Fully sealed bearings are on everything now, sometimes though I'd like to have the ability to give a couple of pumps to the bearing. Especially after going through a lot of water and mud. I've seen sealed bearings fail after being exposed to harsh conditions. At work we added zerk fittings to everything we possibly can to ensure that the bearings are fully lubed. I will be the first to admit that it nice not to have grease after every couple of rides (just want the best of both worlds).[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Moose makes a front bumper for the 02 Cats, it is in the new Dennis Kirk catalog. You can keep the plastic racks on the Polaris as far as I'm concerned. They break too easy and it is harder to tie stuff down on them. They would be better with a extender like the 700 but they still break way to easy for me. I would like to see some stiffer shocks for the 02 ACT models. I believe these are too soft and no rebound damping makes for a bouncy ride, allthough smooth. I still need a locker too, this is at the top of my list.

 

bbbertan, the constant velocity joint your talking about is a u-joint. much tougher design than the cv joints today.

 

Has anyone considered taking the mesurements and designing the kind of front bumper you want, and taking the specs to a local machine shop. It might be more expensive, but in the long run, with some tinkerin you would end up with what you need. Just remember you'll be messing with your weight ratio, and you want a bumper that will absorb most of the impact and not bend the frame. Much cheaper to fix in the long run.
Rader

<< Hold on I saw this in a cartoon once, I think we can make it! >>

 

mudcat47537 I think I have seen one of those MUD bumpers but I do not think that is quite the type I am looking for. Although MUD makes some very good products!

 

So, I'm guessing, the u-joints are not used today because they don't offer as much of an usable angle compared to CV joints? I know the CV joints on my cat at at their maximum almost, they are at a wicked angle. I can't imagine a lift kit, you would be replacing them all the time. Just like HighLifter's 500i.




Where I live there is no machine shop, I live way up north in an isolated town. Otherwise I would maybe get some plans made up and make a nice bumper.


I think plastic racks are good for what I do, I don't use my racks for much. But it doesn't mean AC can't make better ones than Polaris, like a different design so you can tie down stuff better, stronger for people that need that. Hmmm....how about a small diameter tubing rack used as the skeleton and use the same type of plastic over top like Polaris does. That would make it really strong, it would look good for a long time and it should look just like a normal rack but plasticy. Of course the rack would have to be made of solid metal not hollow like todays racks.

 

The way it was explained to me by my dealer was that when almost all other atvs are lifted, they only get up to about 12 inches and that is what AC comes with stock. My dealer told me that the i models can handle 27' tires easy. he strongly recommended not lifting the i models because he said that it put a lot of stress on the bearings and joints and you would be having to replace them all of the time!

 

I have 26&quot; on my 500i and in deep snow when your stuck trying to get out the front end will knock some times, that really pisses me off. With stock tires it takes allot more to make the front end knock. If it still knocks in the mud this summer I will probably have to get lets aggresive tires or something. My last quad never knocked at all in the front and it had the same exact tires I have on now. So I'm guessing its because of the extreme angle the CV joints are at now or the front end is crap. I would guess both.

I really don't like the front end on the 2002 models, its 100% 3 wheel drive unless the tires are straight and then you will be lucky to get all 4 digging. My 98 Quadrunner was really good for pulling all 4 allot of the time, it was weird. If that new quading coming out from AC does not have a locker I will cry and go buy something else. Having no locker from the factory is a low down dirty shame and AC should feel ashamed.

 

I am hoping their new models will have a manual in and out locker mounted somewhere on the handlebar and that they will make it an upgrade accessory for the 02 models. That would make me a very happy Cat owner! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

You and me both.