My Wildcat trail mods

Just some of the things I have done to my Wildcat trail to help it survive in the areas we ride. I also forgot to mention in the Vid that I have also added an EPI Mudder clutch kit to handle the larger heavier mud tires.

[@EricFB]

I like everything you have done to your machine, and I especially like how you made many of the parts yourself. Cheers to you.

[@artman265]

+Eric B Thanks. Im working on a tight budget and on top of that most of the stuff that I want you cant get so I have no choice but fab it myself. I have done a few more things since this video including adding a GM style battery under my seat (snorkled so it doesnt get swamped) and I have added seat risers, harness pass throughs in the seats with a harness bar for the wife side and arm rests to the seats. I have added rubber fender extensions to the AJ's fenders. And now im working on my own belt temp gauge for it. I still have an endless list of stuff I want to fiddle with....

[@Carcajoo121]

VERY SWEET RIDE ! GOOD JOB..

[@jeeshuamessengerful]

This video is great!

[@izom]

...cant wait to get ours- waitin here in europe since 2 weeks for 2015 model!?looked all your vids drivin with your wife !! ;-) you have modified a lot this year! startin stock with half windshield...greets pete

[@artman265]

+Izom Thanks Pete, its been a fun year here, rained a lot so we have had some weird driving conditions. Sometimes its dry when you would expect muddy and muddy when there hasn't been any rain. I did get lots of stuff done with my trail this year and still have more planned to do. I will recommend to put grease zerks into all the control arms and knuckle bushings before you get too many miles on your machine they have brass bushings factory and mine wore out in 450Kms. I switched to a UHMW set and put grease zerks in for less than just one set for the rear from arctic cat. Cheers and thanks for watching hope to see a vid of your machine when you get it.

[@izom]

+Artman26 grease zerks good idea- wonder These things come without!?? even my chevy has one!?? greets

[@stevenate1174]

Bought the same machine end of summer this year. Love your mods. I hope to do a few myself. This video was very helpful. Thank you for taking the time to do it. Much appreciated. Where did you find those doors?

[@artman265]

Thank you for watching the vid and I'm glad you liked all my work, I'm sure I can do better the next go around with some of these mods but a lot were first drafts for what I thought would work. The doors are OEM from Arctic Cat. And I would suggest to put in limit straps at the bottom to save the hinges from taking all the weight when the door drops open. Cheers

[@thmike]

What did you make the speaker pods out of? I have 2 6.5" speakers and ive been looking into doing exactly what you do. Thabks for all the info

[@artman265]

I think I started with some speaker pods for a Tundra ( www.scosche.com/satt634 ) trimmed them and then added some PCV pipe to extend them to the depth that would allow the speaker magnets clearance too the roof. I RTV'd them and screwed them together and then RTV'd and screwed them to the roof from the top of the roof down through into the PCV pod and ran my wires. Cheers and good luck, Art.

[@AvianOptical]

its nice but the non adjustable seat kinda kills it for me....im gonna go all out and get the new yamaha yxz 1000r next year. thanks for the update man.

[@AvianOptical]

+Izom im a bigger guy and i just don't fit in the artic cats, ive tried....and the even the mavericks are kinda tight....polaris and yamaha seem to be the only companies with big people in mind.....ive sat in the yxz and its so roomy and comfy...plus its interior layout is amazing, as for shifting, im a trucker by trade so i actually like that its a 5speed....shifting adds alot to the driving experience and its a more durable drive train. i love the artic cats in principle but they just dont suit me. my current ride is a canam outlander 500 if you're curious.

[@rugby3874]

Nice job

[@artman265]

Thanks and thanks for watching.

[@JKBLUE]

Looks great, where did you get back rack

[@artman265]

Thanks, and I built the rack myself. Not much on the market for what I wanted so some pipe and time on the welder and I had what I wanted.

[@stevetruman2111]

Have you had any trouble out of your Wildcat I was thinking about purchasing a used one I'm just kind of skeptical about buying an Arctic Cat

[@rugby3874]

We have lots a problems with our two 700s. mostly electrical.

