Hi Folks, Well I need some advise. I was all set to buy a new AC, I have been doing research and watching all the forums and had my mind made up. All of a sudden on an other forum,( I think this is the best AC forum, that's why I'm asking you folks for feedback ) there is a post about AC 500's having problems with rings, heads, and smoking. Something about 30 % of AC 500's will need a rebuilt within 6 months. Now, I'm not going to jump to conclusions, maybe they are just jealous, but i'm starting to wonder, help me get back my confidence. Thanks.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif[/img]

 

I have yet to have any problems with my 00 AC. Goes through mud and intermittent lake with no issues, even when I do the drain, I get no water.

 

Unless you are breaking them in like a total idiot, or run them with water in the oil, you will not have this problem. I have almost 3000 miles on my cat and the only problem I've had with the motor is a blown gasket (I was riding the revlimiter for alittle too long). Right now it's down because I hit a 5 ft tall hill at about 20 mph and did a front flip. That kinda does alittle damage to most quads.

Anyway, if you break it in right and keep the drown outs to a minumim(2 drown outs so far and no smokeing) you should do fine.

 

jeepersmitty - I find that very hard to believe. I've got a '98 AC and haven't had any problems with it yet. Best bike I've every owned. I'm a AC man for life. You can't go wrong with one.

 

As we all know, AC uses the Suzuki engine-have they been having problems too? I don't see how just the AC 500 would be the one to have all these problems with rings, heads and smoking. 30% seems like a VERY large margin there, something sounds fishy for sure. We've had both our 'Cats for not quite a year and a half now, with none of the problems you describe. My Dad rolled his 'Cat several times down a very steep hill, requiring winching to get it back up top, yet the only thing that broke was the plastic speedo cover. It's been running great ever since then with no problems what so ever. I recently had the same string of bad luck as Boner did, by also dropping roughly 5' vertically at about 35 mph, and landing left-wheel first into the other vertical embankement. Like he said, when doing that, things break. At 1,200 miles, I have had no problems what so ever with anything not resulting in my own sheer stupidity. Like I said, I just had this little accident that was clearly my own fault. I jumped it hard, landed square on a stump on my airbox, which broke the corner off. That was again my fault, and very easily replaced for around $17. And, after turning it into a submarine, completely drowning it in the river, she pulled out and ran better than ever after I drained and replaced all fluids and plug. Now, my 1,200 miles sure doesn't sound like much at all compared to Boner's 3,000+, yet when you consider that probably 95% of my miles are under heavy working conditions, which put a huge strain on all components as well as the engine, it takes on a whole new outlook. I don't want to say disregard that entire comment, but I think I'd look for backup information to help support it before I bought into it. Maybe try calling a few dealers in your area and asking if specifically the 500's have had a history of problems with smoking, rings and heads. Granted you won't get a "strait" answer from all of them, but I'd bet that at least one would give you an honest answer somewhere if it were true or not. I guess the good thing if it were true is that the supposed problems occur within the 6 month time frame-still within the full warranty! heh heh heh [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img] Anyway, I've not heard of this myself, nor has my dealer had any replacements for such a problem. We're pretty tight so I know he's honest with me. Who knows, could be different in your area. There are lemons in every brand, yet I really don't believe this 30% margine bit-sounds like a load to me.

Best of luck,

Mike

 

I think someone is pulling your chain or ment to post that in the polaris forum. I'm just kiding! Those guys have been pounding each other over there lately about their quads and their reliability issues. I had one for a while and it worked fine. The suzuki engines are very sound and durable. The 500 use special cylinder sleeves for more durabilty and have an oil squirter on the bottom of the piston to help it stay cooler and thus last longer. The motor has normal compression, liquid cooling, large capacity oil pan, doesn't rev to the moon like an F1 Ferrari, and is geared fairly low to keep it happy. If you don't plan on running it at full trottle for 3 days straight in some sort of NAVY SEAL landing exercise in salt water and flames then it should hold together fine.

 

Never heard that one before!!!

The WarPony has 5600 hundred miles on her and LittleBad's got 2000 and there still running strong... I've checked the valve clearence on the WarPony only once and it was within specifications and have never checked Littlebad's velves.

On a side note,,,attn: Cowboy,,, I re-jeted Alex's bike over the 4th to a 142, cleaned up the belt houseing and ajusted the throttle cable like you decribed in a earlyer post and did gain some better responce time and top end speed.

 

Hey im a honda fan and i personally do not like ac's at all one of my buddys have one its a 2001 model and he has nothin but troble out of it and he has had it like no time at all hes had to: replac all the bushings in all 4 tires,m new boots all the way around new half shaft in the front end and right no its in the shop getting rings put in it it started smoking so bad it wnt even start and iv had my 300ex for 3 years and put through nuttin but hell its revlimter is in goin every where and the only thing iv hade to put in it is a new rear end besides a reguler tune up.

 

If weekend warrior has rode his Honda for 3 years, it looks like he has rode it from birth!!!!

 

It is disturbing to see so many complaints or problems on several different forums from Arctic Cat owners. (And non owners) Seems like all you read is how bad and un-reliable they are. I think all manufactures will have a lemon every so often. I feel bad for those who are having problems. Someone unfamiliar with Arctic cat would think they are not a very well built machine. We have had two Arctic Cats for over a year and half and have never had any problems or even been back to the dealer for service work. We ride with several other Arctic Cat owners and they too have had no problems. Gee….are we the only ones with no problems? I think AC builds as good a machine as anyone, some brands may do better in deep water/mud, or go faster, but as far as reliability, I think AC is right up there with the best of them. I admit some brands are just designed different and so, they may be better suited for your type of riding.
I will admit, we probably do not ride ours as hard as some of you. We don’t go under water or ride through deep mud a lot. However we do a lot of rock crawling in the mountains, ride very dusty trails, and a lot of long trail rides. I do service ours after each ride and keep the maintenance up. I think this is very important for any brand. Think about, we all ride these things through the worst conditions possible. The type of riding you do such as deep water, mud, hard rock climbing. Dusty conditions will all have an effect on the reliability… eventually.