Artic cat kart

dbrick

New Member
#1
So, just hauled one home, anyone know anything about them? The Internet is giving me crickets. Seems 99.5% complete, not butchered up, piston is seized, master cylinder cover missing, rest is all there. Guess it's a long term project

Any info at all appreciated
 

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#2
What indications are there that lead you to believe this was produced by Arctic Cat?

As far as I know, Arctic never produced anything like the kart you posted.
 

dbrick

New Member
#4
What indications are there that lead you to believe this was produced by Arctic Cat?

As far as I know, Arctic never produced anything like the kart you posted.
Previous owner had spoken to some people on this forum, he thinks from Winbur, who had some knowledge of them. Also, my observation, the fact that this is all made with factory production style brackets, defiantly not one-off fabricated. It has trans axle similar but different from my Ruppster, exhaust muffler is stamped ArticCat.
Plastic fender was a home made, fuel tank probably not original.
But there is no info I can find anywhere, so can't be sure.
 

dbrick

New Member
#6
Do you have any pictures other than that screenshot?
Is it possible someone put a snowmobile engine on it?
I'll get some better ones tomorrow, getting ready to rain. Don't think is a swap, It just looks too factory, nobody fabricates round tube bolt on brackets etc. this neatly, even a custom shop. Looked a little deeper, it has an Artic Cat ignition key too. Not claiming it's the holy grail or anything just trying to see what I got and if it's worth the effort to restore it correctly or find someone who wants to. If it's a homemade with no "value", I'll just put a 4 stroke on it and have fun.
IMG_20240722_202455568.jpg IMG_20240722_202512829.jpg IMG_20240722_202520843.jpg IMG_20240722_202604545.jpg
 
#8
Pretty cool find you have there! Very intriguing. While I stand behind what I said about Arctic Cat not producing a vehicle of this kind (to the best of my Arctic knowledge), it certainly plays the role of a manufactured unit. It looks well done, and intentional no doubt about it.
 
#10
Textron acquired the Arctic Cat name around 2010.Textron made golf carts before that acquisition. The rear differential sure looks like it’s from a golf cart. The engine looks like a 292 Kawi but could be a JLO but it’s hard to tell from the pictures. It’s possible that they made some of these before they transitioned to 4 wheelers but information is scarce. Whatever it’s still a cool piece!!
 
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#13
With the mix of golf cart and snowmobile parts on this buggy, I think this is a “skunkworks” creation in the back rooms of Textron after they acquired Arctic Cat. A prototype, if you will, for things to come. The angle iron used to mount the engine and transaxle probably wouldn’t cut it for mass production.Again hard to tell from the pictures.
 
#15
It does look very well built and finished. It most certainly has some value.
Does it run? I wouldn.t swap or restore anything. It is a very cool kart for sure.
I agree. It’s an interesting mix of parts. He said the piston is stuck and maybe he’ll put a 4stroke on it. I would suggest if he can’t get the engine loose that he should look around for a good Arctic Cat engine. Being in the North East it shouldn’t be too hard to find a proper replacement. It wouldn’t be the same with a 4 stroke.
 
#17
I am off on my dates of the Textron takeover of Arctic Cat. Deal was finalized in 2017. A snowmobile buddy of mine bought a new one every 3-4 years but then didn’t for a while. I thought it was because of the takeover but after a quick phone conversation he reminded me that it was because they started producing their own engines and was leery of them.
 
#19
It's a Kawasaki 292b motor used in the early 70s, 22hp. Easy to find parts for. It's so close to complee I have to try to get it running in original form. There's a few vintage sled guys in upstate NY, I'll see what they have. Only missing a carburetor and master cylinder cover.

I have a nice set of 22" knobbies for the other project, basket case Ruppster. But its not a differential rear, so the smoother tread might be kinder to my yard, and maybe rubber mount the seat.
The 22hp seems a little scary. Been meaning to get to Winber, maybe good goal for 2025, get it running and bring it.
 
#20
You might need several inches of travel to save your back. I do not think the effort of rubber mounting the seat will be worth the effort.
Maybe a little tiny weed whacker carb would get it going, but only around 8-10 HP?
 
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