Snowmobile Arctic Cat (2009 year). Manual - part 19

MAINTENANCE

69

743-439A

4. Position the console onto the air-

intake silencer; then secure with the

single torx-head screw beneath the

console (located between the head-

lights).

5. Install the two torx-head screws

located to the outside of the head-

light adjustment knobs; then

tighten securely.

6. Check headlight aim (see Adjust-

ing Headlight Aim in this sub-sec-

tion).

Adjusting Headlight 

Aim

The headlight can be adjusted for verti-

cal aim of the HIGH/LOW beam. The

geometric center of HIGH beam zone

is to be used for vertical aiming.

1. Position the snowmobile on a level

floor so the headlight is approxi-

mately 8 m (25 ft) from an aiming

surface (wall or similar surface).

 NOTE: There should be an “aver-
age” operating load on the snow-
mobile when adjusting headlight
aim.

2. Measure the distance from the

floor to midpoint of the headlight.

3. Using the measurement obtained

in step 2, make a horizontal mark

on the aiming surface.

4. Make a vertical mark which inter-

sects the horizontal mark on the

aiming surface directly in front of

the headlight.

5. Engage the brake lever lock and

start the engine. Move the head-

light dimmer switch to the HIGH

beam position. DO NOT USE

LOW BEAM.

6. Observe the headlight beam aim.

Proper aim is when the most

intense beam is centered on the

vertical mark 5 cm (2 in.) below

the horizontal mark on the aiming

surface.

0741-448

7. Adjust the headlight using the

adjustment knobs until correct aim

is obtained. Shut the engine off;

then disengage the brake lever

lock.

! WARNING

Do not operate the snowmobile
unless headlight beam is adjusted
properly. An incorrectly adjusted
beam will not provide the operator
the optimum amount of light.

70

MAINTENANCE

SKI WEAR BARS

The ski wear bar is a replaceable bar

attached to the underside of the ski.

The purpose of the wear bar is to assist

in turning the snowmobile, to minimize

ski wear, and to maintain good steering

control. If the snowmobile is operated

primarily in deep snow, ski wear bar

wear will be minimal; however, if the

snowmobile is operated on terrain

where the snow cover is minimal, the

ski wear bar will wear faster. To main-

tain positive steering characteristics,

Arctic Cat recommends that the ski

wear bars be checked before each use

and replaced if worn beyond 1/2 of the

original diameter. Ski wear bars are

available from an authorized Arctic Cat

Snowmobile dealer.

Removing Ski Wear 

Bars

 NOTE: Determine which type of
wear bar is being replaced and
remove and install accordingly.

1. Remove ice and snow buildup

from the ski.

2. Using a suitable safety stand or

lift, elevate the front of the snow-

mobile.

3. Remove the lock nuts securing the

wear bar to the ski.

0743-185

4. Remove the wear bar from the ski.

Installing Ski Wear 

Bars

1. Move the wear bar into position on

the bottom of the ski.

 NOTE: If installing a double-off-
set wear bar, the carbide edge
must be directed to the outside of
the ski.

2. Align the wear bar studs with the

holes in the ski; then install the

lock nuts. Tighten to 11-15 ft-lb.

ADJUSTING SKI 

STANCE (M-Series/

Crossfire/Bearcat 570/

570 XT/Bearcat Z1 XT 

Models)

 NOTE: Ski stance can be
increased/decreased by 6.3 cm
(2.5 in.) on Bearcat models or by
2.5 cm (1.0 in.) on M-Series/Cross-
fire models.

1. Place the front of the snowmobile

on a support stand.

2. Remove the cotter pin; then

remove the slotted nut and cap

screw securing the ski assembly to

the spindle. Remove the ski.

Account for the rubber damper,

inserts, and washers.

3. To increase ski stance, place both

ski stance spacers to the outside of

the spindle.

! WARNING

Operating the snowmobile with
excessively worn ski wear bars
may result in a loss of steering
control.

MAINTENANCE

71

4. To decrease ski stance, place both

ski stance spacers to the inside of

the spindle.

5. Apply a low-temperature grease to

the non-threaded portion of the cap

screw; then slide the cap screw

through the ski accounting for the

rubber damper, inserts, and wash-

ers.

 NOTE: Install the cap screw so
the slotted nut will be located to
the inside of the ski.

6. Apply red Loctite #271 to the

threads of the cap screw; then

tighten the nut to 45 ft-lb.

