D
Deep Powder Guy
Banned
Can anyone give me there review of a 2009 M8 HCR 153. I'm looking for a 2 sled.
DPG
DPG
2009 M8 Review
- Thread starter Deep Powder Guy
- Start date
C
corydoneen
Active member
mine has been flawless I bought it brand new. rode it for awhile with the wide a arms and switched to normal width. I prefer the stiffer track works great for me. the fox float under the skid is junk and its the only thing on the sled that has been a piece of ****.
D
Deep Powder Guy
Banned
Is the ski stance adjustable or did you have to buy new A arms ?
DPG
DPG
hcr's have wider arms, they are adjustable but, not to regular M series narrow width's.
09's are great units, last of the big chassis upgrades (best at the time). then in 2010 the 800ho platform came out, same chassis, better more powerful motor.
put the wider DD bearing in and service the drive fluids regularly. watch for worn primary rollers/cracked spider, clutch it for your riding and elevation, and let her eat.
you really cant go wrong with an 09-11 M series (800cc motor) unless it is overpriced, abused, or not serviced regularly.
Ski
09's are great units, last of the big chassis upgrades (best at the time). then in 2010 the 800ho platform came out, same chassis, better more powerful motor.
put the wider DD bearing in and service the drive fluids regularly. watch for worn primary rollers/cracked spider, clutch it for your riding and elevation, and let her eat.
you really cant go wrong with an 09-11 M series (800cc motor) unless it is overpriced, abused, or not serviced regularly.
Ski
D
Deep Powder Guy
Banned
Thanks for the info guys. The sled is like new with under 500 miles and price reasonable..
DPG
DPG
I agree. I bought my 09 new and still ride it today. The 07 to 09 motors are bulletproof really like a SLP pipe kit which bumps the power up to the 160 hp range.
I have a 2011 seat on mine, did the GEO mod to the rear skid, swapped out the 2.25" Powerclaw for the 2.6" Powerclaw and the damn thing is an animal. I also sent my head and cylinders to SLP for their stage III mod for 170ish hp. i have SLP powder pro skis with the Carl's Cycle cut, front arms set to as narrow as possible, I added plastic no stick running boards because the footwells tended to really collect snow. I also added the full Cat skid plate, just in case.
Just buy the sled!
I have a 2011 seat on mine, did the GEO mod to the rear skid, swapped out the 2.25" Powerclaw for the 2.6" Powerclaw and the damn thing is an animal. I also sent my head and cylinders to SLP for their stage III mod for 170ish hp. i have SLP powder pro skis with the Carl's Cycle cut, front arms set to as narrow as possible, I added plastic no stick running boards because the footwells tended to really collect snow. I also added the full Cat skid plate, just in case.
Just buy the sled!
2009 M8 & 2011 HCR
I own a 2009 M8 and a 2011 HCR. Both great sleds, I'd buy again. In 2011, I paid $6500 for the M8, with about the same miles as yours. Has the 2010 taller seat and a gold-finger left hand throttle, which are nice.
The neck on the gas tank can split. Put some moly lube on the threads and don't over-tighten it. Cat replaced mine, even though it was out of warranty (safety issue).
Attached misc spec sheets, FYI.
You should check the 6203 bearing in your DD and adjust shaft lengths (transfer shaft & track drive shaft) if needed. Some sleds don't need any shaft length adjustment and the 6203 bearing lasts for years, and other sleds burn out the bearing in a few hundred miles. Both my sleds hatched the 6203 bearing within 600 miles. Trimmed the DD transfer shaft on the M8 and track drive shaft on the HCR. Not a big job. Need a few special tools. Here's the write-ups:
2009 M8: http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=300771
2011 HCR: http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=151644
Should add a safety tether:
http://www.snowandmud.com/general-upgrade-discussions-401/2009-m8-tether-cord-wiring-20626.html
A support ring in the oil bottle is a good add:
http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211633
There's a brace you can add to support the bulkhead:
http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=328953
http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=331100
You can find the 2009 service manual on the web. Here's one source:
http://www.2shared.com/document/osHYBjyw/Arctic_Cat_snowmobile_service_.html
Other good links:
http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=176340
Good luck!
I own a 2009 M8 and a 2011 HCR. Both great sleds, I'd buy again. In 2011, I paid $6500 for the M8, with about the same miles as yours. Has the 2010 taller seat and a gold-finger left hand throttle, which are nice.
The neck on the gas tank can split. Put some moly lube on the threads and don't over-tighten it. Cat replaced mine, even though it was out of warranty (safety issue).
Attached misc spec sheets, FYI.
You should check the 6203 bearing in your DD and adjust shaft lengths (transfer shaft & track drive shaft) if needed. Some sleds don't need any shaft length adjustment and the 6203 bearing lasts for years, and other sleds burn out the bearing in a few hundred miles. Both my sleds hatched the 6203 bearing within 600 miles. Trimmed the DD transfer shaft on the M8 and track drive shaft on the HCR. Not a big job. Need a few special tools. Here's the write-ups:
2009 M8: http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=300771
2011 HCR: http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=151644
Should add a safety tether:
http://www.snowandmud.com/general-upgrade-discussions-401/2009-m8-tether-cord-wiring-20626.html
A support ring in the oil bottle is a good add:
http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=211633
There's a brace you can add to support the bulkhead:
http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=328953
http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=331100
You can find the 2009 service manual on the web. Here's one source:
http://www.2shared.com/document/osHYBjyw/Arctic_Cat_snowmobile_service_.html
Other good links:
http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=176340
Good luck!
Last edited:
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1M800
Well-known member
I bought an 09 M8 153 new in Jan 2009 and still ride it today. Every year I look at buying a new sled but can't justify the price when this sled has been SO good to me. 3000ish miles now and it has been rock solid dependable. I did change out the DD bearing for the wide one the first year. I don't mind the rear float, but I hated the skis. I went to Powder Pro's.
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arctic2009
Well-known member
09 is great, put an SLP kit and its in the same HP range as a stock H.O. Get the rear skid re-valved, changed out the diamond drive bearing and ride it. As said above there are some more upgrades that would be worth it but not necessarily needed to make it a good sled, (steering post brace, oil neck insert, etc.) Mine has been great, I've been looking at a new PC but every time I ride this sled I have such a great time I wonder why I would sell it! 
I just bought a 2.6 power claw to replace my 2.25 and I can't wait to ride it with the taller lug!
I just bought a 2.6 power claw to replace my 2.25 and I can't wait to ride it with the taller lug!
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akinneberg
Active member
I've also got a '09 HCR with some add-ons (bags, Powder Pros, etc.) Nothing done to the motor except a MBRP can. I've got almost 2500 trouble free miles on it. But I also keep up on the maintenance. Thinking of selling it and upgrading if I could get a good price for it, but kind of want to just keep it and put a 3" track on it since its been so good to me.
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madsledder
Well-known member
I finaly rebuilt my motor last year with around 6000 miles on it. Completely rebiult motor with new oem crank and now the same 08 m8 is a 925 turbo this year. My advice add a steering brace wich is your choice and check and blow out the clutches regularly. They are a bullet proof sled. And i aggree the rear floats are junk i put a coil over from a 11 in mine, way better and a port job realy wakes the 07-09 up.
