[AT] Gasoline is eating up my ATV fuel pumps

[Cecil Bearden]

I have 2  Arctic Cat 700 ATVs.  They are my 4x4 wheel chairs.  The 2012 
model has power steering and is the one I use all the time.  it gets run 
daily and has about 5 gallons of gasoline run through it weekly.   My 
other 700 is a 2017 model and is what I call a striped down model.  In 
fact its model is VLX  (very little extras) I have had a lot of problems 
with both of these machines in that the throttle plate will freeze up in 
the throttle body.  They are EFI machines with an electric fuel pump in 
the tank that takes about 4 to 6 hours to replace.  Aftermarket pumps 
are about $80 while the ones from Arctic Cat are over $300.  Neither 
ones last very long.

The VLX machine has very few hours on it.  The throttle plate froze up 
on it about a month after we bought it.  It was nearly a yea before  got 
the problem fixed and in that time the fuel pump in the tank turned to 
jelly and left a thick fluid in the bottom of the tank.  I replaced the 
pump last fall and ran this machine a couple of times since.  At the 
same time I replaced the pump in my 2012 with power steering.  My 2012 
stopped yesterday, the fuel pump makes a gurgling noise.  It will not 
start now.  I tried to get the VLX machine to use, and the fuel pump 
will not run when turning the key on.  I have banged on the surrounding 
parts with a hammer, sometimes that will start pumps working.  No use.  
It will stat and run on starting fluid, but not on its own.

I buy gas from my local coop and they get fuel from Red Rock petroleum 
in OKC, a reputable supplier.   The gas is not premium, but is unleaded, 
no ethanol.  Is there anything I can add to the fuel tank that will stop 
the fuel pumps from going bad.  I used some additive that was 
recommended by the dealer I bought the 2012 from and it would not run 
worth crap until I got that tank ran out.  I think it was Startron..  I 
have to have an ATV here, I now have back and knee problems that require 
me to rest a minute when I walk around the truck and trailer.

Any advice would be appreciated.

I wish all of you a good 4th of July and here's hoping your neighbors 
don't burn your place down.  We have had 3 fires so far from 
unsupervised kids playing with fireworks.