[Hank68]

WOW!!!!!!!   We had the low speed drivability issue with all of the 6 C500s we sold and the 3 in stock.  Just dropped the idle on three 2016 C force 500 HOs, to 1350-1400 rpms.  Low speed drivability issue GONE.  Can't tell you how or why.  Don't really care at this point.  Amazing results and an easy fix.

Was setting the idle very difficult? I would like to try this on my machine. Can you provide me some direction on how to? Do the side plastics need to come off or can I get to the adjustment area with the seat off? This is a screw that I should be looking for correct?

Thanks in advance


Well, I finally got around to adjusting the idle and sure enough it took care of my low speed issues. Its so much more enjoyable to ride now!!

[cforce550norway]

WOW!!!!!!!   We had the low speed drivability issue with all of the 6 C500s we sold and the 3 in stock.  Just dropped the idle on three 2016 C force 500 HOs, to 1350-1400 rpms.  Low speed drivability issue GONE.  Can't tell you how or why.  Don't really care at this point.  Amazing results and an easy fix.

Was setting the idle very difficult? I would like to try this on my machine. Can you provide me some direction on how to? Do the side plastics need to come off or can I get to the adjustment area with the seat off? This is a screw that I should be looking for correct?

Thanks in advance


Well, I finally got around to adjusting the idle and sure enough it took care of my low speed issues. Its so much more enjoyable to ride now!!

I can confirm that the idle adjustment did the trick here as well, had to adjust quite significantly before idle speed started to drop. Mine is now around 1500 RPM at idle, was around 1750 RPM. And the low speed issue is gone. 
Getting to the idle screw is another thing, it's a pain. I used a 8 mm spanner to unwind the nut completely until the screw started unwind with it.

[NMKawierider]

Wow...still 1500. I think it should be around 1150-1200...shouldn't it? In the old days anything over 900 was too high...lol

[kevin.evjen]

I take it they did the TPS adjustment moving the idle down?

Hi Cosmosdan,
Two service reps drove out 200 miles west of the cities and worked on my ATV. They did not do a good job of vetting the ATV to make sure that their adjustments did not cause other issues. Now it speeds up if I turn the handle bars right or left. I brought it back on Friday to have them fix that and it doesn't want to start after driving it a while. Only happened twice. If I could I would sell it or trade it for something else at this point. Anything else at this point...would be better. 300 miles on it and it has been in the shop over half of my ownership of it.
Thanks
Kevin

[Cosmosdan]

My Z6 drove me nuts with all the little quarks. I think I have it now, but I feel your pain. I gave up on the dealers fixes and made my own. I would just stay on them until you get something back that works. Hope you can get it all better before spring gets here and the riding season.

[cansno]

Purchased new 2016 a few weeks ago and realized same problem immediately. Dealer suspected a clutch issue and changed it all out with no results. Glad I found this thread. Forwarded link to him over weekend and will be in touch with him today. Quad is at my cabin. Going in today to check on this idle issue which I never noticed. Is idle speed something I can lower myself or does it have to be put on a computer? Thks.

[Erikb]

Purchased new 2016 a few weeks ago and realized same problem immediately. Dealer suspected a clutch issue and changed it all out with no results. Glad I found this thread. Forwarded link to him over weekend and will be in touch with him today. Quad is at my cabin. Going in today to check on this idle issue which I never noticed. Is idle speed something I can lower myself or does it have to be put on a computer? Thks.

This depends on your level of mechanical prowess.  I did this myself on my machine (its mechanical so no computer needed).  It's not terribly difficult in theory. You take the right side panels off and then you have turn out the idle screw until you reach the desired RPM.  I'll be honest, its not the easiest screw to get at.  it faces forward and it's in a pretty tight spot.  I ended up cutting off and old 8mm wrench and attaching it with a pin to a scrap piece of bar stock so I could get it in there at the angles I needed to unscrew.  I also removed the temp switch which is in the way.  It took about an hour to complete.  if your dealer is close and you trust them to do the adjustment as you recommend in a timely fashion, id take it in.  Otherwise, it's totally doable on your own. 

best of luck to you. 

[cansno]

Wow. Different machine altogether. As you said, a little tricky to get at. I used a small pair of vise grips from the left side, and nipped it just tight enough to hold without damaging screw. Bike is now running smoothly. Thanks to everybody for their input. As somebody said in a previous post, it takes a lot of turns before anything begins to change. I just don't understand that if so many are having this issue, why don't the dealers know anything about it?

[Erikb]

Wow. Different machine altogether. As you said, a little tricky to get at. I used a small pair of vise grips from the left side, and nipped it just tight enough to hold without damaging screw. Bike is now running smoothly. Thanks to everybody for their input. As somebody said in a previous post, it takes a lot of turns before anything begins to change. I just don't understand that if so many are having this issue, why don't the dealers know anything about it?

