December 29, 2006
Crazy Mountain Motorsposrts, makers of the Crazy Mountain Xtreme deep-snow specialty sleds, continue to refine their CMX Belt Drive system that eliminates the heavy rotating mass of metal gears and link-style chains. The lightweight Gates Polychain cogged belt and cogged pulleys provide the gear reduction needed, and do so with incredible reliability. The massive weight reduction (rotating mass) allows for quicker acceleration, and that means track speed for climbing higher and further up the hill. Standard issue on all Crazy Mountain Xtreme mountain sleds, conversion kits are offered for select OEM mountain sleds as well. Contact Crazy Mountain Motorsports at 406-686-4921 or visit crazymtn.com.
December 29, 2006
Dear Ralph:
My dealer is laying that “use only my oil†routine on me pretty thick. I know you guys test all kinds of oils on a daily basis, so my question is this; what kind of oil do you prefer to use in your sleds?
Peter Amundson
Lakeville, MN
Whatever we have on the shelf? Seriously, you should match the oil certification or rating to the lubrication requirements of each engine. Power valves are an extra consideration, as are the new injection systems. Plain old TCW-3 won’t cut it in many of the higher-tech engines. Look for JASO-FC (and now FD) and ISO EGD ratings as indicators of a minimum performance standard for the newest, trickest engines. Mod packages may require extra quality and or quantity to provide adequate lubrication; consult with the engine builder or package supplier on what their experience has been.
OK. In our Polaris 2-strokes we’ve been using 2-Cycle Extreme (Fowler Distributing) for about the past three years. This is a fairly clean burning oil at an excellent price ($18.95 per gallon).
In our Arctic Cat 2-strokes we’ve been (predominantly) using Maxima TundraR, a synthetic blend that is pretty clean burning, ISO EGD rated and has a pleasant smell (for exhaust).
In our Ski-Doo 2-strokes we’ve been using Amsoil Interceptor since its introduction (Swenson Motorsports). This fully-synthetic oil is JASO-FC rated, so we know it is a good lubricant, but it does more leave black residue on the lower right hand yellow side panel than we’d like. (Most oils do.)
Amongst all of this, we also use a fair amount of Klotz Snowmobile Techniplate in some of our personal sleds, more for the mental horsepower afforded by the bean-oil smell, that signature odor that Klotz has. We happen to like it. It too is ISO EGD rated, so we’re confident of its lubrication qualities, but it isn’t the cleanest burning either. When we happen to run out of Klotz, Maxima TundraR is used. We actually designate a primary and a secondary oil for each of the test sleds in our fleet every year.
We’ve also burned a fair amount of Phillips Injex and Injex Pro over the years. Injex Pro is used by a large number of Polaris riders who report good power valve performance. We’ve also had good experience with a number of Torco oils, clean burning and excellent protection. It’s been a few years, but we ran a fair amount of Spectro that is also ISO EGD rated and popular among eastern engine shops as well.
One of the cleanest burning oils (inside the engine and outside residue) we’ve used is Blue Marble, but it is very expensive. It also claims to be ISO EGD rated, but from an anecdotal standpoint we’ve had two engine failures out of the two sleds we used it in; a crank failure on a 2004 Switchback 800 and a piston seizure on a 2005 Switchback 900. The power valves were very clean though, more so than when using the Polaris VES oil. We have been using this oil in our personal watercraft for less smoke and smell.
In the reduced smoke and smell department we also have used Maxima BIO 2-T, an ester-based (expensive) oil that really burns clean and is another good choice if you are sensitive to smoke and smell. Sleds on this oil tend to smell less than a 4-stroke, in our opinion.
What’s the best? Ah, the trick question. We can tell you an experienced engine shop indicated they have found the Ski-Doo Formula XPS fully-synthetic to be one of the best overall oils they’ve found for their mod packages. They discovered this after tear-downs and rebuilds on a large number of engines over many years. They do not sell Ski-Doo oil, either. Ski-Doo has always told us their oil was very good, exceeding any of the established ratings.
Use the oil ratings as a guide, compare costs and availability, and try to stay with one product if possible. Availability becomes a factor for many of us; if you can’t carry enough with you, run something that you can find readily where you ride to fill the gaps. As far as we know, the OE Yamaha 2-stroke oil is a Torco product (re-labeled), the Ski-Doo oil comes from Castrol and the Polaris and Arctic Cat oils are blended by LubeTech. As far as we know – if you know differently please tell us!
In our 4-strokes we’ve been using some of the Maxima 4-stroke oils, we have a couple different ones we’ve been working with; Snowmobile 4T 5w30, an eco cold climate petroleum-based formula, and Maxum 4 Ultra, a 100% synthetic 0w30 oil blended with polyol esters. We’ve also got some OE Yamaha cold weather 4-stroke oil on the shelf as well. The 2004 Yamaha 4-strokes specified 5w30, but starting with the 2005 models they’re now shipped with 0w30
December 28, 2006
Dear Ralph:
I have a 1989 Polaris Indy Sport GT. I just repaired the drive shaft, but I’m not sure if the track is facing the right direction. Can you give me any tips?
Dana Hodge
New Foundland, Canada
Most tracks will have a directional arrow molded into the rubber in the center that indicates the direction of rotation. If you flip the sled up to look at the bottom of the track, this arrow should be pointing to the rear of the sled (direction of travel). Or, if you lift the snowflap at the rear of the sled the arrow should be pointing up into the tunnel. Granted, you might have to rotate the track a full revolution to find this molded arrow.
If there is no arrow, you can still figure it out. The lugs should be oriented to provide the most traction during braking, not acceleration, for safety purposes. Looking at the track on the bottom of the sled, ask yourself if the track was locked up, which way would it catch more snow and stop better? That’s usually the way it is to be installed. Some riders think this is backwards, but having maximum control during braking and stopping is the priority.
