The 1990-1998 Arctic Cat Snowmobile repair manual by Clymer covers the following models:

• Arctic Cat Cougar
• Arctic Cat Panther 440, Panther 550
• Arctic Cat Prowler
• Arctic Cat ZR 440, ZR 580, ZR 600
• Arctic Cat El Tigre
• Arctic Cat Powder Extreme
• Arctic Cat Prowler Mountain Cat
• Arctic Cat ZRT 600
• Arctic Cat EXT 550, EXT 580, EXT 600
• Arctic Cat Powder Special
• Arctic Cat Z 440
• Arctic Cat Pantera
• Arctic Cat Powder Special EFI
• Arctic Cat ZL 440

The Arctic Cat snowmobiles covered in this manual come equipped with an Arctic Cat/Suzuki air-cooled or water-cooled two-stroke engine, with either two or three cylinders.
Book Excerpt: 1990-1998 Arctic Cat Snowmobile Repair and Service Manual IGNITION TIMING (AIR-COOLED ENGINES)

A capacitor discharge ignition (CDI) is used on 431 cc air-cooled engines. The system is not usually susceptible to failures caused by dirt, moisture and wear. It is important to use the correct procedure when servicing the engine. Static timing to verify the flywheel timing marks may be necessary before using a timing light to check ignition timing. Most flywheels are marked with several lines, but the correct timing mark may not be easily distinguished from the other lines. The static timing procedure can be used for the following:

a. to verify and identify the factory timing marks. b. to detect a broken or missing flywheel Woodruff key. c. to detect a twisted crankshaft d. to scribe timing marks on a new flywheel.

NOTE: The ignition timing marks on the engine flywheel of air-cooled engines may be very difficult to view with the engine installed. A wire, or similar, pointer can be securely attached to the engine near the drive pulley, then a temporary timing mark can be scribed on the pulley for checking the timing with the engine running. Use the following static timing check to locate the crankshaft at the correct timing position, then scribe the temporary mark on the stationary pulley in line with the pointer. Dynamic engine timing uses a timing light connected to the MAG (magneto) side spark plug lead. As the engine is cranked or running, the light flashes each time the spark plug fires. When the light is pointed at the moving flywheel, the mark on the flywheel appears to stand still. The flywheel mark should align with the stationary timing pointer on the engine.

STATIC TIMING CHECK

The static timing is only used to locate proper position for the ignition timing when the engine is running at a specific speed. It is important to check the ignition timing using the correct mark and at the engine speed listed in Table 9.

1. Open the hood
2. Remove all spark plugs as described in this chapter.

Subject: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 Arctic Cat snowmobile service, maintenance, repair. ISBN-10: 0892877014 | ISBN-13: 9780892877010