trail mod v psi performances 1404 genesis thundercat mountain cat
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PSI Performance brought us three Genesis-powered sleds to test at this year's Trail Mod Invitational- 950cc and 995cc twins and a big ol' 1404cc triple. As they each demonstrated, Bruce Kahlhamer's custom-built engines are potent!
PSI's 950 Genesis twin was housed within an Arctic Cat ZR chassis for this year's test session. Air is drawn through a pair of K&N filters and mixed with VP C-14 race fuel in the stock 40mm Mikuni flat slide carbs.
The Genesis mill measures 91mm across with a 73mm stroke. Recently patented Dial-A-Dome heads sit atop the variable exhaust cylinders. With the heads ratcheted down to boost compression, the engine is said to produce about 200 hp.
Exhaust is routed through a set of custom tuners and exits through individual silencers.
A set of finely calibrated Arctic Cat Bearcat clutches handles the power transmission duties. PSI reported that the suspensions were stock, but sucked down tight for drag racing. 240 Woody's studs ensured the track stuck to the ground.
The 995cc Genesis sled arrived packaged within a Polaris Gen II XC chassis. "This is my friend's trail sled this year," noted PSI's Sales and Marketing Director, Ty Lehmann. "He went through it and added a lot of cosmetic pieces and a set of yellow C&A Pro skis, but we brought it to showcase our new 995cc Genesis twin."
Air starts its journey through the Genesis big twin at a pair of Kickass filters. From there, it combines with a healthy dose of C-14 race fuel inside PSI's 46mm Big Air flat slide carbs. The mixture burns within the 91mm x 76mm cylinders and what's left over exits through a pair of tuned and ceramic coated pipes.
"There are some new features on the Genesis engines since last year," explained Lehmann. "We retooled our patented Dial-A-Dome heads a little. They still work exactly the same way they always have to adjust compression on the trail, but we redesigned the exterior ring to make it easier for consumers to make the adjustments. A Racepak Avenger III system with EGT probes monitors what the engine is doing.
Both suspensions remained stock on this sled. 240 Saber chisel studs were put in the stock .91-inch lug track to help it hook up.
PSI's big 1404cc triple came to us residing in a Thundercat Mountain Cat chassis. We've never seen a long track sled come to the Trail Mod Invitational before, but it sure made an impression.
"We don't sell a lot of 1404 kits to guys who just use them to ride the trails," noted Lehmann. "But they are capable of going through the woods. We mostly sell these engines to guys who run the lakes and mountains."
The big daddy Genesis engine uses three 91mm by 72mm variable exhaust cylinders. The kit comes complete with a trio of tuned pipes and silencers. Our test unit used PSI's Big Air carbs on the intake end and HRP primary/ Bearcat secondary clutching setup on the PTO.
The suspensions were stock componentry, but sucked way down to keep the sled moving forward. The Camoplast 136-inch Challenger track was enhanced with 260 Woody's studs for a sure grip on the frozen terrain.
"The whole package makes about 300 horsepower with today's setup," Lehmann added. "We bumped the compression up with the Dial-A-Dome heads and we're running VP C-14 race fuel. But a consumer could take the compression down and use pump gas if he was so inclined.