I was wondering if anyone else has had any trouble with water getting into the airbox on the 500i. I have had several rides when I was in fairly deep water/mud, and have had the engine sputter and try and die. I am sure it is water. It only seems to happen if I am in a mudhole and try and shake the thing to try and get some traction. I believe that the water is coming in through the "Duckbill" drain plug on the bottom of the airbox. I also noticed when I took off the airbox lid that there were watermarks from water seeping around/under the rubber gasket that is sealing the lid to the box. bbertram I am really interested in if you have had this problem, as you look like you are about the most xtreme rider that I have seen pics from. You look like you have had your 500 as deep or deeper in the water as I have.

My second question is for those of you that have 500i's with bigger tires. I am currently running 25" 589's because I bought them for the 400i that I traded in. I am thinking about getting some 26" tires, but I wanted to hear if anyone has had ANY trouble turning them. I know that bbertram has had trouble turning those HUGE laws in the really nasty stuff, and I was wondering if anyone else has had any problems.

It really sucks that there is no locker for the AC, I called Highlifter and they said that they were not even working on one. I would be willing to pay for a whole new front diff. for the thing, if someone would make it. Hell, I have been looking to see if I could get a rear diff to fit... Too much hassel for me though.

 

Well, I have driven in some very deep water and I've never had a problem. I did have a sputter problem when I first bought my 500i, so did some other people. But we all found our problem, it was a pinched hose. Look under your seat for a clear plastic hose that runs along the right side. It's a vent for your carb. The front right seat support seems to pinch the hose. I think this might be your problem. Route the hose under neath the metal, right now it goes on top. I put my hose on the left side and under neath. Oh and you will probably have to trim off some of the hose, I had too.

I haven't looked in my air box for water, never had to. It takes alot of water in the air box to drown out the quad. If its sputtering then it sounds like you have water in the carb. Turn off your gas, put something under the carb to catch the fuel and open the screw, to drain it. Let it drain all out, turn your fuel on prime, choke thee quad, and start it. Put the fuel to the normal position. See if that helps.

I haven't had problems turning my tires in deep mud, its just the deep sticky stuff that makes my quad power out. That stuff actually broke my quad, so I'll never go back into that stuff with my big tires, never. I would like more power though, I like to spin my tires, not just turn them. I'm usually in 1st gear high range for deep mud and 2nd gear for the normal mud. When you encounter deep deep mud with no bottom then you are going to want to spin your tires to clean them, just turning them doesn't cut it for this stuff. So the 500i will turn the tires almost every time and it will spin them some of the time. This is what I find with my outlaws anyways, less aggresive tires will have an easier time. I also have heavy steel rims, so that doesn't help either. I'm sure that vinson motor in the cats for 2003's will help alot with bigger tires.


PS: WOOT 500th post !!

 

First, congrats on the 500th post...
Second, you have some great pics, keep it extreme...

I know that I have had water in the airbox, I can see watermarks on the inside. It seems to only happen if I really throw the bike from side to side in deep water(over the tires deep but still below the level of the carb) If I stop throwing the bike around, the sputtering stops(after it works out of the carb). I think that the water is coming in through the drain plug in the bottom of the airbox. I don't remember having this problem on the 400, I wonder if there is a defect in the drainplug "duckbill" thing...

I guess I would have to take off the seat the next time it happens to see WTF is going on...

I have checked the hoses under the seat like you said, and I have not noticed that there is any problems. I did re-route then when I installed the winch. Havent trimmed them off, maybe that could be where the water is coming from.

I was thinking about some 26" Gators for the thing, but I almost got burnt when I bought the 26" 589's for the 400i so I had to ask.


I am kinda with you in thinking that AC has a great bike, but they need to go that extra little bit and they could have an outstanding quad. I rode AC sleds for most of my life in the north, and still think that they make the best sleds around. It is really a shame that the innovation that they have on their sleds does not translate over to their quads. The 03 lineup to me is kinda dissapointing, the only really cool thing is the slime green color... Gotta love that, I would have waited if I knew about that.

If anyone from AC is listening, GET A LOCKER. Those people who don't need it dont have to get it, but those of us who want it Really want it and are willing to pay for it.