Today I noticed a buzzing sound on my AC 500 while riding around the house. I looked down and noticed that one of the bolts that holds the metal cover for the exhaust pipe was gone. This is the part above the shifter, not on the muffler. I looked around and somehow caught a glimpse of it laying on the skid plate. I don't know how It stayed on there without falling out of one of the drainage holes. I had the thing maxed out at an indicated 58mph about 5 minutes before on pavement. Anyway, i got it out, put a split washer on it, and put it back. Then I tightened it and the other two up real good. This is just a thought to any AC owners. I have about 650 miles on it right now. You guys might want to check a couple of things like this and make sure they are tight.

 

Thats good advice Andy. Another set of bolts to pay attention to are the ones on the driveshafts. I have seen those works themselves loose sometimes.

 

Andy,

What gas were you running that made it do 58 on pavement?

I have had mine up to 55 mph (before I got scared and let off) on dirt with super unleaded (93 octane). In the same place I maxed out at 48 mph with Unleaded (87 octane)



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Arctic Cat 500, Not your average Kitty, The New King Of the Jungle

 

Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Smack

Ever since I got my cat home my "hood" vibrated. So, I took the "hood" off and put a thin peace foam and cut it to fit were the factory foam goes and simply glued it to the factory (black) foam. Smack!!!!!!! The buz was gone. Hope this helps the Arctic Cat owners.

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Arctic Cat 500, Not your average Kitty, The New King Of the Jungle

 

Robert, I normally use 91 octane. I would have to drive 10 miles to find a station with 93. Also, you have to remember that the 58 mph is just the speedometer indication. There isn't much telling whether it is right or not. I would guess that it was going a bit slower really, but I'm pretty pessimistic. I will say that whatever the thing actually does, its above 50 mph.
When I go to my uncle's house, I have to drive down the side of the hiway for about 3/4 of a mile to get to a dirt road that takes you there. The speed limit on this stretch is 50 mph. and every time I go down it, I have it full throttle and am slightly gaining on cars on the hiway. I always wait out the traffic (not much anyway), and then after the last car goes by, I try to catch it before I turn off. The speedo normally says around 56, sometimes a bit higher, sometimes lower, depends on the gas. I think it gained top speed as it got more broken in though. I let it eat after about 50 miles of break in for the first time, and it did 53 all out. Maybe 54 downhill (same gas -91). Now it has about 600 miles on it and will get to 57-58 on flat pavement about every time. I can get it almost to the yellow 60 mark going down big paved hills, but I run out of hill before I get there. I need to get a buddy of mine with a radar gun to check it sometime. I'd like to know how acurate the speedometer really is. Right now, I'm doubting it a little.

 

The two bolts at the front under the bumper right next to the skid plate worked themselves lose on my 500...i hade about 750 miles on it and tightented them....also the radtor panal on the plastic use to vibrate i jsut took some nylon string and cut out enuff to go around the inside and it stoped that vibration. Ive also got my cat to say it ran 55 on a dirt road usin 87 octane