I just bought a 1996 arctic cat zr 580 efi... i was snowmobiling in northern ontario out by algonquin park on the trails when i heard a popping sound from my engine. i thought i blew a spark plug.. so i changed the plugs.. and it ran ok but there was still something wrong. so when i got home i pulled the plugs again and found my right spark plug was getting hit by my piston.. took it to the shop and he said my piston was shattered causing it to hit my spark plug and that the crank may have been damaged aswell.. said it would cost upwards of 1000$ does this sound rigt? what should i do? buy a new engine? or have my existing engine rebuilt? this is my first sled and i just bought it for 1500$ cash.

I just bought a 1996 arctic cat zr 580 efi... i was snowmobiling in northern ontario out by algonquin park on the trails when i heard a popping sound from my engine. i thought i blew a spark plug.. so i changed the plugs.. and it ran ok but there was still something wrong. so when i got home i pulled the plugs again and found my right spark plug was getting hit by my piston.. took it to the shop and he said my piston was shattered causing it to hit my spark plug and that the crank may have been damaged aswell.. said it would cost upwards of 1000$ does this sound rigt? what should i do? buy a new engine? or have my existing engine rebuilt? this is my first sled and i just bought it for 1500$ cash.

i rebuilt 2 this year, you will need to tear it down to the crank and get all the piston chunks out of the bearings, check crank for bad rods, exc. hopefully you dont need any cylinders, but the piston kit cost me without gaskets 210.00 then upper rod bearing are seperate at 20.00 ,gasket set was 45.00, cylinder re-sleeve was 190.00 each, i got lucky, my crank in both motors was good. you might also,if not you might find a engine for 400.00 to 500.00 used. arctic cats are known for busting piston skirts around 2500 miles. dont just do one cylinder do both.

i rebuilt 2 this year, you will need to tear it down to the crank and get all the piston chunks out of the bearings, check crank for bad rods, exc. hopefully you dont need any cylinders, but the piston kit cost me without gaskets 210.00 then upper rod bearing are seperate at 20.00 ,gasket set was 45.00, cylinder re-sleeve was 190.00 each, i got lucky, my crank in both motors was good. you might also,if not you might find a engine for 400.00 to 500.00 used. arctic cats are known for busting piston skirts around 2500 miles. dont just do one cylinder do both.

Good advise, Due both jugs and have the crank checked, weather you use a different one or not, If you have never done something like this get a manuel to help, p.s. just seen this on srumbay there are alot of them motors out there, good luck, http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200298379434&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:Watchlink:middle:us

I have 2 zr 580's and found used engines for them both in the $300-400 price range. Might be worth looking around before you decide to spend too much money on crank shafts and jugs.