Troubleshooting - Arctic Cat Altera 300 Service Manual

Troubleshooting

Problem: Engine will not start or is hard to start (Compression too low)
Condition
1. Valve clearance out of adjustment
2. Valve guides worn - seated poorly
3. Valves mistimed
4. Piston rings worn excessively
5. Cylinder bore worn
6. Spark plug seating poorly
7. Starter motor cranks too slowly - does not turn
Problem: Engine will not start or is hard to start (No spark)
Condition
1. Spark plug fouled
2. Spark plug wet
3. Magneto defective
4. CDI unit defective
5. Ignition coil defective
6. High-tension lead open - shorted
Problem: Engine will not start or is hard to start (No fuel reaching the carburetor)
Condition
1. Gas tank cap obstructed
2. Carburetor inlet needle defective
3. Fuel hose obstructed
4. Fuel screens obstructed
Problem: Engine stalls easily
Condition
1. Spark plug fouled
2. Magneto defective
3. CDI unit defective
4. Carburetor jets obstructed
5. Valve clearance out of adjustment
Problem: Engine noisy (Excessive valve chatter)
Condition
1. Valve clearance too large
2. Valve spring(s) weak - broken
3. Rocker arm - rocker arm shaft worn
4. Camshaft worn
Problem: Engine noisy (Noise seems to come from piston)
Condition
1. Piston - cylinder worn
2. Combustion chamber carbon buildup
3. Piston pin - piston pin bore worn
4. Piston rings - ring groove(s) worn
Problem: Engine noisy (Noise seems to come from timing chain)
Condition
1. Chain stretched
2. Sprockets worn
3. Tension adjuster malfunctioning
Problem: Engine noisy (Noise seems to come from crankshaft)
Condition
1. Bearing worn - burned
2. Lower rod-end bearing worn - burned
3. Connecting rod side clearance too large
Problem: Engine noisy (Noise seems to come from transmission)
Condition
1. Gears worn - rubbing
2. Splines worn
3. Primary gears worn - rubbing
4. Bearings worn
5. Bushing worn
Problem: Engine noisy (Noise seems to come from secondary-transmission/right-side cover)
Condition
1. Gears - shaft(s) worn
2. Bearing(s)/bushing(s) damaged
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Remedy
1. Adjust clearance
2. Repair - replace guides
3. Adjust valve timing
4. Replace rings
5. Replace cylinder
6. Tighten plug
7. See Electrical System
Remedy
1. Clean - replace plug
2. Clean - dry plug
3. Replace magneto
4. Replace CDI unit
5. Replace ignition coil
6. Replace high tension lead
Remedy
1. Clean or replace cap
2. Replace needle
3. Clean - replace hose
4. Clean - replace inlet screen - valve screen
Remedy
1. Clean plug
2. Replace magneto
3. Replace CDI unit
4. Clean jets
5. Adjust clearance
Remedy
1. Adjust clearance
2. Replace spring(s)
3. Replace arm - shaft
4. Replace camshaft
Remedy
1. Replace - service piston - cylinder
2. Clean chamber
3. Replace - service pin - bore
4. Replace rings - piston
Remedy
1. Replace chain
2. Replace sprockets
3. Repair - replace adjuster
Remedy
1. Replace bearing
2. Replace bearing
3. Replace thrust washer(s)
Remedy
1. Replace gears
2. Replace shaft(s)
3. Replace gears
4. Replace bearings
5. Replace bushing
Remedy
1. Replace gears - shafts
2. Replace bearing(s)/bushing(s)