older arctic cat advice please

[spring snow hero]

I posted this in the AC section too, but I figure there might be some guys that used to ride cat that switched and don't go there so I posted here too.

I am going to pick up a powder extreme for a buddy. he has never thrown a leg over a sled in his life so a $500 sled he gets. the motor is described as running with no power.....we'll see when I get it home......never seen it.

my questions are can anyone point me to problem areas.....like my 700 poo, bust the rope and wipe out the water pump belt.....things like that.

also where is a decent place to buy parts right. I am betting at least one piston is in the sleds future.

anyone have a link to jetting/clutching info.....240lb rider, 3-7k not piped.

how many sleds share parts with the powder extremes?

performance advice? close guess on HP?

any info is appreciated. I am sure there is gonna be at least one "don't waste your money" so please remember tis is a guy who has never touched a sled and just wants to putt around and look at critters in the mountains.

thanks.

 

[reloader]

If your not in a major hurry I would look through E-Bay for my parts, you will save a lot of money.

 

[sprockethead]

Is a heavy pig for a 600 but can make good HP. Stock the sled was rated at 118 hp. Like reloader said lots of parts on ebay. The ZRT6 and the EXT 600 are the same drivetrain as the Powder Extreme 97-98. The ZRT went to power valves in 2001-02 then was not made anymore, but anything from 95-00 wil work. No water pump belt to break on these cats. The driveshaft bearings would be something to look at on this sled, the speedo side. For clutching try to pm sledjunky, he had some zrt's that ran pretty good! Some after market pipes will make pretty good hp about 15 over stock. For 500 bucks he should be able to do alright. I have a few ZRT parts so when you find what you need I may be able to help you out. Where are u located?

Sprocket

 

[spring snow hero]

thanks for the replies guys, I am in spokane. I figure a few rides on that thing then I can take him somewhere fun by then he'll want a lil' more up to date rig.....his wife will love me

 

[spring snow hero]

well, got it home, 120 across the board, good spark, lit off on propane and in a few minutes she was idling. getting the backfires when I hit the throttle so I am guessing crappy carbs or electrical fart or both. I see the carbs have some wires coming from them, any ideas?

all in all it looks pretty good for 5 bills. the guy claimed he just bought it and rode it once, went 13 miles and lost power, he figured a head gasket. I got no pressure at the cap when idling and the walls are not scored, so I am guessing stuck float or crap in the carbs.....maybe fuel pump. any problem areas I meed to check? sled shows 2500 miles.

thanks.

 

[devilrmk]

Those wires on the carbs are for stuck throttle, kinda like poo has on the throttle block.

My buddy had a ZRT with water in the tank. Would run great after draining the carbs for a couple miles and then start puking. We had to syphon it off the bottom of the tank. Could be your problem.

Pull the carbs and drain them into a glass so you can see the funk.

 

[spring snow hero]

Those wires on the carbs are for stuck throttle, kinda like poo has on the throttle block.

My buddy had a ZRT with water in the tank. Would run great after draining the carbs for a couple miles and then start puking. We had to syphon it off the bottom of the tank. Could be your problem.

Pull the carbs and drain them into a glass so you can see the funk.

you might win a buckle for that answer. it does have a broken sight glass on the fuel cap.....I could see it being full of water......thanks for the idea.

 

[spring snow hero]

just went through the carbs.....pretty ugly. all the electrics on the carbs are unhooked and there is all kinds of stuff jumperd.....anyone have a wiring diagram so I can double check this stuff?

 

[JDKZRT]

Check the tether switch too.
I spent a bunch of time tracking down the problems you are describing and the cap was the cause.

 

[Rixster]

Jumping those carb wires was a normal practice on those sleds. IF you did it right it didnt case any problems, Its been so long I cant remember what is the right way to do it. Your local cat dealer might be able to tell you. I think you just unplugged the carbs and jumped the plug that the carbs pluged into. Also Those sleds for some reason were natorious for sticking chokes. I rode one and had a friend that rode one, we both had chokes that would stick at least once a year.

