Im currently looking for a used snowmobile and in the local classifieds there was an add that reads....


ARCTIC CAT 97 ZR580
GC, runs great, DG pipes/resonator, 5k RPM clutch, Dial-A-Jet carbs, 1/2mi on rebuilt mtr, $1900

Does this seem too good to be true? The motor was rebuilt, what do you all think about rebulit egnines? doesnt it mean the sled either has alota miles or was abused? is a rebuilt engine just as good as the stock one? please help! winter is running out!

One more thing, is the sled a 97 ZR580 a good sled and is a 5k RPM clutch too fast? like is it goin to be annoying whipping me everytime i start off? im mostly goin to do trail riding not racing

thank andy

well i personally have nothing against rebuilts but if it "runs great" with only a half mile on the rebuilt engine it would worrie me that they are hiding something.. with only a half mile you cant tell anything about a sled besides the fact that it goes and stops

i would take a good look at it and take it for a test drive b4 i lay down the cash



TA

:withstupid: I'd try to put a few miles on it too,I'd be wary of a un-broke in motor.
The price does sound good tho ;)

Check out the auction price reports in the General forum I posted. Give you an idea of what to pay plus a lil more.
caleb

Caleb your a funny guy :withstupid: The next time I plan on spending a buck I will phone you to find out where the deals are K buddy...... :D :D

Find out who rebuilt the engine. If it was done by a shop it should have a warrantee of some kind. If you are serious about the sled, go with the current owner to the shop that rebuilt the engine and get the warrantee transferred to yourself when you buy the sled. Make sure they stand behind their work. My friend bought a used sled with a fresh rebuilt engine, in reality he bought it from the engine builder because the current owner couldn't pay for the engine rebuild once the bill came. The engine builder gave him the warrantee. Which he ended up needing, as the crank went with less than 30 miles on it (ran fine before that). The crank was replace by the manufacturer and the work to replace it was handled by the engine builder, without any cost to my friend. The engine has run fine since.

Make sure the guy is running it with extra oil during the break in...

Personally I would look for an unmodified sled. Anything 3 years and older is likely going to need some work, like rebuilt shocks (if it has the Fox shocks), probably lots of bearings, cross shafts, clutch work, etc.. Also take a good look for frame damage (see some of my other posts for pictures of where I cracked up my sled).

From what to ad says it sounds like i'd really look over the machine before buying it. For a price refrence the dealer would only give me 1800 for my 96 zr580 efi limited edition that is in good shape. The one thing he said is he doesn't want a 580 because nobody wants them any more and he can't get rid of them so maybe try a dealer and see if you can get a deal there. One peice of advice check the intake boots for cracks which would blow this motor up also. :(

Well... I agree with some of these posts! Yes test drive... it takes about 2 tanks of fuel to break a motor in, so for them to say it runs great... prove it!
Second, check to see if it has been beat! Or raced!
Third, the carb boots are the weakest link!! Remove the clamps and check for rips! Ask for the stock exhast back if you buy it and install it! The DG will lean the sled out on hard lake runs and could be a real problem!

Now, for 1greenmachine... "he doesn't want a 580 because nobody wants them any more and he can't get rid" not sure what dealer your taking too, but I know of at least 3 guys looking for one of these. Guys that can't afford a brand new sled and are looking for better suspensions (ETT), the 97 ZR580 is a good buy... But get a stock one!
And besides... I know... I have one! lol

zr rider i didn't mean that nobody wants them i'm sure that there still are people that want them basically he didn't want to take mine in a trade in. What i was trying to imply is that he could maybe find a good deal on one at a dealer because it seems The majority of people buying used are looking for 600s and bigger sleds. As for the 3 guys my 96 zr 580 efi ett is going 4 sale in a couple of weeks if their interested.

Personally, I'd be VERY leary about a re-built motor. If not done right, you could be paying for a 500 lb can of worthless worms. Like mentioned above, find out who did it and make sure they stand behind it. If they can't provide that info, walk away.

A freind of mine got burned last spring on a sled where the motor was just re-built. He got 1 week-end out of it and boom. After tearing it back down he found out it was not done right the first time and slapped together.

The 580's can be great sleds if they're taken care of and you know what to maintain on them.

i just bought a supposid newly rebuilt 700 and 300 miles later kaboom, lots of bearing and gear peices grenaded for the water pump/oil pump drive. but the person i got it from is gonna hve to pay for the fix. what id do is buy the sled only if the owner will agree that if there is a malfunction with the engine they will pay for the fix. or whoever put it together.

Two things scare me with this deal and they have been mentioned above.

1. Rebuilt engine with only a 1/2 mile says he doesn't want to run it cause he doesn't trust it. Whjy else would he at least not taken for 10 mile check out drive?

2. Not stock. My personal opinion is buy a used sled that has been left stock. There is nothing wrong with Modifications but they generally imply the sled was used really hard and run to keep up with the big boys.

Just my opinion but at this time of year there has to tonns of used stock sleds around

I actually have two in my pack. one has 4600 miles only changed the clutch bushings and the drive cog bearing.

The other has 11oo miles on it and has blown up twice the second time it took the head and cylinder with it.

You never can tell..

With all those mods, I would not buy it. not on that grenade.

Yah, I'm with ArTeeCat... mine has 4650 on it now, and so far it runs awsome. But the motor is bone stock, stock exhaust but it has a clutch kit!
The EFI's don't like a lot of change, unless you change the chip as well. :thumbsup:

I would not buy a efi sled that is not stock. I did have a 97 zr580 but would not get another unless the price was way low. MIne broke the clutch shaft in half when 14 months old (they did warr it) but it was a pain to get the clutch off with nothing to pull on. The next year the engine burned down-- boots from throttle body to engine deterioated badly as if it had been outside for a number of years, this sled only spent about four nights outside total. I rebuilt it. 500 miles later it grenades again, I'm thinking man two strokes are tempermental if it was something I did it would have blown quickly as I don't break em in right--- well the exhaust pipe had split creating another lean situation. I put it together and sold it for $3000.00 four years ago. Couldn't take the expense that sled put me through. Kevin

Originally posted by an1dy9@Jan 11 2003, 03:30 PM
ARCTIC CAT 97 ZR580
GC, runs great, DG pipes/resonator, 5k RPM clutch, Dial-A-Jet carbs, 1/2mi on rebuilt mtr, $1900


does anyone notice anything weird about that ad?

a 97 ZR 580 with carbs does not exist

obviously this machine has had many mods done to it and nobody knows how many times this thing has been rebuilt i wouldn't touch that sled

i dont know about anyone else but you can have my 96 ZR 580 EFI when you pry it from my cold dead fingers, this is by far the best handling trail sled i have ever ridden and it can take a beating

96 was the year cat got the 580 EFI just right i have asked my dealer if the supposed rod problems were apparent on the 96's and he said that he has had tons of 95's and tons of 97's in for engine work but has had only one 96 ZR so far and it runs strong to boot i have sent many older 600's home with this sled

I have had a 95 ZR580 since 98 (700 miles). I live west of Chicago, when we get snow, the machine never gets a chance to cool down. It now has about 3000 miles on it. It has had a very rough life, I have never trailered it anywhere. I have only done routine maintance on it, nothing major. Reringed at 2200 miles, due to lack of snow. If this sled could talk, I'd be in jail. Its seen snowblower oil, stale 114 octane from the race car, and sometimes grass drags in the summer (in winter mode) at the park across the street from my house. I will die with this sled.

For all you 580 haters, go buy a Polaris. :D

ZR580srule - I missed that also, good job.