7. Place the cotter pin into the ski cap

screw and spread the pin.

8. Repeat procedure for the other ski.

RAIL WEAR STRIPS

Arctic Cat recommends that the wear

strips be checked weekly and replaced

as necessary. Measure the wear strips at

25.4 cm (10 in.) intervals. Wear strips

must be 10.7 mm (0.42 in.) thick or

thicker. 

If wear strip measurements are less

than specified, replacement of both

wear strips is necessary to prevent pre-

mature track clip wear and possible

track damage. Take the snowmobile to

an authorized Arctic Cat Snowmobile

dealer for this service. This service is at

the discretion and expense of the snow-

mobile owner.

Each time a new set of wear strips are

installed, they should be tempered.

Temper the wear strips by driving the

snowmobile for approximately a mile

on a hard pack trail; then immediately

drive into deep snow and allow the

wear strips to cool. Repeat the proce-

dure (warming up the wear strips; then

cooling them down) two or three times.

 NOTE: The rail wear strips will
wear rapidly if the snowmobile is
operated on terrain on which the
snow cover is minimal. Loose
snow is required to cool and lubri-
cate the wear strips and prevent
accelerated wear.

0743-189

72

PERFORMANCE TIPS

PERFORMANCE TIPS

Operating a high performance snow-

mobile requires a special attention that

is not required by a low performance

snowmobile. Often, a minor adjust-

ment will result in a large increase in

performance. This section is intended

to highlight minor conditions that

adversely affect performance and the

adjustments needed to correct them. Be

sure, however, to thoroughly read and

understand this entire manual espe-

cially the section on spark plugs, track

tension and alignment, and suspension.

DRIVE BELT — This link between the

engine and drive train is often the most

neglected component. The drive belt

must have the proper fit in the drive

clutch and driven pulley. Proper fit is

when the top surface of the drive belt is

flush with the top or up to 1/16 in.

higher than the driven pulley sheaves

(with the sheaves fully closed). If the

belt sits below this level, the snowmo-

bile will bog at slow speeds and will

have a slower maximum speed. To cor-

rect this condition, first determine if the

drive belt is within specifications (see

Drive Belt sub-section) and replace if

worn or too long. Secondly, it may be

necessary to remove a shim washer from

between the driven pulley sheaves to

allow the driven pulley to close tighter.

Adding shim washers will decrease belt

deflection and removing shim washers

will increase belt deflection. Available

shim washers from Arctic Cat are p/n

0648-714 (0.090 in.) - one included in

the tool kit, p/n 0648-715 (0.030 in.),

and p/n 0648-716 (0.060 in.). 

 NOTE: Removing/adding shim
washers may be done by the snow-
mobile owner if qualified to do so.
If the owner does not feel qualified,
take the snowmobile to an autho-
rized Arctic Cat Snowmobile dealer
for this service. This service is at
the discretion and expense of the
snowmobile owner.

Finally, always run the drive belt in the

same direction. Installing the drive belt

so the part number can be read will

ensure that the drive belt is always run

the same direction.

DRIVE CLUTCH AND DRIVEN

PULLEY

 — Keeping the drive clutch

and driven pulley clean should be the

primary consideration of the operator.

The clutch sheaves can be cleaned of

any drive belt accumulation using a

clean cloth and parts-cleaning solvent.

All pivot points can be maintained

clean using compressed air. 

CARBURETOR MAIN JETS

 (Car-

bureted Models) — Proper carburetion

is absolutely necessary to obtain peak

performance. Since ambient tempera-

ture and operating altitude both affect

the main jet size needed for optimum

engine performance, the main jets

MUST be changed whenever the tem-

perature changes 20° F or whenever

operating altitude varies by more than

1000 feet. The Main Jet Chart beneath

the hood of the snowmobile identifies

the proper main jets to use under all

operating temperatures and altitudes.

Follow the Main Jet Chart carefully to

obtain peak engine performance and

avoid engine damage.

GASOLINE (EFI Models) — On the

2-stroke EFI engine models for opti-

mum performance, do not exceed the

recommended 87 octane gasoline.

Using a higher octane gasoline will not

increase overall performance; however,

the Z1 Turbo models will detect lower

octane gasoline and reduced engine

performance will result. It is recom-

mended that 91 octane (minimum) gas-

oline be used in these models.