Snowmobile Arctic Cat (2008 year). Instruction - part 2

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Genuine Parts

When replacement of parts is necessary, use only gen-

uine Arctic Cat parts. They are precision-made to

ensure high quality and correct fit.

High Altitude Operation

Operating a snowmobile at varying altitudes requires

changes in performance components. These changes

affect drive train components (on all models) and car-

buretion components (on carbureted models).

High altitude information decal(s) are located beneath

the hood of the snowmobile.

The M-Series snowmobiles are initially set up at the

factory for operation between 6000-9000 feet. Consult

the appropriate specifications for this information.

Following are basic high altitude theories for clutch-

ing, engine, suspension, and track.

CLUTCHING

As altitude changes, engine horsepower changes with

it. As you go up in altitude, the engine loses horse-

power. Because of this, the constant velocity transmis-

sion (CVT) system needs to be changed to compensate

for the horsepower loss.

At altitudes above 5000 ft, clutch engagement RPM is

normally higher than the standard setting. This is due

to the horsepower loss at altitude as opposed to what

would be seen for horsepower at sea level. The engine

will lose peak horsepower but will also lose horse-

power at engagement speed. For this reason, higher

engagement speeds are usually needed at altitude in

order to attain acceptable acceleration. This higher

engagement speed can be attained several ways. Some

of the methods will affect other characteristics of CVT

operation, so you must be careful what you change.

Drive clutch springs are the most common way to

increase engagement speed; however, by simply

changing the cam arms to a lighter weight from the

heavier sea level cam arm, you will gain some engage-

ment speed.

Then there are other more complicated methods such

as engagement notches and changing the position of

the cam arm center of gravity in relation to the roller.

This is called “tucking the weight” and can be used,

but, like the engagement notch, it can hurt belt life.

The driven clutch will also play a part in CVT tuning

for high altitude operation. A steeper helix angle in the

driven clutch will mean a quicker up-shift. A shal-

lower angle will mean a slower up-shift. If the up-shift

is too quick, due to a very steep helix, RPM will be

pulled down under the peak operating RPM of the

engine (where the horsepower is) and performance

will suffer. The engine may even bog. If you have a

helix that is too shallow, the engine may over-rev or

have poor acceleration. Usually, angles shallower than

the sea level calibrations work best. The driven spring

will also affect driven clutch tuning. Tighten the

spring, and RPM will increase. Loosen the spring, and

RPM will decrease. The spring should be used to fine-

tune and complement the helix selection.

Carburetor calibration changes for high altitude opera-

tion will have an effect on the CVT system and how it

operates. It is important that you understand the basics

of CVT operation in order to make the correct high

altitude CVT calibration changes.

ENGINE

Engines generate more horsepower at sea level than

they do at higher altitudes. There are many reasons for

this, but the biggest reason is that the higher you go,

less oxygen is available for the engine to use during its

combustion process. Less oxygen means it needs less

fuel to obtain the correct air/fuel ratio to operate prop-

erly. This is why the fuel ratio has to be recalibrated.

At high altitude, engines operate as though they have a

lower compression ratio. This, along with less oxygen

and less fuel, means that the engine generates slightly

less horsepower at higher altitudes.

The carbureted models will also have lower pressure

applied to the float chamber because of pressure

changes in the atmosphere between high altitude and

sea level. All of these characteristics will become more

evident the higher the altitude.

It will be necessary to make changes to the fuel sys-

tems (carbureted models) and drive systems that sup-

port engine operation as altitude changes.

SUSPENSION

The different riding styles of the individual operator,

the varying snow conditions, and the type of terrain are

all factors that affect the suspension at high altitude.

Trail riding versus powder riding versus combination

riding will all require different suspension settings.

The normal setting for front ski suspension is as little

spring pre-load tension as possible for powder snow

riding. This will allow the skis to float across the snow

with the least amount of resistance. Trail riding will

require more spring tension to carry the varying load

more effectively. There are many different settings and

spring tensions to consider when adjusting for riding

style and snow conditions.

The rear suspension has a number of spring settings

that produce different riding characteristics.

! CAUTION

On carbureted models, carefully follow the Main Jet
Chart recommendations for proper main jet selec-
tion for altitude, temperature, and gasoline being
used.

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The front arm spring and shock will also affect the ride

and handling when either on a trail or in powder snow.

