:confused: hi i am new 2 snowmobiling and am now ready to purchase one .
i have tryed a yamaha 700 triple a arctic cat 440 and most recent a skidoo summit 700 witch i rode all last season but i need my own now !!cant borrow 4ever right anyway i have found an arctic cat 1999 700 powder special that i like but friends are telling me not 2 but it because they are known for crank failure is this true ? what is the best buy for a sled from 1996 -1999 ?
PS.I really like the look of the arctic cat dont care much for the polaris and yammy look in those years !!!thanx 4 any help on this !! DEW

Well im not one for cats but those ZR 600-800 are nice sleds....but for Ski-doo it all depends on what your doing but I would recomend a 1999 MXZ ZX 600 or the 1999 MXZ 670 H.O but it all depends on what you application is

I'm not gonna recommend a sled but just tell you this.Any used sled needs looked over good before you hand that cash over.Its way to easy to just go out there look at a sled on the outside and run it around in a circle and say wow it's nice to only get it home and find a ton of problems(not saying all are junk just be cautious)
Go here and read this page and then you will have a better idea of what to look for.Just don't want anyone wasting their money on a basket case.



http://users.metro2000.net/~rmmc/usedguide.html

sounds like you are into the mountain sleds.
for someone to sell their sled and say it is perfect and meanwhile hubcaps off his car to use as bowls to feed the dogs, i don't think so. if you go to a sellers place that looks like everything is in pretty good order then likely so is the sled. you have to expect idler wheels needing bearings. but ask and most people will tell you what has been done to their sled. i have a record of what i have done and i think most others will have one too.

how'd you find that page? good advice there.

I haven't heard much about crank faliure... I was told the 700 was built of the old Wild Cat motor.. Can't rember what size it was originaly, but heard they could get alot of vibrations under certain conditions mostly because it was an older style block. But as far as crank problems.. Not a whole lot.. It all depends how is was taken care of.. Nothing like the 96??? Polaris 600 triples which where naturious for crank failure. Anything can happen, and a used sled is always a crap shoot.. Just look every thing over realy well.. Get down on your hands and knees and check her out. Check compression on the motor, and how well it starts. I sure you can find people who had great results from that motor, and I am sure you will find people who didn't.. It's like a presidential pole.. It's all in who you ask..

how'd you find that page? good advice there.

When I was looking for my 2nd sled I did hours of research because I got bit hard with my first 1.