Just had a thought on the time a motor is assembled and the time a sled is sold,are they pickled at the factory

My question arises on a leftover '02 ZL 500 I just bought. Should I have a concern on the fact this motor has been sitting a couple of years? Do you think a dealer will take the time to prep a sled for the summer if the machine isn't sold in the first season?Ya I know this means extra costs to him.

I would say no. Certainly if the sled was not assembled and still in the crate then it only has what ever treatment the factory gives it.

Since the motors are shipped from Japan they probably have whatever "pickling" thats done there. I'm not even sure they're even started till they get to the dealer.

Let me start by saying that I live and breathe Arctic Cat sleds. I cannot see buying anything else. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
I have a 2002 ZL500, my buddy that I ride with all the time has one too. We both had lots of issues with our sleds the first year. I lost all my power on my sled during one trip. The clutch was sticking and I only had 600 miles on it. Dealer went half and half on the cost. I had to buy another belt. Another trip I lost power again. Dealer told me that one of the power valve cables let go. It was repaired free. My friend and I were getting back from a day of riding over 200 miles and two miles from the trailer his sled lost power and started making a rattling sound. It made it back to the trailer going about twenty miles an hour. The dealer said the repair was free. His power valve broke and a piece fell in to the motor. The repair would of cost him $1100.
We have always trusted AC sleds. These are the last sleds and motors built in the ZL name. They have had issues with the power valves that AC does not talk about.
I have had issues with my clutch two more times since I replaced it.

I hope you have better luck!!!!!

P.S...... I will still buy AC :huh: :devil:

Originally posted by Spaceman@Nov 7 2003, 03:12 PM
Since the motors are shipped from Japan they probably have whatever "pickling" thats done there. I'm not even sure they're even started till they get to the dealer.
Cats are started at the end of the production line...then crated for shipment.