A strong spring setting on this shock will cause the

snowmobile to tend to “dig” more when riding in the

powder rather than climbing up on top of the snow.

But, it will work more effectively when riding on a

trail. A softer spring setting will allow the front of the

rear suspension to collapse much quicker and change

the angle of the track to the snow. A more gradual

angle will tend to raise the snowmobile up on the snow

rather than digging into it.

There are many variables and adjustments that are pos-

sible to the rear suspension depending on snow condi-

tions, riding style, and type of terrain. These

adjustments can be made to individualize the snowmo-

bile to the riding style of the operator.

M-Series/Crossfire

As snow cover and riding conditions change, there are

several different adjustments that can be made to

change the ride and handling characteristics for opera-

tor preference. Located on the front suspension arm

are limiter straps. They limit the amount of “fallout”

the front arm can have. These straps may be adjusted

in or out due to conditions and riding style. The more

the straps are brought up, the more steering power the

operator has due to the amount of ski pressure.

Another adjustment that can be made on the rear sus-

pension is the front shock spring tension. As trail con-

ditions change, the spring pre-load may be used to

decrease the chance of the front end “bottoming out.”

With a stiffer spring pre-load, the ride of the snowmo-

bile will improve on the trail but will affect the perfor-

mance in the deep powder snow. In deep powder snow,

the stiffer spring pre-load will cause the front-end to

“dig” and possibly take longer for it to plane off. There

are several different-rate springs available for different

riding styles and terrain conditions.

On the standard models the front shock springs are also

individually adjustable for the terrain conditions and

driving style of the operator. The spring adjuster has

been set at the factory so the correct amount of threads

are exposed between the spring adjuster and the shock

housing as an initial setting. Additional ski pressure can

be obtained by tightening the spring tension; ski pres-

sure can be decreased by relaxing spring tension. There

are springs with different spring rates available for

operator choice and snow conditions. There is a limit as

to how far you can pre-load the springs before “coil

bind” takes effect. This is when the wire on the spring

actually runs into itself and causes binding. Equal

adjustments should be maintained on both sides of the

snowmobile. On the Sno Pro models with air shocks,

they are individually adjustable for the terrain condi-

tions and driving style of the operator. The ski shocks

are preset at 4.6 kg/cm

2

 (65 psi) as an initial setting on

the Crossfire Sno Pro models or at 4.2 kg/cm

2

 (60 psi)

on the M-Series Sno Pro models. The rear arm shock is

preset at 9.8 kg/cm

2

 (140 psi) on the M-Sereis Sno Pro.

It is possible to “fine tune” the shocks to match the

operator’s weight, riding style, and terrain conditions. 

„NOTE: Care should be taken to have equal pres-
sure in the shocks before operating the snowmo-
bile.

Finally, track tension should be looked at to make sure

that it is within recommended specifications to affect

the efficiency of the snowmobile. On models with the

torque sensing link, the track is actually tightening as

the suspension moves through its range of motion

causing the track to sag in the middle and rub on the

top part of the rear suspension arm.

TRACK

Carefully matching the riding requirements to the type

of track will ensure the maximum use of all available

engine power. Lug height and track durometer are the

two main concerns when selecting a track for various

riding styles.

There are tracks with lug heights from 0.750 in. up to

2.25 in. to accommodate various snow conditions.

Generally, the deeper the snow, the taller the lug. It

must be noted that the installation of any deep-lug

track may reduce top end speed and promote prema-

ture wear strip wear in marginal snow conditions.

Durometer is a measurement of how hard a rubber is.

The lugs on most tracks range between 60 and 80

durometer. On the durometer scale, the higher the

number, the harder the lugs. For riding in deep powder,

a softer 60 durometer track works best. The softer rub-

ber allows the track to “give” a little and pack the

snow creating lift rather than digging its way straight

down. When hill-climbing, the harder lug of an 80

durometer track works the best due to penetrating the

hard snow creating more bite.

Some tracks come with a dual durometer rating, such

as a track with a 80/60 durometer rating. The lugs on

this track are 80% 80 durometer rubber, and the top

20% is made of the softer 60 durometer rubber. This

track is designed to be a good all-around track for

riding mostly in deep powder but can climb the occa-

sional hard snow hill.

