mikeexplorer

Nice video 👍

The reclamation project only affected one area of Whiskey Springs. There are still other old mining areas to play in. The area was contaminating Kettle Creek. Keep in mind the state trails are closed until the Friday before Memorial day weekend. SSRT is open, but riding is limited. Mike

Got my first quad back in 2007 so I only been riding for 14 years. It was an Arctic Cat.

I have made calibrated maps for several of the state trails in PA and AOAA. I have in my collection Maple Run, Burnt Mills, Bloody Skillet, Whiskey Springs, Susquehannock State trails, Dixon Miller, AOAA (Both East and West sections) I have a GPX file of Snow Shoe Rails to Trails which has all the mile posts so you know where you are relative to the trail. It also includes the legal township roads. They are in KMZ format to upload to a GPS unit and display as a custom map on screen. This website does not allow uploading of KMZ files as attachments. I use a GPS for several hobbies and have software that allows me to calibrate maps to use in the GPS unit. I do have some saved GPX tracks from my rides but I don't know how useful they would be. Tracks I have would be riding these state trails, AOAA, and the Northcentral ATV project area. Mike

The news isn't that recent, but I thought I had posted it already since it is significant. West Virginia posted an economic impact study on their trail system and that opened up a lot of eyes. Some of the state trails DCNR manages are only open to ATV use in the summer. In winter they are sled trails only. The winters here in PA have not been good for snowmobiling like it used to and it has had an impact on snowmobile trails and clubs. One county out in North Central PA (Potter) has been severely impacted by lack of snow. The one hotel that had direct trail access closed for lack of business (They only had business for the summer months when its open to ATV's) Now things are moving towards more ATV riding because weather doesn't matter and it does bring in money to the local communities, as stated in the article about that small town that now has legal ATV access. The economic study that was quoted as well also shows how much more money could be brought into the area. We travel several times a year to northcentral pa because they have the better riding and once this project is fully done, there will be a lot more riding and no doubt we will plan more trips to there. One campground already is adding on a bunch of new sites with the expected impact of more ATV traffic. Mike

Some handheld radios have over a 2 mile range which is probably far more then what the intercoms have and they are not that expensive. Mike

http://www.lockhaven.com/news/local-news/2018/06/atv-trails-to-be-connected-by-2020/ ATV trails to be connected by 2020 Local news Jun 30, 2018 SARAH PAEZ [email protected] New bill could increase tourism in the county LOCK HAVEN — Due to a hard-fought change in the state’s fiscal code, Clinton County will finally have an all-terrain vehicle trail connecting the Whiskey Springs Trail to Bloody Skillet by 2020. State Rep. Mike Hanna (D-Lock Haven) had a hand in pushing the legislation through, said county Commissioner Jeff Snyder, who has been supportive of ATV tourism in the region. Hanna said the project had been in the works since the era of former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, who ended his term in 2011. “We just decided it was time to get this,” he said. The bill, an amendment to the fiscal code, says that appropriations for the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) must include the agency’s collaboration with PennDOT to “develop, open and maintain an ATV trail connecting the Whiskey Springs ATV Trail to the Bloody Skillet ATV Trail by utilizing existing state roads and state forest roads by April 1, 2020.” The amendment also provides for DCNR and PennDOT to “implement the full Northcentral Pennsylvania ATV Initiative” which would create a network of ATV trails from Clinton County to the New York State border by April 1, 2024. This network would link the Haneyville, Bloody Skillet, Snowshoe Rail Trail, Denton Hills and Whiskey Springs trails. Central Mountains ATV Association President Henry Sorgen IV said his organization has been working on the initiative for the last four years, trying to connect all the ATV trails in northcentral Pennsylvania up to the New York State border. The organization has 1,300 members. Sorgen said Hanna and State Sen. Joseph Scarnati (R-Brockway) were instrumental in making the necessary changes to the fiscal code. But, he said, it wouldn’t have been possible without support from township and borough councils, county government, regular citizens and CMATVA. “It’s always been a team initiative,” he said. CMATVA gave a presentation to the governor’s staff several months ago, which “started that ball rolling,” said Sorgen. “It’s all about tourism…that’s gonna be huge.” PennDOT has a policy that ATV riders cannot use state roads. But state law says the district manager can authorize ATV usage on state roads. So, Sorgen said, the fiscal code amendment is a way to remedy that contradiction. Hanna said the project will rely very little on state roads to connect the trails. DCNR is conducting a study through Larson Design Group to determine the best way to connect the trails without using state roads. One place ATV riders will have to use a state road is the South Renovo Bridge, Hanna said. Hanna was clear that the development of these trails will have no cost to taxpayers. “As far as trail development goes,” he said, it will all be funded by ATV registration fees. Right now, there are around $180,000 in that fund, said Sorgen. “There’s no doubt about it, motorized recreation has a tremendous economic impact,” said Hanna. “The number of trucks, trailers and ATVs (on those trails on a holiday weekend) is phenomenal.” Sorgen said CMATVA wants to make northcentral Pennsylvania’s trail network “the Hatfield McCoy of Pennsylvania.” ATV tourism is a $1 billion industry in West Virginia, and Hatfield McCoy is one of the state’s most popular trails. Sorgen said he is sure ATV tourism will be a boon to local residents in Clinton, Center, Potter, Elk and Cameron counties. In Germania, which is near the Denton Hills ATV Trail, he said, there is a small general store with one gas pump that used to make $1,000 a month in gas sales. After ATV travel was legalized there, the store’s monthly sales skyrocketed to 10 times that. “That’s the potential,” he said. “What’s (ATV tourism) gonna do for little Renovo? It’s gonna boom.” And, according to a study on ATV recreation in Clinton County done in 2015, the average rider spends approximately $1,400 in the county annually. Those surveyed said they would visit about five more times a year (about 12 times total) if connector trails were built between the existing trail systems and the surrounding communities. The study said increased visits would more than double the annual spending per rider. Right now, Sorgen said, there are 1,800 miles of riding trail, and 49 percent of that is open to ATVs, whether that be on roads operated by DCNR, private property owners or township councils. But that is set to change soon, with the new state fiscal code amendment. Sorgen estimated the new law will add 200 miles of viable trail. And, he said, the existing CMATVA map will change once they submit the new map to PennDOT. Hanna said for people who have concerns about motorized recreation, the Larson Group study is taking environmental impact into consideration. “It’s not just “slap a trail on,“” said Hanna. And Sorgen said he fully supports finding an environmentally friendly way to implement ATV trails that would connect the existing ones. He lamented that while “98 percent of us want to follow the rules,” 2 percent of ATV riders don’t respect the land and want to offroad where it’s not allowed. “We don’t want to be in wetlands,” he said. “We don’t want to be in natural areas where we don’t belong.”

