Making its debut in 2019, the CForce 600 has been gaining steam in the ATV industry ever since and has worked its way onto the list of best ATVs for the money.
With a good mix of power and speed, and offered at a budget price compared to most of its counterparts, plenty of owners are willing to give it their shot at approval.
While CFMoto owner reviews show that many owners are plenty satisfied with their CForces, there are also six common problems that tend to recur in these models.
CFMoto CForce 600 Problems
The six most common CFMoto CForce 600 problems are:
- Trouble shifting gears
- Extreme engine noise
- Poor throttle response
- Excessive heat on the legs from the exhaust
- Overheating
- Engine not starting
This guide will detail the likely causes of each issue, along with proven fixes.
Trouble Shifting Gears
One of the most common issues found in the CForce 600 is trouble shifting gears.
A number of owners find that when trying to go into any gear from a complete stop on an incline, the gear shift will stick to the point that sometimes it’s almost physically impossible to shift it.
You may also experience a grinding noise when shifting gears or when throttling right after making a shift.
You can be pretty sure that when this happens, your shift linkage needs to be adjusted.
This issues occur when one or both of the lock nuts that hold the shift linkage in place vibrate loose, leading to the shift linkage transferring to an incorrect position.
To fix it, you’ll just need to readjust the shift linkage back into place.
Fix
To do this, you’ll need to remove the plastic cover from the gear shift and the plastic covering plate directly below the gear shift.
Removing the plastic covering plate above that, where “CFORCE” is spelled out, should help as well.
Once done, you should be able to easily locate the shift linkage that runs directly down from the gear shift.
Make sure your transmission is in neutral. Then, using an 8mm wrench, hold the turnbuckle in place while using a 10mm wrench to fully loosen both locking nuts.
Once fully loosened, rotate the turnbuckle one full rotation counter clockwise and tighten the nuts to lock it back into place.
Then fire up your machine and test it out, making additional adjustments in the same way if needed until the gear shift works seamlessly and there is no more grinding.
Extreme Engine Noise
The engine noise is extremely loud in the CFMoto CForce 600, even louder than the more powerful CForce 800 and CForce 1000 models.
While the big bore single cylinder engine is noisy in general, many owners have taken steps to tone down the volume so that they can actually hear anything else when riding.
The valves tend to play a part in this noise. If they are too tight or too loose, they will amplify this engine noise.
Fixes
Owners should check to ensure they are set to the proper specs and make the proper adjustments if not, which should help quiet the engine down and make it smoother.
Owners can also remove the plastic covering and install sound deadening mats on the underside of them to help muffle the engine noise.
Lastly, installing a clutch kit will help to lower the RPMs and high revving, which should help to cut down on the noise as well. More on clutch kits in the next section.
Poor Throttle Response
Another common issue in the CForce 600 is poor throttle response. A similar issue occurs in both the CFMoto CForce 500 and the CFMoto CForce 400.
This is especially noticeable in high gear, where riders may find that when fully throttling the machine, the RPMs may shoot up without much added response from the engine.
This essentially makes high gear useless in many cases and leads to owners leaving the machine in Low gear much of the time.
While throttle response in low gear is solid, riders do still find that they don’t have as much low end power as they would expect and the ride can feel a little bit jerky at times.
This poor throttle response and jerkiness are likely the result of flaws with the stock clutch system.
Fixes
Upgrading the primary clutch with new weights and a new spring will help alleviate the issues the stock clutch causes.
Owners can purchase an aftermarket clutch kit that contains these upgraded components, or purchase and install them on their own.
Both Main Street Cycle and RNG Performance make clutch kits that are highly recommended for the CForce 600.
Additionally, the secondary clutch can be reclocked to a different setting to increase throttle response and relieve any jerkiness.
The secondary clutch has an adjustable spring with three different letter settings and four different number settings.
The CForce 600 should be factory set to the B-1 setting. For better overall performance and less jerkiness, it is recommended that owners adjust to the C-1 setting.
Excessive Heat On Legs From Exhaust
Owners who run their machines in low gear at slower speeds consistently may find that the side of the ATV where the exhaust pipe vents may become incredibly hot from the exhaust heat.
This heat will warm the outer plastic shell and plastic fuel tank cover to the point that riders may not be able to keep their leg close to the machine without burning it.
Fix
To alleviate this, owners should have their dealer install titanium heat wrap around the exhaust pipe.
This should result in much less heat warming the plastic shell and a more comfortable ride for the legs.
Overheating
Another common issue experienced with the CForce 600 is for the engine to overheat, which generally occurs for a handful of different reasons.
- Radiator Blockage
- Radiator Fan Not Activating In Time
- Air Bubble In The Coolant System
- A Blown Head Gasket
Causes & Fixes
Radiator Blockage
The radiator in the CForce 600 is prone to clogging up with mud, dirt, and dried sand over time depending upon where you usually ride. Any blockage in the radiator can lead to overheating.
Riders should be sure to clean their radiator and radiator grills out with water on a frequent basis to avoid this, especially after muddy or sandy rides.
For extreme clogs, you may need to fully remove the grill and soak it in some kind of all purpose cleaner. Once it has soaked for a good while, spray out any remaining debris from the front and back.
