Hello all Im new to this board and a new AC owner. I needed a new rig and after all of the comparison shopping AC came out on top.
I ended up with a new 2004 500 Automatic. It is my first Auto machine and it is taking some getting used to. It is primarily a work horse around the house and farm so for hard work, a few hunting trips, and the occasional weekend of trail riding this seams to be a great rig.
Just jumping in here to say hi to all and I hope to participate in some of the future talks on this board.

 

Welcome! This is a great site for a lot of information. One thing I really like is that you can post pictures, so lets see some of your quad in the mud!

 

Hi Freetrapper.

Welcome aboard. You'll find all kinds of good info on this board, and very little 'screaming and yelling'. Hope you like your new Cat.

 

Glad to have you aboard. Just a few bits of info for you on your machine-#1 If you ride alot above 4000' or live around that elevation have the dealer set the carburetor and clutches to the AC high elevation specs, this will make a nice improvement in performance and fuel economy. #2 Also if you got the extended warranty be ready to pay a $50.00 deductable after the 6 month factory warranty is up.

 

Welcome aboard man, this site is great for news, picture of mudding and always solving problems, the people here have saved me 100's of dollars by letting me know how to fix my quad and how to fix it right. IT'S GREAT!

 

hey free congrats on your purchase and good luck i am sure you will enjoy yours as much as i have enjoyed my 500's if you are looking at going for more of an agressive tire 27's are to big for a 500 cuts the power down to much and sucks the fuel alot and for a work horse the 500 has good power on low end and welcome to the site i have only been here a lil while and have finely tuned my 650 to the way i really like it now but ride often ride smart and ride safe

 

Hey Snox314,

You mentioned getting re-jetted if you ride above 4000 feet. What do you think the chances are that Cat thinks that far ahead and does that to machines SOLD above 4000 feet? We're at 4800' here in Carson City, NV., and we ride much higher than that? So far, no 'perceived' problems...

 

Thanks to all for the welcome. So far I love the AC. We just about purchased the 2 person version as my wife likes to ride but does not like to drive. However it really limits the rack space on the back and I need a lot of that for the other things I hope to use it for. Oh well we cant please everybody.
If anybody else has a 500 Auto Im wondering what the top end is on yours. I have great low end power but it did not have quite the top end speed I had expected. Any comments?

 

MrTommy.
AC doesn't build certain models for high altitudes. It is relatively easy to rejet and clutch them for your altitude.
MrTommy how is your fuel economy? Do you notice a slight miss at WOT? I would replace the 142 main jet for a 138 and
I know you will see a improvement in gas milage. Also have your dealer do th clutch mod to the machine.

Freetrapper,
I would think about the clutch mod and jetting it down a little, go talk to your dealer about these mods. With my machine (2004 500 Auto) jetted down (142 main) I see about 58mph, this is at 3500' at 70 degrees.

 

gunder,
Thanks for the advise. What does the clutch mod. involve? I will talk with the dealer but when I bought it I asked about some of the mods and problems that I had read about on-line and they seemed to really shy away from the idea of after market modifications. I have dealt with them alot in the past with other bikes (my kids bikes) and they have always been pretty good to deal with. However this is the first rig I have got from them.
As far as the top end I have not had this rig out on solid roads but on gravel county roads 46 was about it. However I am trying to baby it a little as it is still in the so called break in period.