December 22, 2006
Part of 2007 World Championship Derby
The Second Annual Celebrity Charity Ride will take place Friday, January 19th, 2007 during the World Championship Snowmobile Derby. Race fans will get the chance to enjoy a snowmobile ride and lunch with some sports personalities and it’s all for a good cause, the established funds of deceased racers Ed DeVault and Flip Merwin.
Ride with NASCAR drivers, Snowmobile Champions and football Stars. One early confirmed host rider is Sno-Cross Master, Blair Morgan.
There is a $50.00 per person donation to participate in the ride. This covers lunch, guiding services and the back-up of a support truck. If possible, a reservation one week in advance would be appreciated. Contact the Derby Track at 715-479-4424.
Everyone will assemble at 8:30 AM at the Best Western Derby Inn, located just north of the Derby Track on Hwy 45. The ride will begin promptly at 9:30 AM. and will finish around 4:00 PM back at the Derby Inn.
Combine your Derby race watching with a grand snowmobile trail ride, that benefits a good cause.
December 22, 2006
To give young enthusiasts a way to stand out with their Freestyleâ„¢ sled, Ski-Doo is offering an ever-growing selection of Freestyle-specific accessories.
The Freestyle Performance Kit upgrades your Session and Backcountry packages for harder riding, even racing. It includes chassis reinforcements for durability and Pilot 5.7 dual-runner skis for incredible cornering and handling.
For a total snocross look, the Performance kit swaps out the stock handlebars for Hi-Risers, including riser block, straight handlebar, Acerbis® hand deflectors and handlebar pad.
Freestyle TechnoBee [great for Backcountry package] or Camo [Session package] decals complete the look. Suggested Retail Price: $639.97 USD/$779.97 CDN
December 20, 2006
If you’re looking for the 4-stroke benefits in a sled with a slightly longer track, the new 2007 RS Rage GT is Yamaha’s answer. This sled is positioned dead-center in the market with 120 HP. Fitted with a 136†Ripsaw track with 1.25†lugs, the Rage provides improved flotation and traction as well as a smoother ride quality through the bumps.
New for 2007 is the “GT†version that adds a premium shock package with GYT-R dual clicker (rebuildable aluminum body) shocks up front where the base RS Rage has non-adjustable aluminum body dampers. Both models feature a new 136†version of the Mono-Shock RA rear suspension with the dial-adjust damping on the side of the tunnel.
One of the main attractions is the 4-stroke Genesis 120 powerplant with its quiet operation and excellent fuel economy and range, as well as long term durability. 20 MPG is not uncommon. Throttle response is linear and meaty, with thick midrange pull for plenty of acceleration. A tall yet stylish windshield provides ample protection, and the versatility afforded by the extra track length makes it a capable sled for most any condition; from groomed trails to pounded out ditches to fresh powder.
The 2007 Yamaha RS Rage GT (Black) retails for $9,199, and the base RS Rage (Blue) goes for $8,899.
December 18, 2006
The extremely competent M-10 suspension now has expansion capabilities! Team FAST has announced the release of the AIRWAVE Booster Kit for existing M-10 rear suspensions. The AIRWAVE Booster Kit increases the M-10’s band width (or performance range) to a level on par with their exciting new AIRWAVE suspension.
Through this kit, TeamFAST says it is offering M-10 owners the unique ability to expand their unit’s traditional trail dominating characteristic to include the mastery of big bump & rough terrain! The intentions are to give TeamFAST and Polaris’s current and future M-10 customers the ability to step up now or in the future to the vast control and supple ride characteristics provided through the benefits of the AIRWAVE technology which utilizes an adjustable airspring with an exceptional mechanical advantage over suspension travel.
The kit is for 2001 and newer TeamFAST M-10s of the 121†and 128†lengths and is also available for all 121†M-10 OEM Polaris units. It will be available for all other 128†and 136†M-10 units by December 15th 2006. You can obtain more information on the AIRWAVE Booster Kit by calling 218-744-2101.
December 15, 2006
Ski-Doo has added the MX Z Adrenaline 500SS back into its line-up for the 2007 model year. Ski-Doo had originally planned to drop this particular model, leaving the MX Z Trail 500SS, but dealer outcry brought the Adrenaline 500SS back into the line. Compared to the Trail 500SS ($6,849), the Adrenaline 500SS will cost you a $500 premium ($7,349), mostly for the HPG shocks instead of gas cell dampers.
December 15, 2006
DynoPort, manufacturer of exhaust systems and go-fast parts for Ski-Doo and Polaris models, has acquired the assets of Yamaha aftermarket specialists Bender Racing. The acquisition includes all of the Bender Racing products, with the exception of ALL turbo kits. The two have long worked together, with Dyno Port manufacturing many of the Bender exhaust systems during that time.
Word is a shop will remain open in Colden, NY, with parts shipments being made from both locations. Key personnel remain in place to maintain knowledgeable service and support. DynoPort.com or BenderRacing.com
December 15, 2006
SnowTech reader Greg Ankofski provided valuable information in regards to installing a set of Boyesen reeds into a Rotax Series III engine;
“Just got done reading (in the March issue) about the guy with the 2005 REV 600 using Boyesen reeds having the bogging problem. I know from first hand experience that Boyesens in that sled will need a RICHER pilot setup to account for the added air flow off of idle (compounded by reed spacers, if using them, which reduce the carb signal). The area where you go leaner is for the main jets (one size leaner). Switching to #20 pilots and 2 turns out on fuel screws solved the bog problem off idle in all Series III BRP motors when using Boyesen reeds.â€
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