Are all Arctic-Cats with the "True-Four-Wheel drive" like they say for the 500 on the front page of atv connection?

 

I looked up in the 2001 AC catalog and couldn't really find much of anything on the "new torque sensing front differential". The only thing I found was what the article referred to on page 11, which was the 400 model 4x4. It seems that all the features of the 2000 Auto 'Cat were added to the full AC lineup for 2001. As a result, the front diff from the Auto 'Cat is now on the manual 500 and the 400 as well. The 300 and 250 4x4 use a smaller axle, which can be modified rather easily by the purchaser of the machine by adjusting the length of the selector lever. This gives you a 4x4 and 4x4 Lock engagement in the front end for true four wheel drive. Myself, I can't tell you exactly how to make the adjustment, though there are several AC 300 owners who can if you're interested.

Hope this helps.

Mike

 

The 250 and 300's use a standard limited slip front end. The 400's and 500's use the torque sensing front end. This feature was listed in the brochure for the 2000 400 4x4. I have a 2000 400 4x4, but I have never experianced what Bob wrote about happening. It seems to me that Andy or someone put his 500 up on blocks except for one front wheel and could not get it to pull of the blocks, if this feature works as Bob says, I might take mine back to the dealer to have him check it out.

Cheers Jim

 

The 400 has the same front differential it has always had, only the 500 manual got the 2000 Cat-o-matic's front differential.

The 250 and 300 come from the factory with normal limited slips, but can easily be modiffied to have true 4wd also.

The 400-500 auto 4x4's have a slightly better fonr differential than the 250 and 300 4x4's when stock.

I have gotten the 4th wheel to pull by taping the brakes many times, but I have never spun my tires to the point where the 4th tire kicked in by it self. I must admit that I have a 1999 model also. So that might be the difference.

 

If they changed the differential for the newer models, they sure didn't say anything about it. I would think that if this improvement was made, it would be a fairly important selling point. Everyone looks at that aspect when comparing quads.

The 99's will never kick in a wheel thats not spinning. They forever more do have the limited slip. I jacked up the 500 on blocks all the way around and did the test just to prove this to myself if nobody else (kind of hard to give somebody hard evidence in a post). Grab one front with your hand, and gas it. It will give a little surge and then you can hold it with one finger while the other spins like a wild man! The one held (with traction) will never do anything.

 

At the Hurley,Wisconson Memorial Day Rally I watched the Artic Cat 500s in the mud against Yamaha Grizzlies. The results were all one sided, in favor of Arctic Cat. Not to offend the Grizzly owners but they all did the 3 wheel sit and spin while the AC 500s burrowed through the mud holes like a Polaris. My fellow riders also noted this fact. My brother in law said, "I've got to admit it, I'm quite impressed with the Arctic Cat." (He owns a 500 Magnum) Now if they could only put them on a diet, lighten the steering and make the automatic more responsive....

 

i don't know about these here new fangled machines but i know when i mash the gas on my AC 454 it goes anywhere i want to stick it's nose. i have yet to stick it. thats all.
454 AC
400 explorer
lester

 

The 99's will never kick in a wheel thats not spinning.

Wrong Anday, I have gotten a nonspinig front wheel on my 1999 Arctic Cat to spin many times by siply taping the brakes. There were a couple of times where even this didn't make the other tire kick in, but most of the time, it works for me.

So never say never.

 

I think I've heard your brake tapping story about 20 times here so far. Thats good. Problem is, I have never gotten the brake tap thing to do anything other than make a front tire kick a little, and never got anywhere near getting unstuck or on up a hill that I was spinning on. It may work for you, but It has never worked for me. Now as far as something I put up here being "wrong", where did I ever say anything about the brake tapping myth? Personally I think its a load of overrated BS, but then again it works so well for like 3 people.

 

never never never never never never never never never never never never never never never never never never never never never never and never again.