[@seandonahue87]

I'm wondering as well about how its been reliability wise if you even still have it? I just bought a 16 trail se

[@artman265]

I still have it and it has held up pretty good considering what I put it through. My biggest complaint so far would still be the piss poor bushings they put in the control arms and knuckles Just Garbage. I upgraded to the AJ's bushings and havent had a problem since. Cheers and thanks.

[@stevenmael1321]

Wildcat Trail 700 clutch question to Dalton: Please help me understand, I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around this. Bigger weights engage clutch at lower RPM? It seems to me that more weight would require higher RPM to engage as it takes more energy to get the increased weight to move. Is it because more centrifugal force is needed to use lighter weight to force clutch to engage, even though they move sooner? I have stock wheels and it says use the second largest weight. I want the clutch to begin to engage at a lower RPM. Dalton technician reply: Well, ..you are wrong. Lol Heavier weights overcome the pressure of the spring easier and engage sooner. ..however....and as you will see in the instructions, it is the primary spring that is the principal control of engagement rpm...not the flyweights. The weights control the rate of shift of the belt going down the track(and thus the rpm during the main clutching phase) It is all there. Some of the pages that look boring are the most important. The kit engages slightly lower rpm than stock anyway.. however the most important aspects of the kit are much more than that. The kit has to be set as described in the instructions for each tires size (because of course, that is the test results) Thanks My reply to Dalton: Thank you for your immediate reply. I did replace my Wildcat original clutch parts with Dalton’s and used the recommend 3/4” weights. I may not have even needed the Dalton kit, but am not by any measure upset that I purchased and installed it. If you look at this video you will see the problem that I am certain was the major problem with my clutch: m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqHafmVsp7ScmdE I had to use a file to hack off a huge chunk a metal from each of these six glide surfaces in twelve steps, then use progressively finer sandpaper to polish the rails until I ended up with a 0.02” slide clearance. Previously, quite literally the clutch would not move without hammering it. No wonder it would not shift, and it lurched at high RPM when engaging into gear. I’m surprised it worked at all. I bought it used with 6 miles on it, and never liked the way it shifted. I was told by several people who should have known better it was normal, but I had a feeling otherwise, and it got progressively worse with use. So by buying your kit, it forced me to find the solution, additionally I benefited from the upgrades. Now my Wildcat drives much more like I expected it should. Now I move the shifter with ease and do not have to force it and worrying that I am going to break something. Additionally, now I give it a little gas and it moves a little bit, not revving the engine and the cat jumping quickly and with great force forward or reverse; with the need to cover and slam on the brakes before it crashed into something; and it got much worse when it warmed up. By the way, all I needed to do the upgrade was a bench vice, a 7/16” 15” threaded rod, a block of wood with a 1/2” hole in the center, a 1” x 3.5” x 1/4” piece of aluminum with a 1/2” an offset center hole, a 2” PVC pipe coupler, a washer or two, and a 7/16” nut (all things I had sitting around the house); plus a primary clutch puller (definitely recommended). Remove clutches. Clamp the rod into the vice, slip the wood over the rod (to cushion the delicate clutch parts), slip the clutch onto the rod, place the 2” PVC coupler on (fits perfectly over secondary bell - holding down collar), next the metal plate (offset hole allows easier viewing when reassembling primary), washer(s), and nut; good to go! Again, thank you for all of your help. I’m sure the kit added to the smoothness of the shifting, and it definitely is responsible for my identifying the problem.

[@jj1479]

Whats the notch for in the plastic for the shifter handle? Mine doesn't have it

[@artman265]

It was going to be an attempt at making a "stop" so you cant shift straight into reverse and had to slide the shifter to the side and around to get to park, but I never finished it.

[@jeffwelch6577]

How did you wire the low oil shut off? I'm not the best on wiring but i had a rzr 800 that ran low on oil and i destroyed the motor i would like to put it on my two bikes.

[@artman265]

I ran a braided hose from the low pressure oil light switch that's under the engine on the passenger side close to the firewall, to a low oil pressure Murphy switch. I used the fused ignition (IGN 10A. Brn/black wire to the ECU) in series with the Murphy switch and had a momentary switch to bypass it to be able to start it. I tried the fuel pump but the engine would run for almost 3-4 mins before it stalled from lack of fuel pressure. So I chose the IGN fuse for an instant kill. www.wildcatforums.net/attachments/img_20150417_092215_658-jpg.31962/

[@jeffwelch6577]

@@artman265 thanks for the help.

