HELP! 97 thundercat major problems! - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

tcat900 · 01-15-2013, 07:17 AM

Okay, so heres the deal. I just recently recieved a 97 thundercat 900 triple in a trade. i fired it up, ran great, took it for a ride, super fast. i liked it so i made the deal. Got it home, immediately dumped 5 gallons of gas in it, and rode about 6 miles. got home, and it acted like it lost all power, i stopped, and it died. opened the hood, and realized the sled was not oil injected, you had to mix the gas. when i dumped the 5 gallons in there it leaned it way out. so i bought a quart of 2 stroke oil and dumped some in the tank. I pulled it over, pulls smooth and started right up. i let it sit there and idle for 15 minutes, no issues. the problem is when i get on it, it is fine at low RPMs, but when i try to get going it wont rev up, no power. im worried that by running it lean on oil like that, i burned up the rings or something. im fairly new to working on sleds, but not really green. any help is appreciated, i just want to know what could be causing this and if im gonna have to rebuild it already. sled only has 6 thousand miles on it too.. thanks for all replys.

LiFeStArTs@40 · 01-15-2013, 07:50 AM

At 6K, you need a rebuild. Hope you didn't trash anything. Also, rebuild the water pump even if it looks good, otherwise you will totally trash a good engine.

tcat900 · 01-15-2013, 08:28 AM

But does it sound like i burned up rings or something? i didnt run it that long, and it will sit there and idle fine all day long, its just when i try to get on it, there no power. and what should i replace in the rebuild, just rings and gaskets?

**RJ Gleason** · 01-15-2013, 03:28 PM

A compression test will tell the tale.
I'll bet that the rings are melted into the lands.

tcat900 · 01-15-2013, 08:53 PM

i found the problem today. it just so happens one of the fuel lines was plugged compltely. replaced it and it ran good, but now it wont run. the plug for that cylinder keeps getting wet every time i pull it over. it will fire but not idle. any ideas?

joshkidner · 01-15-2013, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcat900

i found the problem today. it just so happens one of the fuel lines was plugged compltely. replaced it and it ran good, but now it wont run. the plug for that cylinder keeps getting wet every time i pull it over. it will fire but not idle. any ideas?

Take all plugs out and put them back inside the boots and rest them on the heads of the engine. Pull over and see if you see spark. If you dont wanna start a fire make sure there is no gas on the head or plug xD

mikemalibu · 01-15-2013, 11:06 PM

I'd pull the carbs and check the needle and seat area. Part of what plugged your fuel line may have worked its way into the carb and not letting the needle seat properly. While your at it clean the jets really well and put a fuel filter on it to prevent a lean condition and melting your sled down. Just my 2c

tcat900 · 01-16-2013, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikemalibu

I'd pull the carbs and check the needle and seat area. Part of what plugged your fuel line may have worked its way into the carb and not letting the needle seat properly. While your at it clean the jets really well and put a fuel filter on it to prevent a lean condition and melting your sled down. Just my 2c

The needle and seat, thats the big needle that is straight up and down in the carb, correct? sorry for all the dumb questions, i just got this sled and i just dont know a WHOLE lot about it yet.

**kccats** · 01-16-2013, 07:40 AM

I would NOT have ran it at ALL before I pulled the carbs and gone threw them myself! And WHY is it premix? Id have to find prev owner and find out!

tcat900 · 01-16-2013, 07:56 AM

dont know why its premixed. and like i said i dont know a whole lot about carbs so yeah. everyone is calling me a dumbass, but 99.99 percent of sleds are oil injected and i just got the damn thing.

joshkidner · 01-16-2013, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcat900

dont know why its premixed. and like i said i dont know a whole lot about carbs so yeah. everyone is calling me a dumbass, but 99.99 percent of sleds are oil injected and i just got the damn thing.

Im pretty sure it is supposed to be oil injected. Some people rip out all of the injection for some unknown to me reason. Check to see whats still there! Might just be missing the oil bottle.

tcat900 · 01-16-2013, 08:42 PM

yeah just the bottles missin. it now will not start. i pulled the needles out and moved the e clips up one notch, still nothing. its backfiring out the exhaust too. any info is really appreciated.. thanks for the input guys

BobK. · 01-16-2013, 10:25 PM

Bottles missing? Is the injection system there if you didnt have no oil then you either scored a piston(s) wall and possibly toasted the bearings

ridegreen · 01-17-2013, 03:31 AM

Did you try the compression test???? It would be a good idea to do so. Some ppl like to pull the oil injection cuz they feel It's unreliable and feel safer with premix but to have the whole bottle missing for the oil is strange unless it was junk and didn't bother to replace it.

tcat900 · 01-17-2013, 07:56 AM

any idea what comp. shouold be?

**RJ Gleason** · 01-17-2013, 08:02 AM

Not less than 120 psi and realistically it should be up around 140 across all.

joshkidner · 01-17-2013, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJ Gleason

Not less than 120 psi and realistically it should be up around 140 across all.

Anything below 115 will need rebuild. Would say 120-130 is a good range. 140 is good-ER xD

I would also buy another bottle and see if the injector still works, it should. I love oil injection! I buy oil by the gallon and just keep the bottle full.

tcat900 · 01-18-2013, 07:06 AM

okay, so i made a few discoveries last night. sled would not run again, did a compression test, cyl1 had 130, cyl2 had 130, cyl 3 had 10

. pulled the exhaust, looked inside and about split myself. the idiot previous owner took the injectors out but did not plug the holes so it was sucking air into the cylinder, got hot and completely melted the piston. pulled the head, which is destroyed too. pulled the jug, thats shot as well. rod is bent, crank is blue from getting so hot. then discovered it is a 1000, not a 900. the crankcase and crank is an 800, pistons, jugs, and heads are 900s. so needless to say, i have a dead cat until summer when i can afford to rebuild the entire thing. anyone got a gun? ill be out back waiting..

BobK. · 01-18-2013, 07:43 AM

Call the guys at bk boat and sled.com they got what you need and are reasonable prices and ship world wide and get that sled going again

BobK. · 01-18-2013, 07:46 AM

Sounds to me the previous owner knew what he was doing and set you up with a sled that is going to fail id be calling him