Just purchased 2004 Arctic Cat 300 ATV. Ran great for a few days, then very suddenly won't rev past idle. Starts fine, idles fine. Will rev for just a couple seconds when it first starts, then won't rev past idle. Can shut it off and restart and rev again for 1-2 seconds, but then rev past idle. Possibly rev limiter? Where is it and is there a way to bypass it? Any other ideas?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Updated info: this seems very odd, but if I push and hold the starter button, it will rev. This is a manual transmission ATV. The owners' manual states that the reverse speed override is only for units with automatic transmission. Then indicator lights clearly show it is in neutral when I try to rev it. Seems like maybe the computer gets confused as to what gear I am in. The starter button must double as a reverse speed limit override. This is very consistent. When parked and in neutral I cannot rev at all past idle, unless I push and hold the starter button. Maybe I'll try resetting the computer by disconnecting the battery.

Any ideas on this would be greatly appreciated.

 

Updating this for the benefit of future readers with same problem. The problem turned out to be an intermittently bad voltage regulator. Maximum voltage when running, at the battery should be no more than 14.4 volts. When experiencing the problem, I was see over 18 volts. Turning on anything electrical, lights, brake light or starter would make it rev ok. Replaced the voltage regulator. So far problem solved.

 

Thanks for your update (and sharing its root problem). Never would have guessed a faulty voltage regulator would cause its problem. Thanks for sharing...