Ask: I have a 2005 Arctic Cat 400 FIS and my cooling fan won't come on at all. I have an identical 2005 400 FIS and that cooling fan works normal. So far I've tried checking the cooling fan to make sure the fan itself works by hooking it up directly to the battery, and it works fine. I've checked all fuses, replaced the cooling fan switch (very expensive, by the way) and still nothing. I would appreciate any thoughts on what the problem might be. Yes, the fan did work when I first purchased the machine.
Mikey: Having two identical machines typically makes resolving this type of issue much easier. Wouldn't it seem logical to try switching out the "very expensive switches" before buying another? Some people just have more money than brains. There is more to your cooling system than a fan and a switch. Something tells your switch that the machine is heating up and that it needs to run the fan. Go put a little more effort into solving this problem before running to Mikey for help. Be sure to check all of your electrical connections while you're at it.
Ask: I recently bought some new GBC Dirt Commander tires for the Grizzly. I took it out for a wild weekend at Wayne National Forest and snapped the right rear axle on the first day. I bought some new Monster axles, installed them, then went out riding and jumped a three-foot jump at about 20 mph. When it landed it snapped both rear axles at the CV joint. They sheared right off. I checked the rear diff for tightness, bent, etc., installed the bearings and checked for vertical travel of the swingarms and all seem OK!
Mikey: GBC makes a great tire but this is really irrelevant to your problem unless they are oversized. If you have any type of lift on your Grizzly, it is certain to break axles. Was the three-foot jump at 20 mph a test for the new axles? If so, they failed! Although I have to admit that a clip of that insane Nitro Circus jumping action would have made a great youtube video. Check out the featured Teryx build in this issue of ATVR and you will find that I installed Gorilla axles in my machine. There is a reason for this decision. They don't break!
Ask: I'm having trouble with my switch. I turn the key to start it, and it starts OK but the key seems to relax a little bit too much counterclockwise after the start. This lets the machine run but won't run the lights or any onboard controls. If I hold the key just a hair to the right, it will work OK... any ideas?
Mikey: Are you kidding me? My eight-year-old daughter could tell you that your switch is damaged. Who helped you start up your computer to submit this question? I wouldn't dare assume you are capable of replacing a simple single-plug switch, so my only suggestion would be to have a friend ride along with you to help hold the broken switch to the right.
Ask: I am new to the ATV fun. I just bought a used 2005 Polaris 330. I drove it through a foot of water this afternoon after a downpour. I went into the water fast. After a couple of minutes of going back and forth it began revving high as if the belt or clutch was spinning free. No matter how much gas I gave it, it revved high and did not go fast at all. I'm sure the reason was the water. Was it the clutch, the belt or neither? I waited a few minutes after getting out of the water; it ran a little better but was still slow until a half hour of being out of the water. An hour later it went back to its normal speed. What is going on here?
Mikey: Being new is no excuse for being a tool! You realized that the water was causing your problem, but I would bet you jumped right back in after it started working properly to see if it would slip again. It's your wet belt that's slipping. Water gets in through your CVT vent and guess what happens? Go to www.atvrideronline and learn how to seal your machine and you may even want to consider adding a snorkel.