mark.

The distance to dealer would put me off. As you have seen they are not common so what do they know about servicing. The day you buy is the day you sell and there are a huge amount of honda petrol quads about, so that must say something good about them.

Just my opinion for what its worth.....

denis086

Would this be the one in abbey retail in clerihan clean quad its come down a fair bit from what they started we asked about it a few times.

pakalasa

I suppose the one advantage of the diesel quad is you could put agri diesel in them.
Remember though that diesels really dont run right untill they are well warmed up. If you are going to be stop/starting something a lot, then you are better off with a petrol engine. No problem starting in cold weather either.

djmc

I was thinking along the same lines looking out for a 700cc arctic cat
I would stay away from the Polaris d-bat they dont have great reviews I think
they are a bit slow and dated wouldnt be as powerful as the mf arctic cat
The polaris would also need to be fitted with some kinda home made glow plug
to start in cold weather
You should ask dealer if mf has glow plug in them they might as the are a modern machine.
Not being near a dealer would not bother me I never went to a main dealer for a service in my life unless it was free.
You can get parts for anything over the internet nowdays.
I think arctic cats and susuki have a bit in common also.
Even though there diesal the engines are twice the size of a honda 350 big red so they surely have some poke.

vanderbadger

reilig wrote: »

I have been playing with the idea for 12 months but finally at the stage where I am going to buy one - have a few cattle to sell in the next few weeks and will put them against it.

Has anyone got a diesel quad?
I have seen 1 or 2 for sale but they are rare in comparison to petrol ones. A dealer was offering me a good deal on a low hour MF 700cc diesel today. What would it be like? Dealer is a long way from me so how would they be for servicing or where would I get them serviced and are they hard on parts or have they any known faults?
I know they are arctic cats with a MF badge, so that should stand to them - they're very popular in the USA.

Looking on the internet, there are some great reviews on them in the uk. Slow, but strong as a horse and really light on diesel - I wouldn't be buying it for speed anyway.

The other diesel options that I could have are Polaris, but they are an even rarer find. Beyond that would be an Eco Quad, but reviews on them are poor - they appear to give a lot of trouble at low hours.

Anyone got any opinions or advice??

i dunno reilig, quads are around a long time now and the diesel ones have never reallytaken off inspite of their obvious advantage, better to stick with the petrol i reckon..I asked a guy who repairs quads and motorbikes before about the polaris quads who have a diesel model and was told they were absolute sh1te..

djmc

I would agree the polaris diesel are ****e but the arctic cat are around since the 1970s the diesels are slow though about 45mph but how fast would you need to go around a farm
Just read also they do have glow plugs so should start same as diesel car or jeep in cold
http://www.atvriders.com/atvmodels/arcticcat2008utilitydiesel700atv4x4twoup.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Arctic_Cat_ATV_Finnish_Border_Guard_20100918.jpg

reilig

The quad is near Newry.
We have a MF dealer locally and they sell quads so I'm sure they'd get parts and do servicing. I do know that quad parts are easily bought on the internet.

Yea, it would be very cheap to run on green diesel and from reading reviews they are very easy on fuel.

As for speed, I'd imagine that with a top speed of 40mph they would be fast enough for any herding. But, my cattle come to the gate when called and I have a dog for the sheep so the quad will only be used for following them but mostly for looking at them. If you need a quad to go faster than 40mph for herding then you need a rifle rather than a quad.

I really want the quad to extract firewood from a plantation that I have. I have a lot of mature trees and no access to the plantation with a tractor as its boggy but a good powerful quad with a skidder would pull out good sized trees for me and at 700cc it should be up to the job.

Also, the old man isn't as good on the feet as he used to be and if I'm expecting him to look at cattle for me this year I'll have to provide some type of transport for him - my land is in a long narrow strip and I don't have roads through it all.

I'm tempted, but I'm going back up there next weekend to collect a machine so I'll sit on it and make my mind up by then.