[@YoBoyReese21]

could you plz send me the website in the comments of the tires and rims that you got for that beast😂

[@artman265]

Sorry I didnt see your post until now. But these are the Tires I am running now I had the 28" version at the time of this video. atvtirescanada.com/itp-monster-mayhem-tire.html

[@bryancurrier3158]

I like how you add your own grease fitting to your machine. Can you tell me the steps you take. I can send you my email if that's easier. Great job look good.

[@artman265]

Its pretty easy just takes a bit of time because you have to pull the bolts out so you can drill deep enough without marking the bolt. I did mine when I changed over my bushings so I had it all apart anyway. There are a few different grease zerks so you will have to just use a drill bit smaller than the zerk you choose and they should thread themselves in if you get the hole the right size. Just chose a spot where the suspension isnt going to interfere with it through the travel of the arms and put the zerk in the center of the bushing and the grease should make it through evenly. Thanks for checking out my Vid, I might do another soon to update all the other stuff I have modded on this machine. Cheers Art

[@terrellbraxton19]

i know Im randomly asking but does anybody know a trick to get back into an Instagram account? I was dumb forgot my password. I appreciate any assistance you can offer me!

[@jayalvin4]

@Terrell Braxton instablaster :)

[@terrellbraxton19]

@Jay Alvin i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site thru google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff atm. Takes a while so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@terrellbraxton19]

@Jay Alvin it worked and I actually got access to my account again. Im so happy! Thanks so much, you really help me out !

[@RustyShotsttv]

can you show me more about the lift .I'm in process of doing something simular

[@artman265]

+Wesley Barnhill I hope this image helps. www.wildcatforums.net/forum/attachments/wildcat-trail-trail-xt/66010d1454563165-rear-lift-img_20141101_191735_277.jpg there is lots of info on that site I didnt have the time to look through all the pages of the DYI post on the wildcat trail thread.

[@RustyShotsttv]

+Artman26 thanks that's what I was thinking .what did you see for the front

[@artman265]

+Wesley Barnhill I havent done anything yet for the front. I'm looking at getting a set of the Bandit UTV adjustable shocks for the machine all 4 corners and want to see how they are before I attempt what I have planned for the front. The Bandit springs are much firmer (200# front vs 145# stocks and 240#rear vs 145# stock) so I would like to see how adjustable they are to soft for the type of riding I do before I add lift to the front.

[@RustyShotsttv]

+Artman26 I'm looking into used late-model racing springs.they are about the same . I have mine set they have maxed out the front .I'm thinking of using the super lift on side by side stuff .it has a bracket for the front and sing spacers .just a thought though

[@Lebatron1970]

The reason why your a arm bushings went bad in only 450km is explained in this thread. www.wildcatforums.net/forum/wildcat-sport/17692-important-things-know-about-your-wildcat-sport.html Get the AJs bushing fix for your ride. You should also look on the list about slack in gas peddle wire. Apparently many people never see 100% throttle until this is adjusted properly.

[@artman265]

+jesselebby Thanks for the comment, I guess I didnt go into depth with my bushings. I have replaced my bushings with the ones from AJ's I was one of the original ones to get them for the trail. Ans thanks for the link to the forum I have contributed a few different posts to that thread on the Trail DIY section. Thanks for watching, Cheers Art.

[@Lebatron1970]

+Artman26 You're welcome. I've been posting there under the sport for the last few days. Mine will be ready either this Friday or Monday. Im so excited.

[@artman265]

+jesselebby Nice. Ive tried to do most of my stuff myself and on a budget so you get what you pay for lol. But I have also tried to build my machine to suit the area we ride which is very challenging since we have almost all terrain available at any given time on almost all the trails we ride, so it makes it hard to specialize the machine for one when you have so much to go through. Im working on a few things for mine still and saving for my Bandit suspension. Cant wait to go out riding.

[@rugby3874]

Viper winches suck