Pages: 1
Posted by: Bear4570
I still think it was a carb problem and not electrical. Undercharging would cause the problem you described, but not overcharging. Overcharging would make the ignition hotter, not weaker; Unless your mechanic has found a way to change physics.
Posted by: Bear4570
Congratulations! You know, you really should update once in a while. If the wife didn't put as few miles on our 250 as she does, it would probably be ready for replacement.
Posted by: Bear4570
Quote
Originally posted by: mudfriendly
Thanks. Yeah you're right. This bike is alot nicer than my old one too. These things sure have come a long way since '99! A 400 isn't the biggest beast by any means, but it's plenty of power for me to putt around on. I've noticed a couple of people on here have those Venom winches. I was checkin' em' out on ebay and considering buying one. I wonder if they're any good?
A buddy just bought one for his LT500 and of course I had to wire it for him. Worked fine when we tested it. Haven't had to really use it yet.
Posted by: Catterman
Only thing I can think of is the valves. They do need to be adjusted from time to time. You can do this yourself if you have about an hour or two.
That is all I can think of.
Posted by: Catterman
Quote
Originally posted by: mudfriendly
Thanks. Yeah you're right. This bike is alot nicer than my old one too. These things sure have come a long way since '99! A 400 isn't the biggest beast by any means, but it's plenty of power for me to putt around on. I've noticed a couple of people on here have those Venom winches. I was checkin' em' out on ebay and considering buying one. I wonder if they're any good?
My dad has a 2000 500 auto, and I used to have a 2004 400 auto. Once my 400 was broken in it has as much power as my dad's 500. I think the Cat 400's are top shelf.
Posted by: weez440
i agree it is probably a valve that needs to be adjusted or is sticking. we just had that happen to an old motorcycle someone brought us that they couldn't get running and turns out it was the intake valve sticking so we set it and it purrrrs like a kitten now. i can't remember the clearence though i am sure someone else can give you what that should be. and did you also make sure your carb is set correctly? that happened before with my dirtbike to i was running it to rich and i leaned that baby out a lil bit and back to doing wheelies in 4th gear.
Posted by: weez440
you probably didn't get your main jet set correctly then. it would be a small one that uses a standard screwdriver to adjust. you don't have to take the carb apart to set it. i think if i remember correctly it should be about 1 3/4 to 2 1/4 turns out. from being all the way in.
Posted by: DavidLT250S
isnt there a low idle sqrew and a fast idle sqrew?? i've never had this problem on any of my fourwheelers but i know my ski-doo's have that problem somtimes, its not getting enough gas at higher rpms, when it is idleing try giving it a good shot of gas and see if it bogs out if it does i believe it would be the fast idle sqrew, i am not sure if it is the same with fourwheeler carbs.
Posted by: TROX90
might sound dumb, but have you changed the spark plug? same kind of thing happened with mine and that fixed it.
Posted by: mudfriendly
Hi guys,
I'm new to the site and desperate for some advice. It seems most of you are pretty knowledgable, so any tips you could give me would be greatly appreciated. I have a '99 arctic cat 500 4x4, which I purchased new. It has beeen a great bike and overall I really have no complaints. It's been sitting up since last hunting season when it was parked in descent running condition. When I went to pull it out of the shed the other day for the first time in months, I ran into some problems though. To make a long story short, I've installed a new batt., plug wire connector, plug, fuel supply line, changed the fluids, cleaned the carb., cleaned the air filter, and ran some fuel system cleaner in with the new fuel. But I still have a problem that I cannot seem to figure out. The bike idles fine and runs good through first and second gear, but as soon as I shift to third and the load on the engine becomes greater, it misfires and bogs down terribly. I've done everything I know of to remedy this situation with no luck fixing the problem. I don't think it's the coil because it's not a constant thing (in idle and through 1st and 2nd). One of my friends said something about valve gap, but I'm not so sure. This problem is a first with the bike and I don't think the source of it is anything major. I just don't want to take it to the dealer and spend big $ to fix a simple issue. Thanks in advance. Please help!
Posted by: mudfriendly
Well, I cleaned the carb for the 2nd time yesterday. Took the jets out and everything. I don't really know of any other major settings on the carb itself other than the idle adjustment. It's just a factory Mikuni carb, though. Is there another one I'm missing? Anyway, it's still doing the exact same thing and I'm just about ready to put it in the shop and let someone smarter than me figure it out. Thanks for the advice guys. I really appreciate it.
Posted by: mudfriendly
Thanks guys,
Yes, as I said in my first posting, I changed the plug. It's at the mechanic's shop now. Still waiting to hear what the problem was. Thanks for all the advice. Y'all take care.
Posted by: mudfriendly
Well, it's a new one on me, but the problem was the voltage regulator. It seems if it starts going out, then you get misfires when the motor is under a heavier strain, i.e., higher gear ratios like 3rd on up. Anyway thanks for the attempts to help fix the problem guys. It's duck season and you can find me on the lake! Be safe.
Posted by: mudfriendly
Back in the shop again! Has to have a whole new wiring harness do to corrosion from the voltage regulator overcharging. If it ain't one thing, it's another!
Posted by: mudfriendly
I don't know, bear. Like I said, it's a new one on me. But I do know the new regulator and battery fixed the problem the first time. Then, when I took it back in he spliced a wire from the battery to the back of the ignition key (bypassing the wiring harness) and it fired right up. After he got the old harness off, he called me in to look at it and show me some more about the problem and it looked like crap (very heavily corroded). Anyway, after it's all said and done, these two visits to the shop will have cost me about $800 bucks. I almost traded it in on a new cat the other day, but I've had such good luck and good times with it, I just hate to see it go. It won't take too much more money for me to kiss old faithful goodbye, though.
Posted by: mudfriendly
Replaced my old bike with an '06 AC 400 4x4 FIS today. Sure hated to see it go, but I really like my new one!
Posted by: mudfriendly
Thanks. Yeah you're right. This bike is alot nicer than my old one too. These things sure have come a long way since '99! A 400 isn't the biggest beast by any means, but it's plenty of power for me to putt around on. I've noticed a couple of people on here have those Venom winches. I was checkin' em' out on ebay and considering buying one. I wonder if they're any good?
