ZR 580 - Problems with them started by xcindy500
	January 29th 2008 at 3:34 PM Post #1
	xcindy500 Junior Member 291 Posts Group: Members Member Since: February 6th 2007 Location: Carman, Manitoba, Canada Current Sled: 99 SKS 700 2008-2009 Miles: 999.9
	what are the big issues with these sleds. what problems do they have. looking at one and just wondering cause i have heard some bad things about them. 1999 Polaris SKS 700 136" Arctic FX Graphics Powermadd bars Powermadd hand guards 6" riser PPP can Rating: 0 Quick Edit Edit Topic

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	January 29th 2008 at 11:37 PM  [ Modified January 31st 2008 at 7:30 PM by arcticcatmatt ] Post #2
	Blackcat Senior Member 3715 Posts Group: Members Member Since: October 24th 2004 Location: Stanley, ND, USA Current Sled: 94 AC ZR580 2008-2009 Miles: Notta
	Depends on what years you are referring to. '93 - Crank issues '94 (and maybe '93 I can't remember for sure) - Airbox's didn't have foam over them, so they would suck in powder and blow the motors. Simple fix, just get some course foam and put over the airbox. '95 and earlier - Clutches were crappy. Rebuilding them was commen around that 1500 mile mark. You can convert them over to 9 Tower clutches and be quite happy. The fox shocks on them had to be rebuilt every once in awhile too. Recommended every year, I pulled 2 out of them..but there hasn't been much snow. Other then that, it's really just general Arctic Cat stuff from that era - TPS, etc... Pretty easy things to fix. EFI's with batteries were pretty crappy as well. That's about all I can think of right now. I have had a '94 ZR580 for 6 years now, put on around 2500-3000 miles. No engine troubles or clutch troubles yet. Just the usual 90's Arctic Cat stuff. Guy before me rebuilt the engine (blew the engine from sucking in snow) and rebuilt the clutch. They aren't light by any means, but they have some power behind them. Alot on the bottom end. I didn't have trouble keeping up with the newer ZR600's in the group I rode with. Suspension isn't horrible, but it is in no way comparable to your XC. However, the suspension off the newer ZR's bolts right in. What year are you looking at and how many miles? '94 ZR580 Remember, the things we say and write not only effect those it was intended for, but can also effect the greater population...whether good or bad. My Site 06-07 Sleddin' Season Stats Rating: 0 Quick Edit Full Edit

	January 29th 2008 at 11:52 PM  [ Modified January 29th 2008 at 11:54 PM ] Post #3
	94zr700kid New Member 86 Posts Group: Members Member Since: December 6th 2007 Location: vacouver, WA, USA Current Sled: '96 RMK 500 EFI -136" 2008-2009 Miles: 1000+
	the chassis on these are junk. i recently retired a 94 zr with 5700 miles b/c the rear motor mount broke off frame, rivits are loose and falling out everywhere, the running boards flex a couple of inches from broken rivits. 121" tracks are useless off-trail. And i agree the susp. sucks, my rmk has like 3-4" more travel, and its not really any newer. BUY POLARIS! 1st sled-> 1985 polaris 250 2nd sled-> 1994 polaris indy 440 3rd sled-> 1994 Arctic Cat ZR700 now -----> 1996 POLARIS RMK 500EFI o.O yam blaster alottamods Rating: 0 Quick Edit Full Edit

	January 30th 2008 at 12:24 AM Post #4
	Blackcat Senior Member 3715 Posts Group: Members Member Since: October 24th 2004 Location: Stanley, ND, USA Current Sled: 94 AC ZR580 2008-2009 Miles: Notta
	^ I have never heard of broken motor mounts as a common issue. However, I have heard of that before, but it's been with all brands. As far as the running boards flexing, they make fishbones for a reason. Not just for 90's cats either. '94 ZR580 Remember, the things we say and write not only effect those it was intended for, but can also effect the greater population...whether good or bad. My Site 06-07 Sleddin' Season Stats Rating: 0 Quick Edit Full Edit

	January 30th 2008 at 9:09 AM Post #5
	madcow Senior Member 6436 Posts Group: Members Member Since: March 3rd 2002 Location: Pine City, Mn, USA
	got a 95 with an easy 2500 miles on it. its carbed version, it will sit for 1 day or 1 month, and the second pull it will be idleing away as smooth as can be. never had one issue with it. great little sled nothing goes like 3 holes!! Aaen Performance!!!! High performance engineering millennium technologies brtech hoods price performance Got Speed Racing 320-629-4889 Rating: 0 Quick Edit Full Edit

	January 30th 2008 at 10:34 AM Post #6
	ZR600cce The Strong Silent Guy 1119 Posts Group: Members Member Since: December 3rd 2001 Location: omaha, NE, USA Current Sled: '02 Mountain Cat 800 '151
	On the contrary to 94zr700kid again, I owned the 97 version and loved it. The Zr's are a tried and true chassis and thats why they kept that chassis for so long. Going from a 97 to an 02 Zr the chassis and everything has obviously gotten better. I broke the crankshaft on my 97 but Arctic Cat paid the bill on that one, no question's asked. BlackCat hit the nail on the head with everything he has said. What year are you looking at? ARTIC CAT 2005 M7 '153 w/ Speedwerx Pipe,Can RiVeR CiTy SnOwDrIfTeRs-Omaha Neb 2004 Silverado 1500 Extended Cab Z71 Rating: 0 Quick Edit Full Edit

