Maggot snowmobile thread

[fivefourtwo]

Couldn't go new this season but still got a big upgrade! Winter can't come soon enough.

The new toy

[Mannix]

Sled is sold....

[adrenalated]

I have some JONG sled questions.

First, some background. Really interested in getting a sled this year. Will be used for sled access skiing around CO - mostly Front Range, but also CB, San Juans, etc. I don't need something that can climb to the top of everything - I'm still happy to skin - just something to take the edge off long approaches. Still would like a reasonably capable mountain sled rather than a beater trail sled as all my friends that own sleds have M7s, M8s, Skidoo 800s, that sort of thing. I would use it for some tandeming, but I only weigh 140lbs and my main ski partner is only 110lbs. So, much different demands than trying to tandem two big dudes. I've riden sleds before so I'm not a total idiot, but it's definitely going to take a bunch of learning and I'll probably beat up whatever I get learning to ride.

Mechanically, I have no experience working on sleds, but am very mechanically inclined and have a ton of experience working on other small, carbureted 2-strokes. So I should be able to pick that side of it up fairly quickly.

I've been looking at old AC Powder Specials, both off a recommendation from D-Side and because they can be found within my budget. Seems they have a decent reputation for reliability, at least as sleds go. Need to spend less than $1500 or so. So my questions are:
-is this enough sled for what I'm doing?
-looks like these came with 136" tracks - is that long enough? Seems like most agree that 15x is ideal.
-did these have reverse (either stock or as an option) and do I need it?
-EFI or carb? Is one more reliable than the other? Remember I'm comfortable cleaning and maintaining carbs, but don't want to have to dick with it all the time either.
-should I look for the 600 or 700? Safe to say the 500 isn't enough power? Are any more or less reliable?
-any other sleds I should look for and why?

Thanks in advance!

[toast2266]

^^^ I'm also a total sled jong (so take all this with a grain of salt), but I've been doing shitloads of interwebs research on similar questions. My impression is that a 136 track is going to be somewhat frustrating in powder for a non-skilled rider, especially if you're trying to tandem up stuff. My impression is also that tandeming up anything soft with less than a 700 probably isn't going to work very well. I also did a lot of research on the arctic cats, and consensus was that their new EFI is pretty good, but older AC EFI is not so great.

[Blurred]

I have some JONG sled questions.

First, some background. Really interested in getting a sled this year. Will be used for sled access skiing around CO - mostly Front Range, but also CB, San Juans, etc. I don't need something that can climb to the top of everything - I'm still happy to skin - just something to take the edge off long approaches. Still would like a reasonably capable mountain sled rather than a beater trail sled as all my friends that own sleds have M7s, M8s, Skidoo 800s, that sort of thing. I would use it for some tandeming, but I only weigh 140lbs and my main ski partner is only 110lbs. So, much different demands than trying to tandem two big dudes. I've riden sleds before so I'm not a total idiot, but it's definitely going to take a bunch of learning and I'll probably beat up whatever I get learning to ride.

Mechanically, I have no experience working on sleds, but am very mechanically inclined and have a ton of experience working on other small, carbureted 2-strokes. So I should be able to pick that side of it up fairly quickly.

I've been looking at old AC Powder Specials, both off a recommendation from D-Side and because they can be found within my budget. Seems they have a decent reputation for reliability, at least as sleds go. Need to spend less than $1500 or so. So my questions are:
-is this enough sled for what I'm doing?
-looks like these came with 136" tracks - is that long enough? Seems like most agree that 15x is ideal.
-did these have reverse (either stock or as an option) and do I need it?
-EFI or carb? Is one more reliable than the other? Remember I'm comfortable cleaning and maintaining carbs, but don't want to have to dick with it all the time either.
-should I look for the 600 or 700? Safe to say the 500 isn't enough power? Are any more or less reliable?
-any other sleds I should look for and why?

Thanks in advance!

Not sure if those sleds had reverse.......I'd go with the 700 if you can. Tandeming/towing etc at high altitude needs the power, if anything not to overwork the sled.
Also, make sure it's liquid cooled, that's important.

Track length is majorly overrated, 136 is fine. You're probably not going to be towing in powder or breaking a bunch of trail so not a big deal.
Don't sweat the efi/carb thing either.

[Mannix]

Yah, what he said. My 700 spent a LOT of time at WOT with two people on it. 136 is doable; my 99 Summit 670 was a 136; when I put a 156" track on my 700, I put the 144 on the 670.

It got _better_, but not night and day holy crap better. SEEMS TO ME that the breakover point is at 15x" - the 700 got a WHOLE lot better in deep snow with the 156. The 670 got a bit better with the 144. Eh. Assuming "front range" means Vail Pass/Corona/Buff, a 121" trail sled with a decent motor will do it.


Iain

[BrandonH]

Pro-RMK...

[kidwoo]

Here we are in autumn and I find myself jonsing for the sled more than the skis.

I'm sure it'll pass but......I feel like growing a mustache and a beer gut.

[Dhelihiker]

^^ I was just saying the same thing. I can't fucking wait.

My new CFR dual ski rack arrives Monday. Ive been trying to avoid that purchase for a long time. Now I just need to forget how much I spent on some plastic and snowboard straps. I shoulda took a roofy pre-purchase.