Any other opinions are welcome.

djmc wrote: »

I would agree the polaris diesel are ****e but the arctic cat are around since the 1970s the diesels are slow though about 45mph but how fast would you need to go around a farm
Just read also they do have glow plugs so should start same as diesel car or jeep in cold
http://www.atvriders.com/atvmodels/arcticcat2008utilitydiesel700atv4x4twoup.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Arctic_Cat_ATV_Finnish_Border_Guard_20100918.jpg

irishh_bob

reilig wrote: »

I have been playing with the idea for 12 months but finally at the stage where I am going to buy one - have a few cattle to sell in the next few weeks and will put them against it.

Has anyone got a diesel quad?
I have seen 1 or 2 for sale but they are rare in comparison to petrol ones. A dealer was offering me a good deal on a low hour MF 700cc diesel today. What would it be like? Dealer is a long way from me so how would they be for servicing or where would I get them serviced and are they hard on parts or have they any known faults?
I know they are arctic cats with a MF badge, so that should stand to them - they're very popular in the USA.

Looking on the internet, there are some great reviews on them in the uk. Slow, but strong as a horse and really light on diesel - I wouldn't be buying it for speed anyway.

The other diesel options that I could have are Polaris, but they are an even rarer find. Beyond that would be an Eco Quad, but reviews on them are poor - they appear to give a lot of trouble at low hours.

Anyone got any opinions or advice??

massey dont make quads anymore let alone diesel quads so problems getting parts could arise

the fact of the matter is that diesel quads never really took off or worked right for that matter , polaris used to make diesel quads but they werent any good , sluggish in the extreme and troublesome , only company that makes them now are CAT and i dont think they sell them in this country , besides , their far more expensive than a petrol quad , what might suit you if your determined to get a disel ATV is a gator , be prepared to pay around 12 k minimum though , john deere make them but kubota make the best one

blue5000

why not get a used suziki jeep, light, 4wd diesel 2 seats?

MOC1972

I used to have a diesel polaris it was only ok belt driven
I traded it for a honda 450cc foreman 2005 the newer
diesels are more than likely good but if you buy a fresh petrol
one you will get parts easy and with the money saved buy
some tools like trailers spraying machine weedlicker
Just to add the honda is a great machine and easy
to run

reilig

blue5000 wrote: »

why not get a used suziki jeep, light, 4wd diesel 2 seats?

I have a jeep. It wouldn't access the places that I want the quad for.

reilig

MF quads are Arctic Cat with a MF badge so parts aren't an issue. There's a couple of dealers spread across the country and they are easily available online.

Polaris still make diesel quads. The ESB have just got a new delivery of a stack of Bigboss models and have a load of the older models - 6 wheelers. Reliable by all accounts. Speaking to a neighbour who has 1 on the back of his esb jeep today, it has 6000 hours on it. He says it will do nearly a day;s work on a gallon of diesel and if they're regularly serviced they give very little trouble. Sluggish, but plenty of power and will climb any hill with a load. As I said, I wouldn't be buying it for the speed. I want something with a little bit of power. So they might be another option. Have a sweet deal on the MF quad so will try to find out more about them - they use a lot of diesel arctic cats in the US army or so I have been reading. Americans rate them very highly.

irishh_bob wrote: »

massey dont make quads anymore let alone diesel quads so problems getting parts could arise

the fact of the matter is that diesel quads never really took off or worked right for that matter , polaris used to make diesel quads but they werent any good , sluggish in the extreme and troublesome , only company that makes them now are CAT and i dont think they sell them in this country , besides , their far more expensive than a petrol quad , what might suit you if your determined to get a disel ATV is a gator , be prepared to pay around 12 k minimum though , john deere make them but kubota make the best one

blue5000

I think the reason the US army have them is because they only use one fuel type, diesel. AFAIK they even have diesel motorbikes, based on a kowasaki klr 650.