	January 30th 2008 at 12:03 PM  [ Modified January 30th 2008 at 12:04 PM ] Post #7
	xcindy500 Junior Member 291 Posts Group: Members Member Since: February 6th 2007 Location: Carman, Manitoba, Canada Current Sled: 99 SKS 700 2008-2009 Miles: 999.9
	the one i am looking at is a 97 with batteryless efi. it was and old mans sled and when he passed away his wife parked it and didn't touch it. it has been sitting for a while now but it does run good. not sure of the miles though 1999 Polaris SKS 700 136" Arctic FX Graphics Powermadd bars Powermadd hand guards 6" riser PPP can Rating: 0 Quick Edit Full Edit

	January 30th 2008 at 12:27 PM  [ Modified January 30th 2008 at 12:29 PM ] Post #8
	94zr700kid New Member 86 Posts Group: Members Member Since: December 6th 2007 Location: vacouver, WA, USA Current Sled: '96 RMK 500 EFI -136" 2008-2009 Miles: 1000+
	I had one and i ended my day early a couple of times. The thing is a fallapart sled. If it wasent for our welding skills and oversized rivits it would be scrap. And it wasnt the motor mount itself that failed it was the cheesy tin mount that it was attached to. floorboards broke away from the tub, those little fishbones couldnt fix the problems these have. IMO groomed trails or dragracing, thats all they are good for, and it should only give you problems like the clutch busting and stuff, not a big deal right? and my rmk has 5700 miles on it, and i actually got to ride all day (3 trips) with NO problems. going from the 700 down to a 500 and there is maybe a 15hp difference..i'd rather have a good chassis than another few ponies.. you can have my ZR for $800 if you like. (im not bashing anyone here i just being honest, last year we delt with towing an 90's AC all season, not just mine.) and madcow, thats a suzuki engine in those so....ya 1st sled-> 1985 polaris 250 2nd sled-> 1994 polaris indy 440 3rd sled-> 1994 Arctic Cat ZR700 now -----> 1996 POLARIS RMK 500EFI o.O yam blaster alottamods Rating: 0 Quick Edit Full Edit

	January 30th 2008 at 1:50 PM Post #9
	ZR600cce The Strong Silent Guy 1119 Posts Group: Members Member Since: December 3rd 2001 Location: omaha, NE, USA Current Sled: '02 Mountain Cat 800 '151
	I had the 97. It was the first year for the Extended Tunnel Travel and Batteryless Efi. I only had one thing go wrong and it was the crank like posted earlier. I loved the sled and could throw it around like it was nothing but I'm far from small. I still wish I had the sled because it was a hell of a fun sled. I took care of my sled and the owner before me did also and I rode it till it hit 4500 miles and sold it back to the dealership. They said it was too old of body style and didn't think they could sell it. I went back four days later to pick up the 02 Zr and they had it already sold and a guy loading it into the back of his truck when I arrived. My experience was nothing but good with that sled and in fact I had less troubles with that sled than I did when I first got our 02. In response to the post above, again his sled was the 94 not a 97 with more travel in the tunnel. Wishbones do in fact help because my 02 cross country has them and their isn't a centimeter of sag in them if you would decide to do it. My guess is he got a beat lemon but I've heard him do nothing but bash the ZR chassis which Arctic Cat was once famous for. Good look with your dealing and make sure to look for future problems and a lot of wear and tear. ARTIC CAT 2005 M7 '153 w/ Speedwerx Pipe,Can RiVeR CiTy SnOwDrIfTeRs-Omaha Neb 2004 Silverado 1500 Extended Cab Z71 Rating: 0 Quick Edit Full Edit

	January 30th 2008 at 1:52 PM  [ Modified January 30th 2008 at 1:54 PM ] Post #10
	PolarisXcSp600 Scars are like tattoo's...except scars have better stories. 216 Posts Group: Members Member Since: January 30th 2008 Location: camden, new york Current Sled: 2003 xcsp 600 2008-2009 Miles: 2000
	one of my buddies had 2 of them, one was rebuilt 2 times and the other only had 3000 miles on it. maybe he just has bad luck but thats just my 2 cents. WHITE Knuckle Racing after no fear comes...OH $H!T when in doubt throtle out! Rating: 0 Quick Edit Full Edit

	January 31st 2008 at 8:02 PM  [ Modified January 31st 2008 at 8:04 PM ] Post #11
	Mustangnut6788 Thunderstruck 736 Posts Group: Members Member Since: January 29th 2006 Location: NE, OH, USA Current Sled: 99 Thundercat
	I just had the stator rewound on my 97 ZR 580 EFI. They guy said they were notorious for going bad. Cat had all sorts of problems with stators in the mid 90's. The PTO side drive shaft bearings are pretty common to wear out as well in this chassis. All in all its a awesome sled for a great price. It has around 3300 miles and starts right up on the 2nd pull when its 10*F out. Compared to my 01 ZRT the 97 is as light as a feather. Like said before the chassis is tried and true. It was used for many years which means a lot of parts interchange. IMO: Good bang for the buck! What's in my toy box: 1999 Arctic Cat Thundercat 1000 1988 Mustang GT 5.0L / 1993 Mustang Coupe / 1993 Mustang GT 5.0L 2000 F-150 Rating: 0 Quick Edit Full Edit

	January 31st 2008 at 8:21 PM Post #12
	arctic_cat27 Junior Member 123 Posts Group: Members Member Since: November 8th 2003 Location: Manitoba, Canada Current Sled: '07 RMK 600 155"
	I have a '96 EXT580 and i had the same issue with motor mounts. rivets and bolt came out on the back clutch side, putting stress on the jackshaft bearing holder, breaking that. and also on the front mounting bracket. eventually it cracked all the metal and pulled out. as far as mounting the motor, it is just bad engineering in my opinion. Rating: 0 Quick Edit Full Edit