LJTech 800CC buggy?

Posts: 1229

This why I asked the question.....Any body can go buy a container load of machines and sell them. Easy money so to speak. They will take your money and that is the last they want to hear from you.

It especially concerns me that the machines have been sitting in some warehouse for more than a year....nearly a year and a half since manufacture date.

There is a difference between getting a good deal and the actual cost of owning, down time searching for parts and the headaches involved for that same machine.

Buy from a reputable dealer that will take care of you and the experience will undoubtedly much better. I could be wrong. You might be just fine buying that machine and never have a problem.

Most of the engines and trannys used on the machines are similar but if you look at the designs and other features most parts do not swap from one manufacturer to another.

Glade

Posts: 1735

could you pm me with your exact location and the craigs list cities around you if you do that i will look on cl for you and try to find you a joyner of buggy of good manufacture for cheep

Posts: 85

I live in Vancouver WA and I have been squaring CL in my area for a while. I am ok with having to do a little wrenching I worked as a mechanic in my early 20's. This buggy is about half the cost of a used 800CC Joyner. I really appreciate the concern for me but I am willing to take the chance. I really do care and am happy for your concern. It is a gamble and I may be wrong but I don't think I am.

I am very leery about this buggy so I am sending 2 friends to look at it one is a welder and the other a mechanic they live where the buggy is. I feel if I do some due diligence I should be OK. I am a hobby machinist and fabricator so customizing or repairing does not bother me. A 90 day warranty no more than I will use it does not mean much to me if we were talking a couple years then I might consider spending more through a regular dealer.

I would rather have a Joyner no question but I would rather spend under 3K for an 800CC machine compared to $7K I can afford to make a few changes and upgrades for the difference. I may be wrong I have been before and I am sure I will be again.

Can someone answer my question about whether I am better buying a carbureted motor or EFI for adding a Turb to it? I am thinking a Weber carb then the turbo. If anyone has experience with this exact model and knows they are bad let me know.

I am not crazy about the frame so I may buy a Prosand frame and use this buggy to build on the new frame or I may just build a frame from scratch or I may just run it as it is.
Mike

Posts: 1735

ok but we warned you lol have fun with it any buggy is fun and i wish you good luck

Posts: 1273

Gundog...don't pay any attention to these two joyner enthusiasts Laughing

THe 800cc is much easier to get parts for than four years ago when I bought mine Exclamation

It is the same 800cc that was found in the joyner, do a search for 800cc's and you will see the good and the bad. They ALL have issues, there All from china, that is why they are so inexpensive.

YOU Will be much happier than in a 250 cc Joyner...it will probably cost the same as well Rolling Eyes

PM Westcoast on this site, he seems to be the current 800cc guru, do a search for posts by laymansm, Socrates, westcoast, Ma0990 for more info. ALso check the mod section for the above.

electrical, cooling, Old rear CV's, have been a problem in the past. Old transmission were geared to high, not enough torque off of the line...should not be an issue in an 07. There are fixes posted for all of the above issues.

Good luck

Chris

Posts: 200

hey thats the exact same buggy as mine, color and all. just thats a newer one. and for $3000? I say get it for sure. I paid $4000 a year ago for a 2006 Roketa and it had all the old design problems, the main problem was junk axles. after upgrading the axles and fixing some other design issues it has proven to be a very reliable and capable machine (that 2007 in the pic has all these issues fixed and lower gearing than my buggy). The only other issue I have had is a broken front spindle but that was after months of regular abuse. I drive this machine very hard on a regular basis and it takes whatever I throw at it. I have no regrets from the very first gigantic drift I did in it....
As for parts they are easy as pie to find, dont worry about that at all. I bought my buggy from a dealer who had a part source but I still never went back to him. I get all my parts from the people on the forum. desertoys.com, awesomebuggy.com, Sean at minisandrail.net, are just a few people to get parts from. and you are a machinist?? heck your set for life, you will probably be making upgraded parts for your self. These buggys are easy to work on, not much to them and lots of room to work on the enigne.
I would also stay away from the chinese EFI, the chinese wiring is horrible you will have problems with that. and the carburetted engines are really easy and cheap to upgrade, just ask WEST COAST on this forum he hooked me up. you are definitely on the right track switching to a weber carb than blow-thru turbo. Nowadays you can peice together a turbo kit for well under a $1000. Try talking to Jojano on this forum, he has the same buggy as me with the Unleashed turbo kit on it.
Trust me in the end it will be worth $3000. Roketa has a bad name and people will say a joyner is better. that may be true to a point, but a joyner costs twice as much in your situation, and it is not that much better or different to warrant the huge price difference. well thats just my opinion anyway
good luck and have fun

Posts: 944

Go for it. I have an LJ tech, a Joyner, and a sunl. All have strengths and weaknesses. The joyner is the best, but for the price you can get it, you can upgrade everything that needs to be and still be way under the joyner price. Good luck.

Posts: 3572

Got that credit card out yet? Wink

Posts: 1735

haha yah lol as long as it has been identified then go for it

Posts: 85

Well I picked one up yesterday a few things were different when I picked it up. The actual manufacture date is 3-17-06 so I am sure it will have some of the issues the earlier models have I decided to get a fuel injected model. They also sold me a complete set of sand tires with wheels for an extra $300.

Price of the machine was $2950 in the crate. I will put it together today and take some pictures. If I like this one I may go get another one before they are all gone I think he has about 7 left. If anyone in the North West is interested I will give you the details just send me a PM.

Mike