You can download the service manual and wiring schematics here: https://www.mymowerparts.com/pdf/Arctic-Cat-ATV-Repair-and-Service-Manuals/ I would verify first that you do indeed have AUX power, popping that fuse would give you a blank display but it would still light up. Two common issues to look at, one is a broken wire in and around the steering column. The schematics will help you verify which pin does what for the gauge cluster. If it is the gauge itself, try this trick. disconnect both battery wires and connect them together, leave it overnight, then re-connect them, If the gauge isn't fried, this will reset it. My bet would be a broken wire, seems to be a common problem in 2006 - 2009 Cats. I had a 2007 model that had serious harness problems. Was easy enough to fix with the schematics and using some spiral wrap and loom to protect it, never happened again. Mike

The west has gotten hammered with snow this year, will be good for the spring thaw to refill the lakes. Lake Tahoe already has reported the lake is up and the snow has not yet melted. Hopefully this will also bring up Lake Meade a few feet.

Most cans of refrigerant should already have the oil mixed in. It should state that on the can.

You are correct that with this setup, to let the donor machine charge the battery enough to let it start on its own. These connectors cannot withstand the heavy current draw of a starter motor directly. It normally would only take a few minutes to put enough charge on to start the machine. These are good connectors to use for accessories. Arctic Cat machines have two of these, one in the front which is powered only with ignition and used for accessories such as hand warmers and winch. This way you do not have to splice into the wiring harness at all. There is one in the rear which is powered all the time and is a perfect place to attach a battery tender. This connector is used for attaching rear powered accessories such as pull behind mowers and other grading equipment. I use the rear connector for battery tenders. Most battery tenders come with this connector so it makes it simple to connect it up. Looking at your picture, the left lower plug would be connected to the ATV side (positive wire covered) Some battery tender setups will include this connector wired to 2 rings to connect directly to the battery so you have a quick easy place to plug it in. These are commonly referred to as "2 wire trailer connectors" and can be found in most auto part stores.

If your battery is weak, but not dead then it could work as most of the heavy draw would come from the weak battery (because it has the heavier gauge wire) If the battery is mostly depleted, the heavy draw would go through the wires and pop the fuse. A starter motor draw far more then 10 amps.

What your showing would be fine if you want to connect a maintainer or if you want to use an accessory. However the gauge of the wires is too small to use it for jumping a dead battery. A starter would consume far more then 10 amps to crank (the inline fuse would instantly pop) ATV jumper cables are usually a minimum of 10 gauge wires. Mike

I use a water jet, it attaches to the garden hose and gives a more powerful spray then just the hose, but not as much as a pressure washer. As for soap, I have been having good luck with Arctic Cat's "Spray and rinse" cleaner. Mike

The fast cycling of the compressor is because of the low pressure, This is to prevent damage to the compressor. Offhand I don't know what the numbers should be as far as pressure for normal amount of refrigerant, im sure you can look that up. Mike

Its two gauges with some hookups to check the high and low pressure side of the compressor. If you do have a leak you can buy refrigerant that contains a UV dye in it so you can identify the source of the leak using a UV light. Autozone will do some tests for free, or you can rent the gauges to do the test, or take it to any garage. No use spending money for the gauges for a one time use. Mike

I run what the tire states, 5 psi, but I also have radial tires on my quad (Maxxis Bighorn) Mike

I think Autozone has the gauges that you can hook up to the a.c unit and see if there is enough coolant and tell how your compressor is working. They do a lot of tests for free (hoping you will buy there ) Mike

You would be fine with that

I bought a 2017 version of this machine for my girl. $5,000 brand new. Had 4WD, EFI https://arcticcatoffroad.txtsv.com/atv/mid-size-utility/alterra-500

You can buy the carb from Kymco and it would be cheaper then Arctic Cat OEM price. Mike

I have had a plow on my quad for years. Well worth it, Here in the Northeast we sometimes get heavy wet snow which is a pain to use a snowblower. A plow works well. The winch is used to raise/lower the blade, some models will have a manual lift. All depends on your machine and plow Mike

Correct, registration and insurance is suggested but not required to ride at Lost Trails. They usually have trash cans in the parking lot and during the summer have a a stand to get food. There are several local places that will deliver food to the trail head. I forgot one thing, those dates are the same dates as the Snow Shoe Rails to Trails spaghetti dinner ride which we are planning to attend, so I won't be at Lost Trails that weekend. Mike

I work a screwy 12 hr schedule, but I am off that weekend. I could join up on any of the days. Have you ridden there before or need a guide? I ride there a lot because its close to home. Mike

Solid rear axle would be worse for rocky terrain, it will throw you around more. Between the two, I would go with the Honda, in most riding you do not need AWD or 4WD. With the honda, you can use it only when needed. Mike