I think I set a winching record today. I have a 2003 AC 400i with 27" mudlights. Everything was going fine I was doing a little trail blazing in 18" of snow. I have a trail groomer and have some nice trails I use for sking, walking,riding ect. To make a new trail first you need to break trail without the groomer. Then wait a day so the trail hardens and you can pull the groomer. Well I was half way around a one half mile trail I named the trapper when I hear this metal pop sound. Anyone guess what it was? If you said right rear axel, you get the prize. It broke at the upper CV joint. I must say without my Waren 2500 pound winch I would still be stuck. It took me 3-hours of high speed winching 25' at a time to get out. I am not impressed by these wimpy axels and have lost confidence in my machine. I was planing on using it Caribou hunting this year, but I do not trust these axels. Arctic Cat should do the right thing and recall and replace all these wimpy axels. Only problem they would have a hard time staying in buisness it would be so expensive. Yes my solution is Gorilla or Highlifter axels but they are way over priced at 300.00 each. Any one winch longer than that?[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Hey fellow Alaskan, that must of made your day. You only have 25 feet on your WARN or were you doubling the line pull?
One of my hunting partners bought the same wheeler and has not had any problems with it but he has not towed and this is the first I have heard of this problem, has this been an issue? if so I will let him know. He wants to add a set of 26 MudLites next year but if the CV Joints are going to break do to the aggressive tread and low end torque it might be better to stay with the stock tires.
He got a great deal on it, another friend won it in a raffle but did not want it so Frank gave him around 4000 for it(Stole it is more like it) and he realy likes it.
As for winching, we winched my meat trailer up a steep cut bank and the winch died(Superwinch) right before the crest with 400 pounds of gear and 2 Caribou in it. It took us all that we worth or I should say them as I could not let go of the throttle or the trailer would of crashed down taking my quad with it. There was a realy bad mudhole going up the hill and we got stuck pulling the trailer so after unhooking it we got the quad out but realized that if the trailer was going thru it it had to be offloaded and there was that bank, maybe 12 feet high. Should of unloaded the trailer, it would of been easier and less stressful. Later the winch started to work, it had just overheated and quit. Replaced it with a Warn soon after and have had not any problems. Pulled a Moose out of a bog with it, never quit, just kept pulling. AKBoy.

 

hey diktok, sorry to hear that, wish i could have helped you out, where you groomin at? did you get your machine home or is it still out there? you might go to the dealership and see if they will replace it, either way keep us updated on how its going, now you have me a little worried about breaking an axle. I rode around on thursday and friday behind your house on the trails there and didnt have any problems, really enjoyed myself. Good luck to you on fixing the axles.

 

Well, I wouldnt sweat it to much it dont happen to every AC. I hear the 04 has gotten stronger axles than the 03. But I will keep my eye open.

 

i would ask your dealer if you can install 2004 ac axles they are 25% stronger than the 03s my buddy had broken a rear on his 03 400 and i believe his dealer split the cost and installed 2 new 04 axles in the rear for him he ended up spending 250.00 to do it but he hasnt had any problems since and he has 28in outlaws hope this helps

 

yeah the o4 axles have been redesigned. This problem usually occurs when ppl are runnin 27 inch or bigger tires, i really havent heard anyone have a problem when they were running 25s or 26s. As for the gorilla axles being expensive, I've heard the factory ones are around 250 so if i ever have to replace any after my warranty expires i will probably spend the extra 50 and get the big beefy aftermarket axle.

 

Bigger tires will lead to axle failure as they are not designed for it. It will be interesting to see how my stock TRV holds up as it is geared etc for 2 people(600 pounds). I would upgrade to Gorillas if they do break. It's kind of like the Jeep Wrangler with the Dana 35C axle and bigger than stock tires, it's not "if" but "when" it breaks!

 

Thanks for all the replys. I do not think tire size has alot to do with it when you consider I was in sugar snow without much resistance. Heavy mud or steep rockcralling does put alot or strain on drivelines but light fluffy snow at slow speeds, I do not know. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img] Yes I was able to get back to the main trail and drive home, thanks for asking. I guess I do have 50' on that WARN ( mabe it seemed like 25 )[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]AK Fireman my trials are on the east side of the pipline. If you go down Mars Ave to stopsign go streight on Jessica Loop the road curves to the right, trail goes streight across pipeline. Once on trail it circles around and connects with other trails. Yes in 2004 they redesigned axels I might try that route next.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-cool.gif[/img]

 

Diktok, thats where i access the pipeline but never went straight across, i usually go down the pipeline towards town and ride some of the trails between brock and peede. I live off Homer so its just down the road. in fact my wife works at your sons school as the lunch lady.