[tobytortorelli]

Speaking of CFR stuff, the Blades (tunnel stiffeners) are a must in my opinion. I bent a tunnel with too much weight on the back (gas, 2 pairs skis, beverages) and these add much needed strength (to my xp). You can come up with your own if you buy angled aluminum in wide stock.

[cliffhucker]

Just bought a 2008 arctic cat m8, 153" track its EFI, not my first sled, but still a big improvement over my skidoo mxz 700; I've serviced the diamond drive, replaced a few gaskets and what not and cleaned everything up. The sled sounds great, starts first pull, but it's leaking gas pretty bad when I rap on the throttle for just a little bit,ie. there's a huge puddle under the bellypan. Doesn't seem to leak at all until I throttle it. Looking at everything inside it is coming from down low in the front of the sled, with a little seeming to squirt all the way up the the spark plugs. Any ideas what this is fellas? My mechanical vocabulary is quite limited, but I'm mechanically inclined enough that I'd rather fix this myself. HELP!!!

[DyingToLiveToSki]

Hey man, everyone I ski and sled with has doos but I learned a lot about my sled by getting the shop manual and looking on the parts catalogue on the ski doo site which has explode views of everything.

Here a link to the cat version, just find your sled and go nuts:

http://store.arcticcat.com/Parts#/Ar.../S2008M8H3EUSB

I would start with the connections for the fuel lines then go from there. I'm sure the more experienced sled guys will pipe in but that's where I would start.

[kidwoo]

Just bought a 2008 arctic cat m8, 153" track its EFI, not my first sled, but still a big improvement over my skidoo mxz 700; I've serviced the diamond drive, replaced a few gaskets and what not and cleaned everything up. The sled sounds great, starts first pull, but it's leaking gas pretty bad when I rap on the throttle for just a little bit,ie. there's a huge puddle under the bellypan. Doesn't seem to leak at all until I throttle it. Looking at everything inside it is coming from down low in the front of the sled, with a little seeming to squirt all the way up the the spark plugs. Any ideas what this is fellas? My mechanical vocabulary is quite limited, but I'm mechanically inclined enough that I'd rather fix this myself. HELP!!!

Just smoke cigarettes every time you ride. Should clean that mess right up.









follow the hoses

[ridevt]

Thinking about throwing down on a 2012 Summit SP E-tec today and eventually selling the REV pictured above. The 2013's look pretty slick and seem super easy to roll into a carve but it's a A LOT more $$. Plus, a 2 year warranty is pretty rad and the rebates on 2012's are killer. Anyone riding the 2012 SP?

[hick]

Thinking about throwing down on a 2012 Summit SP E-tec today and eventually selling the REV pictured above. The 2013's look pretty slick and seem super easy to roll into a carve but it's a A LOT more $$. Plus, a 2 year warranty is pretty rad and the rebates on 2012's are killer. Anyone riding the 2012 SP?

Spent time on 12' summit x / 154 last season. Liked it better than the 08/09/10 xp chassis, but not as much as my M cat. That being said, that e tec motor absolutely fucking rips! I'd wait a couple years on the xm chassis anyways, it will be super rad when they release the belt drive and stock turbo, (both are in the works!). If you don't mind me asking what are they asking for 12 sp etec w/ rebate down there?

[ridevt]

Yup, my main riding partner bought a 12X last year and it was night and day vs my REV. Burns clean, starts on the 1st pull and fits between the wheel wells on my Tacoma. I'm surprised they didn't go belt drive on the 13's, maybe a cost issue?

Right now, the XP E-tec 154 12's are at $8995 and the dealer has 6 or 7? the 2013 XM is $11,400.

[hick]

Yup, my main riding partner bought a 12X last year and it was night and day vs my REV. Burns clean, starts on the 1st pull and fits between the wheel wells on my Tacoma. I'm surprised they didn't go belt drive on the 13's, maybe a cost issue?

Right now, the XP E-tec 154 12's are at $8995 and the dealer has 6 or 7? the 2013 XM is $11,400.

Nah, it's a simple marketing thing, trickle out the technology so the Jones' have to upgrade every year.

That is a solid deal on the 12', hard to pass that up. If my Cat was sold right now, I'd be damn tempted to be driving down to SLC for that deal.

[cliffhucker]

Fixed it, rippin and ready to go!

[flatlander#2]

Getting close.

[Tomcat67]

Ordered my new top end kit yesterday. Got 2 800s to rebuild before the season starts

[45hill]

Getting close.

How the hell are you going to find that when you fall off on a big storm day?

Nice sled. I wish I would have waited a year and got the Pro RMK but I didn't want a first year model. My 2010 Dragon is paid for and now I can start upgrading a few components or give it to my kid and buy a leftover.

[Dhelihiker]

I have a 2010 RMK and my buddy has the 2011 RMK pro. His is a little faster but not much. The handling is different but not necessarily better or worse.

I really like my 2010

[ridevt]

Pulled the trigger on a 2012 XP today! So stoked for snow and to pick it up next week. Anyone need a sick REV?

[flatlander#2]

The tunnel decal is all reflective. Going to put more reflective tape on there so it pops in pics.

[kidwoo]

How the hell are you going to find that when you fall off on a big storm day?

Nice sled. I wish I would have waited a year and got the Pro RMK but I didn't want a first year model. My 2010 Dragon is paid for and now I can start upgrading a few components or give it to my kid and buy a leftover.

Let's find out how that beyotch tandems this winter.