Preparation For Storage

Prior to storing the snowmobile, it must be properly

serviced to prevent corrosion and component deterio-

ration. An authorized Arctic Cat Snowmobile dealer

should perform this service; however, the owner/oper-

ator can perform this service if desired. To prepare the

snowmobile for storage, Arctic Cat recommends the

following procedure:

1. Clean the seat cushion with a damp cloth and Arc-

tic Cat Vinyl Protectant.

2. Clean the snowmobile thoroughly by hosing dirt,

oil, grass, and other foreign matter from the skid

frame, tunnel, hood, and belly pan. Allow the

snowmobile to dry thoroughly. DO NOT get water

into any part of the engine.

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3. Place the rear of the snowmobile up on a shielded

safety stand.

„NOTE: On all models except the 370 cc/570 cc,
the air silencer boot can be pried forward to
access the intake bores. Pry the boot forward;
then proceed to step 7.

„NOTE: On the Bearcat/Panther models, the air-
intake silencer includes a cover/tool tray assembly
and a baffle/resonator, and the silencer boot can-
not be removed to access the intake bores. Pro-
ceed to step 4.

4. Open the air-intake silencer cover; then remove

the three screws securing the cover/tool tray

assembly to the silencer.

5. Close the cover; then tip the cover/tool tray assem-

bly forward and out of its slots and remove the

assembly.

6. Using a large flat-blade screwdriver, remove the

baffle/resonator tabs from the air-intake silencer

slots and remove the baffle/resonator to access the

intake bores.

„NOTE: The baffle/resonator can be removed
more easily by removing the back tabs first.

7. Start the engine and allow to idle. With the engine

idling, spray Arctic Cat Engine Storage Preserver

into the intake(s) until the engine exhaust starts to

smoke heavily or until the engine starts to drop in

RPM. Turn engine off.

„NOTE: On all models except the 370 cc/570 cc,
secure the air silencer boots onto the intake bores.

„NOTE: On the Bearcat/Panther models, install the
baffle/resonator and the cover/tool tray assembly.

8. Plug the exhaust system outlet with a clean cloth.

9. With the ignition switch in the OFF position:

A. Disconnect the high tension lead(s) from the

spark plug(s); then remove the plug(s), connect

it/them to the lead(s), and ground it/them on the

cylinder head(s).

B. Pour 29.5 ml (1 fl oz) of SAE #30 petroleum-

based oil into each spark plug hole and pull the

recoil starter handle slowly about 10 times.

C. Install the spark plug(s) and connect the high

tension lead(s).

10. On carbureted models, drain the gas from each

carburetor float chamber.

11. Fill the gas tank to its rated capacity; then add Arc-

tic Cat Fuel Stabilizer to the gas tank following

directions on the container for the stabilizer/gaso-

line ratio. Tighten the gas tank cap securely.

12. On models with a chain case, drain the lubricant

by removing the chain-case drain plug located on

the backside of the chain-case assembly. Remove

the chain-case cover and inspect chain, sprockets,

chain tensioner, and rollers for wear and the chain

for proper tension. Install the drain plug, chain-

case cover, and seal; then pour Arctic Cat Trans-

mission Lube into the filler hole - 354 ml (12 fl

oz).

13. On models with a gear case, change the gear case

lubricant (see Section 6).

14. Clean and inspect the drive clutch and driven pul-

ley.

15. Remove the drive belt from the drive clutch/driven

pulley. Lay the belt on a flat surface or slide it into

a cardboard sleeve to prevent warping or distortion

during storage; then clean and inspect the drive

clutch and driven pulley.

16. Apply light oil to the upper steering post bushing,

ski spindles and bolts, front and rear pivot bush-

ings of the skid frame, and plungers of the shock

absorbers.

17. Lubricate all grease fittings (front and rear suspen-

sion, spindles, speedometer drive adapter, and the

driven shaft support bearing) with a low-tempera-

ture grease.

18. Tighten all nuts, bolts, and cap screws making sure

all calibrated nuts, bolts, and cap screws are tight-

ened to specifications. Make sure all rivets holding

the components together are tight. Replace all

loose rivets.

19. Clean and polish the hood, console, and chassis

with Arctic Cat Hood and Windshield Cleaner/

Polish. DO NOT USE SOLVENTS OR SPRAY

CLEANERS. THE PROPELLENT WILL DAM-

AGE THE FINISH.

