First has anyone had this problem? It all started one day when i herd a clunk. It sounded like my winch hook was loose. after hours of riding i still couldn't find where the noise wes coming from.Weeks latter I droped the machine off at my cat dealer in Maine. They also had no luck finding the clunking sounds location. So I droped it off at a dealer in my state NH. They told me they found the problem and they replaced my upper and lower balljoints. But as soon as I pulled the machine off the trailer I herd the CLUNK....So now it's war me and a buddy stripped the machine down and found the frame broke under the plastic that covers the airbox.the frame was broke in 4 places... My buddy ran home to check his 04 650 and also found the frame broke in the same place.... You all need to check your frames.. Arctic will cover the replace...

 

I don't have a 650 so I don't necessarily stay up on them but I want to say I have read about this quite a bit in passing. Hate to use the word but I think this is, well, common with your vintage of 650. A problem, yes to be sure, but, unfortunalty a common one. I think it was addressed by 05. If I am wrong I am sure others will be along soon enough.

Use the search feature for and look for 650 broken frame. I want to say there was a thread around here for a while titled someting like "who has had their frame replaced by arctic cat".

 

I have also heard of this but I know it was fixed because I askes my dealer when I bought my 650 this year. I think they welded different and used a heavier frame(which explains why they weigh about 700 lbs)

 

My theory on why 650 frames break: 650's have enough power to pull wheelies, hence a lot of broken frames when 850-900 pounds of ATV and rider comes crashing down.

The 500's, 400's, etc. don't have enough power to pull wheelies.

 

Mabey but I have seen alot of them jump higher than my 650 which would make me think they would break then.

 

i beg to differ maule i used to hang some sick wheelies on my lil 500 and well i believe it was just bad welding maybe not using enough heat or something but it isn't that terribly common i haven't heard of anyone around here that had that problem but i believe it was all in one area of the united states which i believe was in the northeast. i have snagged off more wheelies on this fourwheeler then your average person ever will in a lifetime and my frame is still good. make sure that if they replace the frame to get a loaner wheeler for your inconvenience cause that is a hell of a job to put a new frame in and it might take them a while.

 

so you think any fourwheeler with enought power to pull a wheelie should have a broken frames?? hmmmm wel is it just me or can a sportsman 500 h.o. 600 700 and 800 all can pull wheelies the grizzly 660 can to. so to me the problem is not the power. the problem is the design of the frame. A weld can hold 70,000 psi so it is not the weld. ether the metal is to weak or the design of the frame is to poor to hold the weight

P.S. i ahve to point out that artic cat is the only atv company that has problems with frames breaking.. they need to stick with snowmobiles

 

And you should stick with the yamaha forum

 

my thoughts exactly!!!!!!!!!!!

 

sry i was thinking of buying a artic cat so i came in here to see how many problems yall have with them... BUt aparently y'all have a quit a few problems. Atleast more than yamaha or polaris. So i have deffinetly made up my mind that artic cat sucks!