 

[spring snow hero]

I noticed the chokes were pretty stiff in the carb bores when I was in the carbs. I might have to turn the plungers down.

thanks for the help.

 

[Fosgate]

Former ZRT owner here. You should be able to use some parts from a ZRT8 or Tcat as well. The most tedious task I had on mine was synching the carbs properly which is the biggest cause of the backfire when you hit the gas. (could the the stator though too) Might also try disconnecting the kill switch by the cable at the base of the handle bars to see if it takes care of it.

To synch the cabs:
You will need to adjust the idle on each of the carbs if you have checked and there is no kink in the cable. Make sure the cable is operating correctly, many people clamp of the cable at the throttle handle when working on the carbs and this will give a slight bend in the cable and cause it to catch. As for adjusting the idle on the carbs there are several posts on here about that. Just make sure you keep them synced when doing this, easiest way there is to take a coat hanger cut up a few lengths and bend 90 degree angles on it, place 90 up in carb and slowing press in the throttle. They should drop and point to the ground at the same time when pressing the throttle in. Pretty easy task to do. If any of of them is going early or late adjust accordingly.

ALso If she were Mine I'd pull off the chanicase and check the sprockets and chain, change the lube. Check the brakes and pull both cluthes and tear them down and inspect them and clean them up.

Also if your still burning the NGK ES sparkplugs switch to the EYA's (they had a groove in the electrode that helps cleaner burn and preventing fouling so fast). My ZRT could eat a case of ES sparkplugs in no time.

Need to watch that center piston. that was the one that was usally the hottest and notorious for dropping that piston by leaning out. ATAC system probably wouldn't be a bad idea for an addition for this sled. She might be heavy but maybe look for a deeper lug track. + Tripple Nipples sound so cool!

 

[catmandewe]

I have gone through 3 motors in that particular sled. Every time it was the clutch side piston that burnt down. I jetted the clutch side piston one larger than the other 2 and never had a problem after that. Those carbs have to be cleaned fairly often, and check the tank for water and use deicer if it is really cold. If you tow it in cold weather, and it will not start, there is a fuel line that is prone to freezing up, pull the line off the fuel pump and blow into the fuel tank breather hose and the ice will pop out.
It was a good sled in its day, but it is way heavy. Good sled to learn how to ride on as anything else will seem to ride like a dream.
Change the skis to powder pros or USI's and save some sore muscles.

I really miss the sound of that sled though.

 

[spring snow hero]

update!!

I had the sled running, runs great at idle, will not idle up. I goofed with the hand warmer switch and it ran a little better, moved it back and forth.....ABSOLUTELY changes with each change of the switch.

this sled has a couple small wires jumped under the cowling, moved them and nothing. the kill switch has also been clipped and butted back together.

I unplugged the headlight and the sled died.

I am thinking cdi or stator.......IDEAS?

anyone have a wiring digram or some resistance values?

thanks for the replies guys

 

[catmandewe]

The kill switch on those were 90% of the time faulty, unplug the kill switch connector on the steering post (It is the one with the purple wire) Mine would not run right with the kill switch plugged in.

 

[spring snow hero]

She's Fixed!!!!!!!!!!!!

thanks catman for leading me to the kill switch...that was not it, but while chasing it I found a busted ground and re connected....we got a hot tripple now!!!! thanks for all that replied. I am off for some hot laps

 

[Fosgate]

sweet! let us know how she runs!

 

[spring snow hero]

hot laps went well, need a lil' altitude and a bit warmer air and the jetting will be pretty close. but she is running hard and the clutching is is shifting well.

next is a chaincase inspection and driver bearings.

thanks again guys

 

[spring snow hero]

got a few miles on it close to home here.....2100ish ft I really need to jet up if I am gonna ride around here. anyone have jetting info?

3-6k ft