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Arctic Cat XC 450 must have A Arm Guards

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9.9K views 22 replies 7 participants last post by  ruvs421  
#1 ·
If you have one or purchase an Arctic Cat XC 450, do yourself a favor and buy the aluminum A Arm guards KYMCO makes for the machine. I purchased a set for mine and while changing them out, I saw that I should have had them before going to the Rocky Mountains. The rear A Arms took a bit of a beating with the crap plastic ones the AC factory (or KYMCO) puts on them. I broke the right rear plastic guard loose from one of the screws and had to zip tie it on for a temp fix.

For those that may not know, the Arctic Cat XC 450 will take the same parts as the KYMCO Maxxer 450i and from what I have seen, KYMCO has some parts available that Arctic Cat does not feel the need to carry for their customers. I also see that some of the parts thru KYMCO are cheaper than thru Arctic Cat. Example: $20.00 cheaper on each tie rod assembly.

Arctic Cat does not have a parts listing for the aluminum guards but you can go online, find a KYMCO dealer in your state or area, look up the parts on line and make your order online. This route saved me a bunch of money.

Here are the A Arm Guard parts numbers if you want them.
KYMCO FRNT RT AARM GUARD - Part #GH-809-AR
KYMCO FRNT LT AARM GUARD - Part #GH-809-AL
KYMCO REAR LT AARM GUARD - Part #GH-811-AL
KYMCO REAR RT AARM GUARD - Part #GY-811-AR

The total for the set of four with KS tax, was $224.91 and I picked them up from the dealer.

If you purchase the ones on eBay, they are $348.44 for the set. If you get them from the KYMCO parts online place in California, they are around $315.00. Pretty good savings getting them online thru a dealer. The only thing that would make them look better would be to have the initials AC on the guards rather than the KC that is on them. Oh well, they fit and work great, so I can live with the KC.

One other little thing, the bolts for the rear that come with them, they don't send enough of the smaller 6mm shoulder bolts so you will need to pick up 1 more for each side in the rear. The bigger bolt in the rear could have been a shade longer but they work ok. Also get a tube of blue Loctite. If you are not going to get these guards, check the bolts in the rear plastic ones as they are probably loose.
 

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#2 ·
i find the plastic ones way better...ive never wrecked a boot with plastic guards...one weekend with aluminum ones cost me 2 cv boots
 
#4 · (Edited)
Savageman69
Did the bolts break or did the aluminum bend back when something was hit? Or what caused the aluminum ones to get into the boots? Also, I assume it was the front inner boots or???????? My rear A Arms took a beating on the rocks due to no protection on the front side of the A Arm with the plastic ones.

Thanks.
 
#3 ·
I install my aluminum guards for hunting season only, woods with no trials and cut corn fields where things seem to want to rise up through the bottom of the a-arms and tear up boots. I do keep an eye on them so that not to much mud builds up on the top side of them when I do have them on, before I got the aluminum guards I tore boots every hunting season but not anymore.
When hunting season is over it's back to OEM.
 
#7 · (Edited)
I need to get a arm guards...i ripped 2 boots in 2 weekends. weldedeman or anyone else know what year plastic guards will fit my 2013 500 ?

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You have no mounting tabs on your a-arms for the OEM guards, you would have to get some mounts welded onto the a-arms then you would be able too put some on.

Thanks sash but do u know if they are compatible with the 2013 500 4x4 kymco ?

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No, they won't work for you.
Your a-arms are not the same as the 450CR.
 
#15 ·
The ones I just got are also 1/8" 6061-T6 and I don't think they are going to bend very easily. I used to work in a sheet metal shop and the T6 is very very difficult to bend without a press break.

Side question here Rick. I read about your nice A Arm and other bushings. Do you make these for the XC 450 too? Thanks.
 
#13 ·
I understand rtr but it specifically said it would fit a 2013 ac 500 core...I'm not gonna order anything until call and talk to someone in detail about how they will bolt on of i don't have any bolt tabs

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The front A Arms on the XC 450 don't have bolt on tabs either but the parts come with the mounts that clamp them to the A Arms so maybe the ones you are looking for will have the same. Good luck.
 
#19 ·
Yup, the back ones rip right off but what else do they expect, with the way they are mounted and designed. I have never figured out why the rear A Arm guards are put on the way they are. To me, they are backwards. 99.9% of the time you are going forward, so why are they not put on to protect the front of the A Arm and let you slide over what you hit and not catch on a flat edge? Why do I need them turned up on the back edge but not turned up on the front edge? Maybe someone can answer that for me.
 
#21 ·
Hey Saso,

I realize this is an old thread, but I was hoping you could help me out. The skid plate kit you got for your XC is exactly the kit I need for my Kymco Maxxer. The problem is...I can't find it ANYWHERE! Can you please tell me precisely where you purchased it? Any help is greatly appreciated. -Dan