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Posted by: minehunter
To check the mixture just pull the spark plug. It should have a nice straw or light brown color to it. Black and you're too rich. White or grey and you're too lean. No way to change the mixture without changing jets. At least it's that way on the 2000 models. I don't know the elevation where you live, but the standard jet is a 150.
Posted by: sxr6
I think it's normal for the pipe to get a little glow on long road runs. I know my 300 & buds 500 Cat both will glow a little on extended high speed runs. Cats only use single layer exhaust pipes unlike some other manufacturers like Honda that use double thickness exhaust.
Posted by: thud
instead of mounting a switch I would just go to your local automotive supply store and purchase a 'bus' fuse of the appropriate size. These fuses automatically reset themselves .Just remove the fuse thats currently in the fuse black and replace it with the bus fuse. ( you will have to make to small wire leads with spade connectors to plug into the fuse block as bus fuses usually have small threaded post connectors on them. I prefer the bus fuses to switches because theres no danger of forgettin to turn the switch on/off, if the fuse trips it will reset itself .
Posted by: dakotart
I had an old chevy cavalier when I was in high school that everytime the manifold developed a crack around the spot where the 4 pipes merged it would cause the computer to run lean(oxygen sensor would go nuts) and the headers would glow around the cylinder head. Check the mixture and then look for an exhaust leak or a plugged exhaust system. it only stands to reason that a high water temp will result from a really hot burning engine. If it is running that hot a stuck ring or piston problem is on the horizon.
Posted by: dakotart
Minehunter covered it right on.
Dakota R/T
Posted by: mudcat47537
I agree with cummins on cleaning the radiator. This has been the problem on every hot running Cat that I have seen. Just hold a light up to the backside of your radiator and see how much light is getting trough, I bet not very much. When they get good and stopped up the best way to clean them is from the back to the front.
I also run Water Wetter in all of my liquid cooled engines, it is made by Redline racing products. This stuff really works.
Posted by: mudcat47537
The opening temperature for the thermostat is (119.3 - 124 degreesF) this is when it should start to open. I know that on all of the Cats that I have seen the headpipe will glow when used hard, even my current 500 that is just a little rich. I have seen this discussed before and was told that the headpipes on the Cats are stainless and that they will heat up and glow before regular steel will. I don't know this for sure but this is what I have heard in the past. Also when we go to pulls allmost all of the quads there will have a bright orange glow down there after a pull. I have quit worrying about it, as long as the temp light doesn't come on I see no problem.
As far as wiring the fan on the 375 to run all the time I see no reason why you couldn't. I don't see any need to do so, I hate the noise of the fan running all the time. You also get into blowing fuses at water crossings and reducing the life of the fan motor. The reason why it comes on and goes off so much is because it has such a close on & off temp. It comes on at 320 and goes off at 284 F.
Posted by: Aczr2k
You can buy a resetable fuse that is the ATO blade style that will plug right into the existing fuse block replacing the standard ATO fuse, the only problem is that it is taller and you will have to modify your fuse box cover, there was a replacement cover (made by AC) that works with the resetable ATO style circuit breaker, but I don't know if it is still available. I'm with the rest of the guys, clean your radiator, the only way to get it truly clean is to remove, that way you can clean it from the backside as well, it doesn't even take a hour. ACZR2K
Posted by: Cummins
If you put in a switch you can either get a lighted switch or get a led like for car alarms and hook it up to the switch so that when the switch (single pole, double throw) is in the off position the light will be on. Mount the light right up in your instrument cluster.Now for the overheating. I would bet if you took your radiator off and gave it a good cleaning that would fix the problem. If you go riding in high water, mud or worse yet the combination of the two you probably have stuff packed in the radiator. If that doesn't fix the overheating problem then I would pull the thermostat out and check it to see if it is functioning properly.
Posted by: Greybeard
Are you assuming that the fan runs because the motor is hot? seens that some other manuf. puts thermstats on thier radiator fans, to only run when the motor is warmed up or under load.
My 500 fan runs all the time, yes the resetable breaker is a good idea for the fan because the fuse will blow if the fan is under water.
Posted by: scootdog706
Leaf, if your headpipe is getting orange, under fairly normal, even hard riding, ther is someting fishy going on. Your exhaust temp is too high, wich means that more than likely, you are right and you are running too lean. I have never heard of a 4 stroke quad getting that hot. Another possibility is that the exhaust system is plugged. I had the exhaust get plugged in a truck of mine several years ago, and it had the same symptoms(orange to red exhaust manifolds). Either way I would change something soon. If the exhaust is getting that hot, there will be damage to the engine sooner or later. Most likely burnt valves or even a cooked piston.
Posted by: MountainCat
Not sure about your switch question, but while I was at it, I would add a bigger fan. That would get more air moving through your radiator and help keep things cool.
Posted by: nickname
Does anyone think it would be a good idea to wire the fan on a 375 to have it run all the time like a 400 or 500 does. The oil cooler lines feel really hot when you touch them.
Posted by: Leaf
I've been having problems with my quad running hot since I bought it. I'm not sure if it's running too lean or if the thermostat is on the high side. Since my fan keeps burning fuses every time I go in the water, I've decided to add a on/off switch. What I would like to do next is install a temperature gauge off the temperature sensor for the water jacket on the head. Unfortunatly, it's a switch for a light and not a sendor. Does anyone know of a combination switch and sendor sensor exists? What is the thread size and lenght on the existing sensor switch?
Posted by: Leaf
A 'bus' fuse? I had'nt heard of that before, I'll look into it. The reason why I want to add a temperature gauge and keep the existing temperature light is to make sure I don't forget to turn the fan back on and overheat my engine. It would'nt take much since its already running hot. Thanks for the advise.
Posted by: Leaf
Thanks for the advice gentlemen...I am aware that the fan is always running, this is the reason why I will be adding an LED on/off switch to prevent the fuse from blowing when I go snorkling in muddy waters. The LED will let me know if the fan is on or off.
I do keep my rad clean and I'm running a 50/50 glycol water mixter due to the low ambient (-40 Deg Cel)in Northern Canada. The fan is always running, but the thermostat controls the water jacket flow in the head.
Although my temperature light has never gone on yet, I know my engine is running hot due to the fact that the inlet part of my exhaust pipe gets orange/red. I'm pretty sure my engine is running to lean or my thermostat is on the high side. I don't beleive its a rad cleaning problem or a fan problem.
I intend to leave it that way so I don't lose on power, but to make myself aware of the temperature, I want to add a temp. gauge and keep the temp. light in the panel.
This brings me back to my original question.....Does anyone know of a combination switch/sendor sensor that would replace the existing switch sensor in the water jacket head. Having a switch/sendor sensor combo, I would be able to keep my temp. light and add a temp. gauge. This would help me make sure that I don't overheat an already hot running engine.
Posted by: Leaf
Scootdog706
I checked my exhaust pipe and muffler and all is clear. Thanks
Dakotart
How would I check the mixture? Can I adjust it without changing jets?
Does anyone know what the thermostat temp. setting is? and what the normal engine temperature should be?
Posted by: bullets
I had one problem with my macine getting hot Icleaned up the radiator cover and everytime I got it in deep mud or water it only takes a minute. keep buying Artic Cat.
