Hunting & Fishing Artic Cat 500 4x4 engine troubles...Need help!!!

[Mgordon]

Shooters,

I'm looking for some help and possible somebody out there that has experienced the same problem that I am having and will be able to help me out.

I have a very clean 2007 Artic Cat 500 4x4 that I got from a hide member. It ran great, had more power than I could imagine. I went down to Central W.V. this last weekend for some trail riding and I had engine issues the whole trip and now that I'm back in Ohio, the quad is still running like crap. Elevation only changed around 100 ft less, so that is not the issues.

Symptoms:

Around 50% to 100% throttle, while the quad has a load (either pulling something or climbing a hill) I have no power. It sputters, pops, and just sounds like a raped ape.

Low rpm and throttle, everything works as advertised. Anything past that, it runs like crap.

Here are the things I have checked or did.

1- Change spark plug
2- Changed battery, ensured full charge and did a load test.
3- Changed fuel
4- Checked air filter, checks good.
5- Pulled carb, inside it was super clean, no dirt, sand, debris, old gas or any kind of residue.
6- Checked all jets and needles for debris, checks good, all the correct jets are installed.
7- Float is not stuck or bent up.
8- Pulled the vacuum piston or rubber diaphragm. I WAS PRETTY SURE THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE RUBBER DIAPHRAGM, but was unable to locate it a second time.



My thoughts are there is a hole in the diaphragm and its causing the carb to not get enough fuel when the carb is calling for it. Does anybody know how these systems work and if this sounds like it could be the problem. I honestly cannot figure out what the issue is and I'm running out parts to change and things to try.

Attached is a photo of the vacuum piston/ diaphragm.

Any help is appreciated.

Mark

 

[pwc001]

Re: Artic Cat 500 4x4 engine troubles...Need help!!!

It's because it is an Arctic Cat.

Just kidding, I have a 660 Prowler, and have had motor problems, and have rebuilt the top end several times, but some kids sank it before I got it.

Does it have a fuel filter that could be stopped up?

Electronic choke problem?

That looks like the same carb I have on mine, but hard to tell. I put a whole bottle of SeaFoam in mine, and it smoothed out my rough idle, I had some old gas I had ran through it, and let is sit for awhile, caused my issues.

These guys have helped me a lot, might try there.

http://www.arcticchat.com/index.php

 

[yotechsr]

Re: Artic Cat 500 4x4 engine troubles...Need help!!!

if it is a fuel problem check fuel tank make sure it is getting through fuel petcock. Sometimes they clog and minimize fuel. Four strokes tend to have valve problems...is it hard to start?

 

[Killswitch Engage]

Re: Artic Cat 500 4x4 engine troubles...Need help!!!

I sent you a text.

 

[northern50]

Re: Artic Cat 500 4x4 engine troubles...Need help!!!

Check the throttle safety switch. You should be able to unplug it, or loop it together to try it. Had this happen to a few snowmobiles, and a couple atv's. It will do exactly what you are describing.

 

[Mgordon]

Re: Artic Cat 500 4x4 engine troubles...Need help!!!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Northern50</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Check the throttle safety switch. You should be able to unplug it, or loop it together to try it. Had this happen to a few snowmobiles, and a couple atv's. It will do exactly what you are describing. </div></div>

I forgot to mention that on the open road, I can eventually bring it up to full throttle and get up to speed/RPM. But I cannot do this while I'm trail riding or going up even a slight hill.

I did some reading, and it seems like the TSS would not let you get up to full speed on the road if it was bad. Thanks for the suggestion.


I cannot find a petcock if there is one. We followed the fuel lines from the tank to the carb with no luck finding one. I'm sure the carb is getting fuel from the tank.

There is no inline fuel filter, so there is nothing to be clogged there.


The auto choke looks like it could be the next issue to resolve. I will start googling around to see what I can do to check it out.

Thanks again for all the help.

Mark

 

[In2b8u]

Re: Artic Cat 500 4x4 engine troubles...Need help!!!

Should have given a shout, I would have run my rhino up and dropped it off for ya.
The guys on this forum might be able to give you some help.
prowler forum

 

[ballsdeep]

Re: Artic Cat 500 4x4 engine troubles...Need help!!!

Have you checked the fuel tank vent, it could be plugged or kinked....

 

[Killswitch Engage]

Re: Artic Cat 500 4x4 engine troubles...Need help!!!

Mark,

I sent you info on how the vacumm slide works. It is attached to the main jet needle. At anything past half throttle the vacuum slide should open turning on the main jet. If you have no snap throttle or full throttle performance the diaphragm is bad or the main jet is plugged. You are seeing the issues because you are operating on the idle fuel circuit when you need main jet fuel.

It sounds to me like this is your problem as you describe it.

 

[northern50]

Re: Artic Cat 500 4x4 engine troubles...Need help!!!

Another good forum for the cat stuff is arcticchat.com

 

[livetohunt]

Re: Artic Cat 500 4x4 engine troubles...Need help!!!

killswitch is right on this one.I have seen several with that issue most were a bad diaphram. Ethanol being blended with gas has caused a lot of problems. I worked on a Honda foreman that had similar issues that ended up having a bad CDI.sounds crazy but we had tried everything else so pulled one off another quad and it ran perfect.

 

[Mgordon]

Re: Artic Cat 500 4x4 engine troubles...Need help!!!

Thats crazy, but I think you guys are correct. I'm waiting for the new one to come in. Everywhere seems to have it back ordered.

P/N 5507-099

 

[fern]

Re: Artic Cat 500 4x4 engine troubles...Need help!!!

its one of two things. 1 the diaphram if not moving free or its a fuel level is off. both are easy fixes, k&l tools has the fuel level gauge that looks like a big C with a little slide on the silde. if you cant find the tool pm me and ill lend you mines . my raptor did the same thing in the dunes and it was the fuel level . hope this helps

 

[lindahlish]

Re: Artic Cat 500 4x4 engine troubles...Need help!!!

Carb issues are among the most annoying to me. Float levels, small particles of sand and debris clogging jets, among many other issues could be possible. It's interesting that it's only under load however, that low RPMs has no issue but high RPMs and low causes the issue. Rear diff gears, transmission slippage, something of that nature possible?

 

[Mgordon]

Re: Artic Cat 500 4x4 engine troubles...Need help!!!

Update,

I installed the new Diaphragm pump/ vacuum piston and it seems to run a little better, but not what it was before all the trouble.

When I go up hills locally or power brake it, it will spudder run like garbage. Before I had trouble, this thing would spin all tires before it acted like it did not have trouble.

I'm going to check things with the auto choke and also the fuel levels like Shooting AZ said.

Mark

 

[SAKOstalker]

Re: Artic Cat 500 4x4 engine troubles...Need help!!!

get a honda..... kidding