I'm glad it worked out for you.  I agree, it is a completely different machine once you get this sorted out.  It is frustrating that the dealers (at least mine) will not acknowledge this issue.  When I picked up my machine and started it the first time, I commented that I thought the idle was too high and that it seamed jumpy.  The response I got was "oh these machines idle high" and "the clutches need to break in" (shame on them)  I was so excited to get it home, that I accepted their reasons.  In reality, I should have insisted that they make the adjustment before I took it home because I had read this thread and knew of the issues (shame on me).  It wasn't until a month later that I realized the issue was not clutch related because the machine would jump from 4000RPM down to idle while in neutral making it impossible to maintain a constant low speed (even in low range). 

This being said, I've never driven a smother machine once this issue was resolved.  The clutching is really dialed in from the factory on these things.  neither my Arctic Cat or Polaris machines reverse as smooth as my CF Moto. 

[Forge04]

Made an appointment today to get mine looked at. Less than 24 hours after driving it away.

Birds of Prey in Caldwell, ID. They knew exactly what I was talking about.

[Erikb]

Made an appointment today to get mine looked at. Less than 24 hours after driving it away.

Birds of Prey in Caldwell, ID. They knew exactly what I was talking about.

Then why did they let it out the door? 

[Cosmosdan]

They thought it was fine until they got complaints

[Forge04]

Made an appointment today to get mine looked at. Less than 24 hours after driving it away.

Birds of Prey in Caldwell, ID. They knew exactly what I was talking about.

Then why did they let it out the door? 

Dunno.

What I do know is that we picked it up yesterday and that did the trick. And within 30 days EVERYTHING is covered by warranty.

140 miles in 10 days, with real life and a shop visit... not too shabby.

[cfmotospokane]

WOW!!!!!!!   We had the low speed drivability issue with all of the 6 C500s we sold and the 3 in stock.  Just dropped the idle on three 2016 C force 500 HOs, to 1350-1400 rpms.  Low speed drivability issue GONE.  Can't tell you how or why.  Don't really care at this point.  Amazing results and an easy fix.

Was setting the idle very difficult? I would like to try this on my machine. Can you provide me some direction on how to? Do the side plastics need to come off or can I get to the adjustment area with the seat off? This is a screw that I should be looking for correct?

Thanks in advance


Well, I finally got around to adjusting the idle and sure enough it took care of my low speed issues. Its so much more enjoyable to ride now!!

I can confirm that the idle adjustment did the trick here as well, had to adjust quite significantly before idle speed started to drop. Mine is now around 1500 RPM at idle, was around 1750 RPM. And the low speed issue is gone. 
Getting to the idle screw is another thing, it's a pain. I used a 8 mm spanner to unwind the nut completely until the screw started unwind with it.

I know I'm responding to an older post, but desperate times call for desperate measures...Have you seen this issue with new (e.g., 2018) models?  Same fix?  Mind talking my dealer through it?

[Erikb]

WOW!!!!!!!   We had the low speed drivability issue with all of the 6 C500s we sold and the 3 in stock.  Just dropped the idle on three 2016 C force 500 HOs, to 1350-1400 rpms.  Low speed drivability issue GONE.  Can't tell you how or why.  Don't really care at this point.  Amazing results and an easy fix.

Was setting the idle very difficult? I would like to try this on my machine. Can you provide me some direction on how to? Do the side plastics need to come off or can I get to the adjustment area with the seat off? This is a screw that I should be looking for correct?

Thanks in advance


Well, I finally got around to adjusting the idle and sure enough it took care of my low speed issues. Its so much more enjoyable to ride now!!

I can confirm that the idle adjustment did the trick here as well, had to adjust quite significantly before idle speed started to drop. Mine is now around 1500 RPM at idle, was around 1750 RPM. And the low speed issue is gone. 
Getting to the idle screw is another thing, it's a pain. I used a 8 mm spanner to unwind the nut completely until the screw started unwind with it.

I know I'm responding to an older post, but desperate times call for desperate measures...Have you seen this issue with new (e.g., 2018) models?  Same fix?  Mind talking my dealer through it?

 I did this myself on my machine (its mechanical so no computer needed).  It's not terribly difficult in theory. You take the right side panels off and then you have turn out the idle screw until you reach the desired RPM.  It took about an hour to complete.  My machine is a 2017, but this was a mechanical adjustment, so I dont see why it couldnt happen on a 2018 model.  I did not have to adjust the TPS as I'm sure most computer scanner driven techs will try and tell you. 

Do this test: put machine in N and rev to about 4000 rpms.  Then slowly back the throttle down.  If it drops to idle suddenly at around 2-3000 rpm you will know you need to adjust the throttle screw. 

Best of luck!