Boner,

I used the 500 front springs on the front of my 300 and 3/8 inch spacers on the rear springs. After comparing the front 500 springs and the rear stock 300 springs I would say they are the same. I have not checked the part numbers to confirm this yet.

The 500 springs are a lot stiffer than the 300 front springs and worked great. The springs are the same height just thicker. I also used the 500 shocks on the front. They looked the same but had different part numbers. I figured the valving was set up different.

 

The 250 and 300 4x4's have the Suzuki front differential that has the three modes( freewheeling or 2wd, 4wd limited slip, and 4wd locked).

Arctic Cat is now selling a add-on shifter kit just like the 2001 models come with now(made from a steel rod instead of a cable like the 2000 back 300 4x4's had. This kit is advertised as being just for the 250 4x4, but I suspect it would work on the 400 4x4 as well as an add-on. I think the 400 is advertised as being 4wd all the time too.

People with the cable style unit were having to modify the cable or its brackets to get all three modes. However, with the rod style shifter, it will just get all three modes by playing with the lever position on the front differential. From what I have learned from dealers around here, all are asking $59 plus tax for the kit. If you look at a 2001 500 Arctic Cat, the shifter is identical to the one used on it. It is mounted on the left front fender at the very upper edge of the black flap next to the motor.

Oh yea, if you ask the dealers about being able to lock the front differential on a 250 or 300, they will flat out deny it and the notion that there are three modes on the differential. Liability issue I suspect since you can have the differential locked and run in high range at 35-40 mph. Trust me, it is a haus to try to steer on hard pack with the diff locked! It would be flat out dangerous when running at higher speeds.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you need more info.

Jason

 

NO, the 400 doesn't have the 2wd option AT ALL. It uses the same front diff that was used on all 400/454/500 4wd's before the auto's introduction.

 

jason how much did you pay for your Arctic Cat. Also does you fourwheeler has any problems with power and do you think it will pull 24in super swamper vampire good. thanks

 

Well, as for price, paid 4400 out the door which included the winch, 2wd/4wd shifter, couple of oil filters, and all taxes title registration. The bike retailed for 4399 then add on taxes etc. Also at the time the winch was a freebee, but I don't know if they are still doing that.

As for the tires, they are staggered in size. Rear has 24x9x12 and front has 23x8x12 .
You must maintain this staggered ratio when changing tires.

Power depends on your weight and how much stuff you will be carrying on the racks.
I weigh 170 and have yet to add a toolbox, but when I do it will be lightweight plastic. The bike has plenty of power for me and it pulls the TITAN 489's great. My only worry about going to an aggressive tire would be the weight of the tire because some of the 6-ply tires are very heavy compared to the titans.

I generally ride in low range 3rd gear for small hills and tight trails. I can start out in this gear. If in super low, I start out in 5th gear and stay there(about same as 3rd gear low range). High range, you must start out in 1st or 2nd gear on anything other than flat ground or slight grades, but pulls well through all 5 gears.

Now I'll trow a spin on this. If you are in 2wd, then high range is much more fun because there is less horsepower and torque lost when pulling just 2 wheels.

Overall this bike works great for me because I'm over the days when top speed was an issue. I'd rather crawl over small boulders in dry stream beds or tackle complex slow speed trails.
So your intended use becomes the deciding factor for the size of bike you need to get.

Hope this helps.

Jason

 

well if iy goes aleast 45 or near it i will be happy. but ilove to mud more than any thing thats why i would put some mud tires. Does it mud good or have you been in any mud with it. I would also put it to work for hunting reasons and ac sould be good for that.

 

Well, I'm not sure what top speed would be on the 250, but I would guess it would run in the low to mid 40 range. Don't have any idea how quickly though. Speed isn't my game anymore.

As far as mudding goes. The deepest Ive been in is about to the lug nuts on the wheels roughly 8 inches deep?
It is the real sticky stuff that makes the titans look like choclate covered doughnuts It pulls through that great, even though the tread is caked with mud. Use 2nd gear low range mostly for that because I didn't want to cover myself in the mud too much. I'd say that if you stayed with the same size tire in the Vamps, you shouldn't lose a thing. I've thought of upgrading in the future myself, but I'll have to get stuck first and not be able to get out with the winch to justify that. Alot of people are buying The Titan 489's as upgrades for their rides because of titan's reputation for a good all around tire. If you want to change tires right off, you might want to negotiate that in on the deal. Lots of dealers around here are putting vamps and other agressive tires on their bikes because they say it helps sell the bikes.

Jason

 

Forgot to mention, I put 3/8 of an inch of spacers under each front spring and got about 1.25 inches of lift. The Cat seems to handle better because the front and rear seems more matched. The ride is a little stiffer, but nothing to gripe about. It also steers a little easier and quicker.

Jason

 

Do the owners have pictures of there cat with the lift from the sping spacers.

 

Brownbear:
I've got a full roll from my elk hunt, but the damn developing place lost the entire thing. They've put a trace on it twice now, and still have no idea where they are-this is almost a month ago now. If they ever turn up, I'll get them posted, and let you know.

Mike