Motorcycle Repair: 1996 z 440, gas line antifreeze, float bowls

Question
QUESTION: I have a 1996 Arctic cat z 440 fan cooled snowmobile.  I have been having lots of trouble with it.  it will start and idle all day but as soon as you hit the throttle it bogs and dies out.   i put a new fuel filter, on it cleaned the carbs, checked tss, moved the needles around, checked all the fuel lines, and put gas line antifreeze in it.  when i took it out of the shop it ran fine but then i shut it off and waited a couple hours and tried again and it started bogging again.   it will run fine sometimes and then like crap other times...  any idea whats rong???

ANSWER: Darby,

Bogging can be an over rich condition
or a lean condition or one cylinder
cutting out due to fuel or spark
problems.

-do both pipes warm up at the same rate?

-have you checked for any intake air leaks
on carbs or vacuum lines.

-does it run better with choke on or off?
does it seem to need more fuel or less
or does it make any difference?

-Have you checked if float bowls have fuel
in them?

-Has the air box been checked for any obstructions?

-It may have a sticky float valve, are the
spark plugs dry, black, brown, whitish color
indicating too much fuel, okay fuel or lean fuel?

-Are carb needles assembled correctly
with the needles held in place by the
plate and spring?

-Are carb slide cutaways correctly at the rear?

-when it boggs, do you still have spark on both wires?
Will it run on either cylinder if you pull a plug wire?
Plug caps okay?

-Is the compression good?

-Is exhaust system plugged or clear?

-do you have a fuel pump?

-the off idle fuel delivery is handled
by the slide needle/jet.

-last idea, some "Cats" had stator problems
which could affect CDI charging when
either hot or cold. Pulse or trigger coil
problem.

http://www.ripperd.com/ftp/admins/carb_rebuild/


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Ive checked just about all the things youve listed and still cant seem to figure this out.  My brother thinks the CDI box is fried.  Could this be causing the problems. Also have you heard of th TSS(throttle Saftey System),  is it possible it is causing my problems?

Answer
Darby,

-if you have TSS it will be a little plug
under the console where the key is.

-It has 3 wires. Try unplugging it
or bending the center prong out of the way
and plugging it in again.

-It connects to the throttle and if
the throttle valve sticks open it kills the
spark for safety. Opening and closing the
throttle a few times usually resets it.

-I don't what year they were using this device,
but it might be worth checking out.
Your brother may be right but it pays
to check what you can.

-Also check your stator plug wires coming out
of the engine and all the ground wires
you can find on coils etc.

-a loose connector or ground to the ignition
components can wreak havoc.
Also the kill switch or tether.