Muckit

reilig wrote: »

Also, the old man isn't as good on the feet as he used to be and if I'm expecting him to look at cattle for me this year I'll have to provide some type of transport for him

I don't know if a quad would be the safest machine for an elderly person, just from a safety point of view. I'm probably being over cautious but go over a rough piece of ground or pull on trottle sharply and a person could be find themselves thrown off.

It happened an elderly relative of mine. Now he was driving an old type version with 3 wheels (trike?) but quad could have similar consequences

Would an old jeep not be safer? If your not bringing it on the road (which you can't legally with a quad anyway) you wouldn't have to tax/insure it.... just a thought.

I can empathise with having an elderly father helping out on farm.

My oul lad decided to feed cattle there about two weeks ago ......
and nicked a bullocks head with the shear grab:rolleyes: Thankfully a call to the vet and a few stitches later, all was ok.

irishh_bob

blue5000 wrote: »

I think the reason the US army have them is because they only use one fuel type, diesel. AFAIK they even have diesel motorbikes, based on a kowasaki klr 650.

the army in america must operate different than the rest of the country so , everything that moves in america runs on petrol , including lorrys

vanderbadger

Muckit wrote: »

I don't know if a quad would be the safest machine for an elderly person, just from a safety point of view. I'm probably being over cautious but go over a rough piece of ground or pull on trottle sharply and a person could be find themselves thrown off.

It happened an elderly relative of mine. Now he was driving an old type version with 3 wheels (trike?) but quad could have similar consequences

Would an old jeep not be safer? If your not bringing it on the road (which you can't legally with a quad anyway) you wouldn't have to tax/insure it.... just a thought.

I can empathise with having an elderly father helping out on farm.

My oul lad decided to feed cattle there about two weeks ago ......
and nicked a bullocks head with the shear grab:rolleyes: Thankfully a call to the vet and a few stitches later, all was ok.

my dad used a quad when he was alive, he had bad hips and couldnt really walk too far so he used it for herding, was a a great job for him, kinda made jobs like that manageable, he used to go very handy on it so no danger of capsizing..did that myself with a shear grab when i was a young lad, took a nice scalp off a cows head, its easy done when you are trying to get in close to barrier

reilig

Anyone see this ad on donedeal??

http://www.donedeal.ie/for-sale/machinery/1663620

Its no more a honda than my puch bike at home is. If you scroll over the picture in the ad and allow it to enlarge you can plainly see that he photoshoped the honda logo onto the picture

djmc

Its a chineese who flung dung hoondaa stay clear
On the diesal arctic cat note if you look them up on you tube you can see what there like and read comments under the movies from people who own them;)

St. Leibowitz

Relig, did you get the diesel quad ?? How'd it work out ??

Sorry for pulling up an old thread, but thinking of one of these myself.

reilig

St. Leibowitz wrote: »

Relig, did you get the diesel quad ?? How'd it work out ??

Sorry for pulling up an old thread, but thinking of one of these myself.

No.

Bought a petrol honda.

Did a bit of research on the diesel quads and all feedback came back pretty negative for reliability.

CJhaughey

The Kubota UTV would probably be the nearest thing, and they have cabs!
They look ideal for this climate!

enricoh

st. leibowitz i've got a john deere gator diesel 6 wheeler, got it second hand for 3 grand delivered from uk about 4 years ago, cant fault it. replaced battery n starter and a shock in 4 years -300 quid. runs on fumes, and has a fair lump of an engine in it with plenty of poke.
had the petrol 5 wheeler gator b4 that, good bit thirstier, pain in the arse running for petrol n half the power

razor8

anyone recommemd a good place to source a quad in the cavan/leitrim/longford/monaghan area from a dealer?

blue5000

Is JF hanley still in business or gone?

eire23

Jf hanley are still going, bought the last two quads off them. Couldnt get a fairer crowd to deal with:)

convoy

Keys quads in Enniskillen are sound to deal with,also peter (quads.ie) is super sound and will deliver anywhere,he is based in mulranny,co.mayo,always has a good selection.