<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: oldyeller

Well I changed my tire pressures to 7 in the front and 5 in the rears and I'll give that a try....I was going to set my rear shocks up a notch or two but the piece of crap wrench that comes with the bike broke in half in my hand!..I tried with some vise grips and channel locks but just could not get the collar to turn in the very limited space between the control arm and the rim....Why wouldn't they have put the collar on the top of the shock where it's easy to get at and wouldn't be filled with sand?...



</end quote></div>

My wrench broke also. I have a Yamaha wrench made of steel instead of the cast one that comes with the AC.

 

good advice. especially on my body english. As far a stiffening the rear suspension? I just put new OEM shocks and springs on the rear a few months ago. They have no adjustment at all. (it's a '01 straight rear axle) I'm getting ready to order new front shocks tommorow.
I'll start using more pressure in the fronts though. I have been running 5-7 pounds in them.

I ordered 1.5 inch wheel spacers from Highlifter today. I am looking forward to seeing how much better it will handle.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Junkman673

good advice. especially on my body english. As far a stiffening the rear suspension? I just put new OEM shocks and springs on the rear a few months ago. They have no adjustment at all. (it's a '01 straight rear axle) I'm getting ready to order new front shocks tommorow.

I'll start using more pressure in the fronts though. I have been running 5-7 pounds in them.



I ordered 1.5 inch wheel spacers from Highlifter today. I am looking forward to seeing how much better it will handle.</end quote></div>

I did not realize that the rear suspension was not adjustable. You can fabricate spring rubbers from old tires (Semi tires). Basically they will look like a donut, and fit between the spring coils.
Be sure to set the front springs on the softest setting and go from there.
A critical setting is to make sure you have enough air in the front tires to eliminate the side-walls from rolling under.

Good luck

 

Good Idea about the spring spacers. Wouldn't they go between the spring and the bottom collar though instead of between the coils?

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Junkman673

Good Idea about the spring spacers. Wouldn't they go between the spring and the bottom collar though instead of between the coils?</end quote></div>

Either way. One that I mention is like what NASCAR uses.

 

all these so called lessons dont make the cat any better going up steep hills.
and it wont power slide around corners unless you got the nerve to give it tons of throttle and lean way over to one side.
i know because i put close to 3000 miles on my cat and it was still scary going up big hills. no matter how far forword you lean or how stiff your springs are it will still flip going up hill if you encounter any kind of bump that will cause the front end to come up.
cats have no sway bars so when your going up a steep hill the rear end squats and the front end lifts and next thing you know you upside down.
as for power sliding it sucks at that also.
unless like i said you go the nerve to whale on it.
arctic cats are a great crusier and an awsome mud machine but on the trails hills and fast riding thay plane ol suck.
this is just my opinion.
from putting 2800 miles on a cat.
if you want a quad that will give you a real thrill and take you anywhere you point it then your riding the wrong quad my 700 kawi proved that to me.
swing arm axels are more stable and way more fun then any IRS quad hands down.
IRS is good for cruising and mud bogging not hill climbing and power sliding and it turns like a tank.
and thats my lesson for the day.

 

I pulled the rear shocks out and cut up a old truck mudflap to put between the spring and spring collar. It looks really good.

While I was in it I found out my rear swing arms were shot! That would be the reason why the machine kept twisting so bad and lifting the inside wheel in a turn. (even a gradual turn)

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: mudblaster

all these so called lessons dont make the cat any better going up steep hills.

and it wont power slide around corners unless you got the nerve to give it tons of throttle and lean way over to one side.

i know because i put close to 3000 miles on my cat and it was still scary going up big hills. no matter how far forword you lean or how stiff your springs are it will still flip going up hill if you encounter any kind of bump that will cause the front end to come up.

cats have no sway bars so when your going up a steep hill the rear end squats and the front end lifts and next thing you know you upside down.

as for power sliding it sucks at that also.

unless like i said you go the nerve to whale on it.

arctic cats are a great crusier and an awsome mud machine but on the trails hills and fast riding thay plane ol suck.

this is just my opinion.

from putting 2800 miles on a cat.

if you want a quad that will give you a real thrill and take you anywhere you point it then your riding the wrong quad my 700 kawi proved that to me.

swing arm axels are more stable and way more fun then any IRS quad hands down.

IRS is good for cruising and mud bogging not hill climbing and power sliding and it turns like a tank.

and thats my lesson for the day.</end quote></div>

I am glad that you like your Kawasaki. Maybe you didn't have the your AC setup right. Sounds to me like you had your front springs too stiff and your rear springs too soft on your AC. I don't have any problems with hills or sliding my IRS.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Junkman673

I pulled the rear shocks out and cut up a old truck mudflap to put between the spring and spring collar. It looks really good.



While I was in it I found out my rear swing arms were shot! That would be the reason why the machine kept twisting so bad and lifting the inside wheel in a turn. (even a gradual turn)</end quote></div>

Maybe some new bushings will bring her back to life - lol... Good luck and keep us posted as to how you're making out. I generally check all my bushings (especially the shock bushings) every year and replace the ones that are starting to show wear. I believe it averages out to less than $10 a year. A couple bushings here and a couple there.

 

I just bought a brand new 2007 AC 650 H1. Ive been preparing to start a local cross country utility class for awhile. I know a pretty good deal about four wheelers but not quite as much as I see some of the people on here know. Anyways, I know that some utility racers race in 4wd and some in 2wd. I know the advantages of this and I prefer racing in 4wd in on the trails due to the ease that the quad climbs over and tackles tough terrain and on the banked and rutted out corners (it is slightly harder to turn) the 4wd hugs the corners and pulls you out faster. It also prevents the rear end from breaking loose on soft terrain. I was wanting to know if there were any differential, u joint, or any other axle pieces you guys would recommend for such high impact on 4wd. Thanks