My father recently purchased an 04 AC 650 LE. He had his machine for weekend use and had approximately 10-20 hours on the new ATV. While riding two weeks ago, he was driving at a speed of 25-30 mph around a gentle left turn on a trail. While half way through the turn he lost ALL control, swerved 90 degrees into an embankment and the machine flipped onto him breaking nearly every bone below his ribcage. Upon inspection by the local Sheriffs department and Insurance investigators, it has been the findings that a broken rear axel was the fault of the accident. I visited my father yesterday (still in the hospital) and examined pictures that were taken a week before the accident (first trip out) and I clearly could see from a photo taken from the rear that the rear left wheel was slightly bent at the top toward the machines center. I am wondering if this has been an isolated incident or is there a serious problem with the LE?

Please let me know--this is no joke and I hope I can save someone else before it is too late.

MO [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img]

 

hello ralphster5 im really sorry to hear about your father, umm 1st off, i think this machine could have been a total mistake and could have been a dealers fault by not making sure this machine was put together in all aspects. i really dont know how else this could have happened on a brand new machine.
again i hope you father gets well and i hope that he doesnt look upon ATVs as any downfall.

 

o and welcome to the forum

 

Thanks for the tip, Ralphster5.
I checked my LE & everything checks out A'OK.
Your Fathers LE may have been damage in shipping or the shipping crate may have been drop off of the fork lift, I have heard of other instances like yours happening before.
Hope your Father heals quick & is feeling better.

 

Im sorry to hear about the accident. Honestly though, It is widely known among Arctic Cat riders that the factory axles are weak. Arctic is aware of this and tried to beef up the axles in the 04 models, obviously not beefy enough. If I was him I would prosecute to the fullest extent that the law allows for faulty components from the factory. Arctic Cat needs a reality check with the durability of their axles. Please keep me informed of current events involving this incident.

 

sorry to hear about your father but i have to ask: do you not check equipment before riding.??? a picture was taken a WEEK before this and the tire was bent, and NO ONE NOTICED THIS?? couldn't tell when driving that the back of the quad would vibrate like a son of a bi!ch!!!!! not to mention when the machine is parked in the garage you couldn't notice that one tire looking bad. COME ON, my lugnuts were not tightened fully (by me) and i noticed that RIGHT away and that degree of looseness was not even VISIBLE!!! give me a break, and to blame it on arctic cat is the funniest thing i have ever heard!! what a joke. i forgot to put gas in my truck, better blame ford for not putting a big enough gas tank on it. I forgot to turn off the oven and my house burnt down, better sue Kenmore for not installing an auto shut off, my ARCTIC CAT snowmobile only runs on snow, who should i sue for the fact that we have no snow, cigarettes give me cancer I better sue the cigarette companys instead of just quitting!! this thread cracks me up. keep it coming. Don't get me wrong it is horrible what happened to your father but before you call the Lawyers i would destroy that photo because on the right fender i believe it tells you to to a precheck before riding, and obviously you didn't do that, thus making the accident not anyone's fault but the driver of the machine, does anyone disagree with me?? sorry but i am not buying. i will watch Court TV for updates, better hire OJ's lawyers to get any money for this one[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-frown.gif[/img]

 

Ya, I'd have to agree with LTMud, you're supposed to look the machine over before you ride, even more so when it's new. My dealer told me to go over the machine after a few hours, in case anything loosened up, like lug nuts etc. They can forget things. Ultimately, you should check it according to the sticker on the fender. I know you can't wait to ride and pass it over, but 2 minutes while it's warming up will save you lot of pain.
As for the lawyers and suing, that's just funny. Christ, is that all people think about now, suing people , getting money for their own stupidity, and ignorance. Accidents happen, all you can do is reduce the risk by looking over your gear, wearing good protective equipment and riding according to the conditions. Suing only cost us all, inevitably your insurance will go up, because some guy is too lazy to look over his machine.

 

Holy crap, if you read the 1st post you will come to the conclusion that ralfster5 is telling drivers to take a look at the axels?
Please let me know--this is no joke and I hope I can save someone else before it is too late.

This guys Dad just got injured on his ATV, that can happen to any one of us.
luvthemud,bluethumb where do you come off saying stuff like that you should address your post to the people who suggested suing, not to the original post? You don't even know if he did check or not, you are making assumptions.
I hope you also take the time to apologies to ralfster.


ralfster Thanks for the heads up, I hope you Dad gets better soon

 

So what you are saying luvthemud is that, it is the guys fault that the axle broke?

 

a picture tell a thousand words.
sorry to hear about your dad.
i hope hes back on his feet and riding again soon.
hopefully its still under warrenty and your ac dealer will fix it without any trouble.
but it is importent to give your quad a good once over befor you take it out every time.
i had a tierod end come loose on my 500 two times now, the second time i lock tighted it on and it seems ok now but i still check it out every time go out.
because you never know, the first time you dont and somthing go's wrong you'll be kicking you butt for not checking it.
anyways i hope your dad makes a full recovery and is back on his feet and quad soon.
P.S. dont worry about the flack youll get that from allot of people.