First let me say I have been reading this forum for months and finally got off my lazy @#%*, and registered. I purchased an AC 2002 300 4x4 this January and I am very intrigued by the ability to lock my diff. I have read forums on how to perform this modification on the 2001 models, but none I have found address the issue on teh 2002 model. If any of you guys have performed this procedure or know how please reply, and thank you in advance.

P.S. God bless Arctic Cat!

 

FireMoore, I'd love to help you out with your issue, but I don't have my 2002 300 4X4 yet...

Which brings me to why I responded. How do you like the 300? In the next 30 days, I am going to get a 300 4X4 for myself, and a 250 2X4 for my wife, both 2002. Any regrets? Anything you want to add (accessories) that you wish you would have added day 1?

Thanks! and I look forward to hearing back from ya.

 

hey dude , afraid that the 2002 models are different then the 2001s . it dosent have the ablity to lock like the old ones did , sorry I have a 2002 400i same thing , kinda sucks dont it , va chunky boy , o yel welcome to t he connection ,

 

Chunky:

are you sure that the 300 can't just because the 400 can't or were you only mentioning the 400 as a side note. The 400 was never able to do whereas the 300 could at one time. I don't know if they can now or not..

newf

 

Well Buckweet its like this the AC 300 is very capable as a trail bike or or for puttin around but it doesnt accelerate or top out like the big dogs but it does have its good sides. The ride is quite plush, few vibrations, and it is one of the best medium spped trail quads I've ever ridden (if that makes sense). The fact is I come from an AC family and I am the only 300 I never slow up teh pack on trails, but on teh gravel roads they pull away a bit. Hey, we all got budgets and I was fortunate as a 22 year old college student to be able to afford a new quad and overall dont regret teh purchase at all. Another point is that those high speeds can only bring trouble you really dont have any business going that fast. The torque isn't a problem going through the three range transmission, quick stroy I pulled a trailor with a AC 500 auto up a steep gravel driveway with ease (but not with speed). I am not trying to discourage you with the whole speed thing but didnt want you to be suprised when 45mph is doesnt come without a decline, you will love it for trail riding.

Hope that helped any other questions just post'em and I will get around to it

 

In 2002 A/Cat went to it's own front diff & they left off the lock feature which was in the earlier bike because they were using the same units that was used on Suz King Quads

 

Thanks sxr6 that is what I had feared, I was just checking to see if someone knew something I didn't.

 

gee thanks

 

As far as I know, all the AC 250/300 bikes have a conventional front diff. This means that the wheel with the LEAST traction gets the power. The net effect of this is that you really only have 2 wheel drive in situations where one front wheel is elevated or in thick mud. Suzuki 250/300 bikes have a locking front end which really works, as I have seen when out riding with my friend. Honda advertises a "torque sensitive" front diff on the 350 Rancher and Rubicon I believe. I have observed this work in practice and it is superior to AC's front diff.
JKB says that the 400 and 500 AC have a torque sensitive front diff. Why doesn't AC advertise it in their brochures? Read his view in the thread "More information needed on the performance of the 500i". In my view AC needs to address this issue and soon. All the other manufacturers are putting locking front diffs on the bigger bikes. Other than that I like my bike, it is superior than most 300 class bikes in stability, suspension, braking, etc. But I won't buy another ATV without a "locker". I'd love to hear other views on this topic.

 

i have read on here about locking the older(2000) model 500's and such using 6 bolts in the 6 holes in the diff. anyone had a 500i or 400i apart to see the diff??