20. On electric start models, disconnect the battery

cables making sure to disconnect the negative

cable first; then clean the battery posts and cables.

! CAUTION

Never crank the engine over without grounding the
spark plug(s). Damage to ignition system may result.

! CAUTION

Batteries require charging if left for extended non-
start periods. Arctic Cat recommends trickle charg-
ing once a month. Follow the manufacturer’s
instructions and cautions.

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21. If possible, store the snowmobile indoors. Raise

the track off the floor by blocking up the back end

making sure the snowmobile is secure. Loosen the

track adjusting bolts to reduce track tension. Cover

the snowmobile with a machine cover or a heavy,

ventilated tarpaulin to protect it from dirt and dust.

22. If the snowmobile must be stored outdoors, posi-

tion the snowmobile out of direct sunlight; then

block the entire snowmobile off the ground mak-

ing sure the snowmobile is secure. Loosen the

track adjusting bolts to reduce track tension. Cover

with a machine cover or a heavy, ventilated tar-

paulin to protect it from dirt, dust, and rain.

Preparation After 

Storage

Taking the snowmobile out of storage and correctly

preparing it for another season will assure many miles

and hours of trouble-free snowmobiling. Arctic Cat

recommends the following procedure:

1. Clean the snowmobile thoroughly. Polish the exte-

rior of the snowmobile.

2. Clean the engine. Remove the cloth from the

exhaust system. Check exhaust system and air-

intake silencer/air filter for obstructions.

3. Inspect all control wires and cables for signs of

wear or fraying. Replace if necessary. Use cable

ties or tape to route wires and cables away from

hot or rotating parts.

4. Inspect the drive belt for cracks and tears. Check

belt specifications. Replace if damaged or worn.

Install the drive belt.

„NOTE: If the old belt is worn but in reasonable
condition, retain it with the snowmobile as a spare
in case of emergency.

5. On carbureted models, inspect the in-line fuel fil-

ter and replace if necessary.

6. Inspect all fuel hoses and oil hoses for deteriora-

tion or cracks; replace if necessary. Make sure all

connections are tight; then fill the oil-injection res-

ervoir with the recommended injection oil.

„NOTE: After prolonged storage, Arctic Cat rec-
ommends one tankful of 100:1 gas/oil mixture be
used in conjunction with the oil-injection system
to ensure proper lubrication.

7. Inspect the entire brake system, all controls, head-

light, taillight, brakelight, ski wear bars, and head-

light aim; adjust or replace as necessary.

8. Inspect each spark plug. Replace, gap, or clean as

necessary.

9. Adjust the track to the proper tension and align-

ment. Lock the jam nuts.

10. Adjust the carburetor(s) and choke cable on carbu-

reted models and throttle cable on all models.

11. Tighten all nuts, bolts, and cap screws making sure

all calibrated nuts, bolts, and cap screws are tight-

ened to specifications.

12. Lubricate all grease fittings (rear suspension, spin-

dles, speedometer drive adapter, and the driven

shaft support bearing) with a low-temperature

grease.

13. On liquid cooled models, check the coolant level

and all coolant hoses and connections for deterio-

ration or cracks. Add properly mixed coolant as

necessary.

14. On fan cooled models, clean the engine cooling

fins and all vents.

15. On electric start models, charge the battery; then

connect the battery cables making sure to connect

the positive cable first. Test the electric start sys-

tem.

After Break-In Checkup 

(100 Miles)

There are three areas that require adjustment after the

break-in period in order to obtain peak performance.

These areas are carburetor jetting, drive belt deflec-

tion/break-in, and track tension and alignment.

! CAUTION

On models with remote start, make sure to leave the
battery cables disconnected. Failure to disconnect
the battery cables when storing the snowmobile for
a prolonged period of time (six weeks or more) will
result in a discharged or damaged battery.

! CAUTION

Avoid storing in direct sunlight and using a plastic
cover as moisture may collect on the snowmobile
causing corrosion.

! CAUTION

On carbureted models if the gas in each carburetor
float chamber was not drained prior to storage, the
carburetor(s) must be cleaned before starting the
engine.

! WARNING

On carbureted models, be sure to tighten the swivel
adapter jam nuts securely. If a jam nut isn’t tight-
ened, the adjuster can rotate out of the carburetor
cap causing the piston valve not to return to the full-
closed position.