just wanted to know how to check and what to look for when looking at the belt and the clutch/secondary? is there any gaskets that i have to worry about for the cover? should i take the floor boords off? and also at what intervals should i look/check it its a 03 , 500 that has 950 miles,, i only had it for a month and a half, so you can see that i do lots of driving,, i do push a 60" plow(inlow)

 

so ..... does anyone know? please help with some good info!

 

You should not have to check your belt unless you are having a slipping problem. There is a drain plug in the bottom of the case to drain water, but with the snorkel system you should not get water in the belt case. If you are plowing dusty snow it may sometimes injest snow which you will know if you hear a chripping when starting forward movement . Usually if you run it up to speed it will blow out any water. Also do not run without drain plug or dirt and muddy water will ruin brgs,seals, ect,.. The last thing has to do with design. The A.C. uses a different design then some others. The clutch belt stays under constant tension. It uses the same interal wet clutch as the semi-auto machines.
So when the engine is idling the clutch is not spinning. At 1300 the wet clutch engages and the machine starts to move. This is what gives it the same feel and engine braking and do don't have to slip the belt to get a heavy load started(i.e.Polaris)I' ve heard of units with 10,000 miles and still using orginal belt.

 

thanks but i would like to know what to look for when i do open it up,, and how to clean it properly anysuggestions?????
my pics ... check out the COOOOOL front bumper that i made

 

nice bumper, need one of thoses on my o3 500 cat

 

Ryano pretty much pegged it for ya BASSTOY.

You can check the belt for wear...shiny spots...check the sheaves for grooves or residue...If you clean your sheaves use a contact or brake cleaner but do not use it on any of the bushings. Also, choose a cleaner that doesn't leave an oily film. Check the bearing in the housing cover to make sure they are in working condition. Do not oil or grease anything in there. Basically, keep it clean and you will not have anything to worry about. Normally, unless you ride in a lot of dust or if water contaminates the system, you shouldn't have to crack open the clutch cover. If you are hearing the bark or the chirping sound coming from the housing don't be alarmed. We all hear it now and again.

I have used emery cloth to lightly sand my sheaves on my sled, but I haven't done it to my wheeler. If you do sand them be careful not to sand any grooves in them. Sand from the center out to the edge and work your way around both sheaves.

 

what are sheeves????

 

The sheaves are your clutch faces (the shiny part that grabs the belt).

 

Hey Basstoy.... the bumper looks great! Did you make the gas can holders too? I am in Halifax... I am considering buying an AC500... would you consider making bumpers and selling them? Did you attach the extra lights to the bumper you made or to the MRP rack? How do you like your 500? Would you recommend that I buy one? Where did you get yours - West End?

 

Hey eastcoastcat, i have a 03, 500 4x4 arctic cat, believe me if you get you one you will enjoy it.