It is recommended to use a spray hose rather than a pressure washer when doing this to avoid potentially damaging the grill or radiator.
Radiator Fan Not Activating In Time
CForce ATVs, like most other ATVs, have their electronic control units factory-set for the radiator fan not to engage until the engine reaches temperatures upwards of 215+ degrees.
This becomes a problem in warmer climates or at high elevations because the radiator fan won’t end up triggering in time to keep the engine cool enough, leading to overheating.
There are a few ways to alleviate this issue.
The easiest and most common way is to simply have your ECU tuned or flashed, which will usually reprogram it to engage the radiator fan at much lower engine temps, usually around 190 degrees.
This greatly cuts down on overheating occurrences.
Some owners have chosen to go another route and install a toggle switch on the dash of their CForce , which can be wired to bypass the switch that engages the radiator fan and gives them the ability to activate the fan at their discretion with a flip of this toggle switch.
Both methods work well to minimize overheating.
Air Bubble In The Coolant System
Every so often, an air bubble will form in the coolant system of the CForce 600, which will lead to overheating.
If the fan doesn’t trigger in time and your engine overheats, it can allow air into the system.
This air usually leads to the coolant system having a tough time actually pumping coolant, which will lead to more overheating.
Once air has entered the coolant system, the engine will likely continue to suffer from overheating until the air is bled out.
To bleed air from your coolant system, follow the steps below:
- Raise the front end of your CForce by parking on a hill or lifting it
- Make sure the engine is cold and has not been running recently
- Remove the radiator cap and fill with coolant until it slightly overflows
- Repeat the step above for any overflow reservoir
- Start the engine and let it idle
- Bubbles will likely begin to surface from the radiator fill area
- Wait for these bubbles to subside and then shut off the engine
- Replenish with coolant, start the engine again, and see if bubbles start again
- If not, you’re good to and can can reinstall the radiator cap
- If so, repeat the process until the bubbles to stop
Your coolant system should be bled of any air bubble after this process.
If for some reason the bubbling will not subside, you likely have a blown head gasket.
Blown Head Gasket
Any time your engine overheats, your head gaskets are at risk of blowing. And if a head gasket goes, it will lead to continued overheating.
To confirm whether your head gaskets are blown, you can purchase a head gasket test kit. Or you can simply replace them if you’re pretty sure they’re cooked.
Engine Not Starting
A number of owners of the CForce 600 have reported experiencing their engine not starting at some point. This is likely due in part to one of the following:
- Terminals/Wiring
- Starter Solenoid
- Battery
- Valves
- Spark Plugs
Causes & Fixes
To keep your engine and the components that affect its operating ability in tip-top shape, be sure to cover your CForce 600 with one of the best ATV covers available while not in use for extended periods.
Terminals/Wiring
If your CFMoto 600 is having starting problems, start by inspecting the battery terminals. Check for corrosion and debris, and wipe them clean even if they don’t appear to need it.
The ground wires connected to the battery are sometimes the cause of a no-start issue, so you should check to ensure those are securely connected as well.
Starter Solenoid
If you go to start your CForce 600 and there’s only a clicking sound where the engine should be firing, this is a classic sign of an issue with the starter solenoid.
To confirm this, check all of the connections to the solenoid first to ensure none are loose. Even if they don’t seem loose, a best practice is to go ahead and loosen and then retighten them to see if this does the trick.
If the clicking persists after doing this, you can do a simple test of the solenoid by laying a screwdriver across the two large lugs and attempting to fire up your engine.
If it starts, you can be pretty sure the solenoid is bad and it should be replaced.
Battery
The CForce 600’s stock battery is not exactly known for its high quality, and tends to drain pretty quickly if supporting added electronics.
Test the voltage to ensure it is getting 12+ volts as the fuel injection needs at least 12 volts to properly function.
Connecting the battery to this Battery Tender when it is not in use can help ensure proper voltage and extend the lifespan of your battery.
Valves
The intake and exhaust valves are another known cause of starting issues in the CForce 600.
These valves have a tendency to tighten up too much and create compression loss, but they’re known to loosen as well.
Both of these scenarios will affect the valve clearance, which if not maintained at the proper level, can result in compression loss and a no-start issue.
The proper valve clearances can be found in the owner’s manual. Check to ensure both valves are set at their proper clearances, and make the proper adjustments if not.
Spark Plugs
Spark plug fouling is another cause of the engine not starting. Inspect your spark plugs to ensure they aren’t covered in oil, coolant, or fuel. The tips should not appear burnt, which would indicate fouling.
If they do appear to be fouled, you can be pretty certain that’s your issue and they should be replaced. A high quality iridium spark plug is recommended for peak performance.
Conclusion
While this ATV is looked at as one of the best values on the ATV market among outdoor enthusiasts, it does have some drawbacks.
The most common CFMoto CForce 600 problems as expressed by current owners are trouble shifting gears, extreme engine noise, poor throttle response, excessive heat on the legs from the exhaust, and the engine not starting.
For a more thorough overview of the pros and cons of the CForce 600 and the rest of the line of CForce models, check out this CFMoto ATV Reviews Guide before you go.
