600 on boost... is it worth it?

[backcountryislife]

Ok, we're selling Abby's sled to update her a bit, and thinking about getting a 600 with a stage III kit on it. She's got a 09 with a stage II on it and usually runs around 10 psi, what kind of PSI will i need from the 6 to make similar power? Any issues with the 6? I can still get an 8, so this isn't set in stone yet, but the 6 is just more affordable.

Her sled has been super reliable (actually, the most reliable sled I've owned so far), so I'm nervous about getting a stage III, and running a different motor... just seems a bit more risky. I've ridden with 2 stage III's & on the 8 they seem pretty reliable, but I'm thinking due to it being a 6, it'll need a lot more boost, which also will cost us more in race gas.

Thoughts? (btw... turn away if you're allergic to spam... the 09 is for sale)

 

[WITHERS]

I have an 09 M6 with the Cutler stage 2 on it. It also has some head work and cylinder porting from ghostrider motorsports. I put 1500 trouble free miles on it this winter at 7-10 lbs of boost.(Mostly 10 lbs) at 3000'-6500'. Ran straight pump gas all year. Rolled it into a tree last Sunday and it pulled the boost reference line out of the fuel controller. I never noticed and one pull later with no boost fuel.squuuuuuueeeeeekkkk lost the pto side cylinder. This was my fault so I would say go for it, it has been pull and go all year. I have ridden TM8 at different boost levels and I would say the the M6 at 10# is comparible to the M8 7#s. With the stage 3 you should be able to run 12-14 on av depending on your elevation, at that boost it should lay a beatin on any PG8. Hope this helps man. Jeff

 

[backcountryislife]

A help for sure.

I'd hope for way more than 12-14, as my 8 runs around 12, and she'll want to be close to my performance. I run a shorty & she runs a 153 though, so she should be relatively close in capability even if down a few HP.

 

[colorado_matt]

Are you set on it being an M? I don't want to start any kind of brand bashing, but have you guys considered the pro rmk 600? I think one of those on about 12 lbs would be a lot of fun. I don't know if it's possible to keep a 600 reliable and match hp of an m8 on 12 lbs. I've never been around a boosted 600 of any sort though so I don't have any evidence or firsthand knowledge.

 

[WITHERS]

A help for sure.

I'd hope for way more than 12-14, as my 8 runs around 12, and she'll want to be close to my performance. I run a shorty & she runs a 153 though, so she should be relatively close in capability even if down a few HP.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think you can run up to 18 lbs on the stage 3 kit. That should be more than enough to keep up to your shortie at 12 lbs. The 600 has a stong bottom end so the boost shouldn't hurt it.

 

[backcountryislife]

Are you set on it being an M? I don't want to start any kind of brand bashing, but have you guys considered the pro rmk 600? I think one of those on about 12 lbs would be a lot of fun. I don't know if it's possible to keep a 600 reliable and match hp of an m8 on 12 lbs. I've never been around a boosted 600 of any sort though so I don't have any evidence or firsthand knowledge.

I have a specific sled in mind, and I can get a 6 or an 8, so it's not that big a deal, but the 6 is much cheaper, so I'm leaning that way. I've just never seen a boosted 6 so didn't have a good idea how it would compare. I'm not worried about being ABLE to run enough boost with the 6, but we ride 60+ a year, so running double the race fuel to make the same power would get expensive & likely make pointless the purpose of saving the money in the first place!

I like the pro, but what it costs to get one turbo'd would be outside my range.

 

[skibreeze]

You might get Boston Racing to chime in, he's been running his 600 Poo on boost. I've ridden it a little bit and it is different. Mine seems more linear in power delivery, he's running more boost to get to roughly the same power. This makes it seem like it is more on or off boost to me.

 

[IDspud]

Did the m6 ever get electric reverse? Last I knew they still had mechanical which made it weigh as much as the m8 (09's). I am die hard arctic cat, but if I was to get a 600 it would be a polaris. The 600 cat in our group just doesn't seem worth it. I would spend the extra for the 800, much more sled.

 

[turboless terry]

I don't understand the 600 thing. They aren't a nickels worth of difference as far as weight. I could understand it if an 800 was way too much power but it doesn't seem like it since you are going to turbo it. Go with the 800.

 

[jim]

Been riding my rmk600 with boost for a few years. Has been a fun sled. Not going to pull bigger stuff but is a blast to carve around and up the hill.

 

[colorado_matt]

I have a specific sled in mind, and I can get a 6 or an 8, so it's not that big a deal, but the 6 is much cheaper, so I'm leaning that way.

I like the pro, but what it costs to get one turbo'd would be outside my range.

Gotcha. I just assumed money was no object. I mean, come on, we're talking about snowmobiles I'm sure whatever you come up with will be awesome.

 

[backcountryislife]

I don't understand the 600 thing. They aren't a nickels worth of difference as far as weight. I could understand it if an 800 was way too much power but it doesn't seem like it since you are going to turbo it. Go with the 800.

6 is only 5 lbs lighter, not really worried about that. It's the $1500 I was hoping to save. Also, she's a 105 lb gal, so it's not really like she NEEDS 250 hp... but she does WANT it. The on & off power would be an issue for her though, she doesn't like her sled at anything over 13 psi for general riding for exactly this reason. I'm guessing she'll be much happier on another 8, plus if I got her a sled that she DIDN'T like... then I get to deal with it on a daily basis!! no grassyass.

Sounds like it would work... but likely makes way more sense to just get the sure thing.

Btw, the newer 6's do have engine reverse now.

 

[Timber12]

If you watch Danger Zone 2 you'll see a few turboed 600's. They seem plenty capable.

One other thing I remember a post awhile back about 600 vs 800 and one thing mentioned was the rotating mass of a 600 being way less. The reference was hold a 10" bycicle tire while spinning and move it around vs a 20" bycicle tire and notice the difference. I myself notice the difference of handling and throwing around my girlfriends 600 vs my 800. I absolutely love the 600's handling over my 800.

Another point to consider, cutler stage 3's aren't intercooled. Or at least mine isn't. I recently had a great conversation with a local guy about turbos and his opinion was that if you're not intercooling after 12psi, you're not gaining as much power per lb of boost as you will at 12psi or below that. Yes the cutlers have cold air intakes but that only lowers your charge tube temps by what the difference is between under hood temps and outside air temps. You're still creating massive heat trying to run at 18psi.

One other thing, I know after running $4 per liter not only at the hills but on the trails to get to the hills, I'd prefer to just run 10-14lbs boost and run av gas at $2 bucks a liter.

Another thing you might be able to do is: (Stolen from a different thread)

I realize everyone is as good as Adams,Burant and the others in their own mind. Do a small cheap experiment. Take your Pro to a dealer and have him hook it up to digital wrench, get a print out of hours on motor and what percent at the different throttle openings I think you will be totally surprised at how little WOT is used. Hp is at WOT I bet most of the riding you do is between 5to 6000 rpms even less for a lot of folks and that is where the new 800 shines, its torque at low and hp are equal to all others or better, Why spend $1000.00 for the rpms that are used the least. Of course some riders do need more.

Just a couple different things to ponder.

 

[backcountryislife]

I think we'd be working the 6 harder than would be ideal, and exactly as you're talking about, with a non innerheated setup, we'd be beyond the ideal psi of that sled to make similar power. We may not spend a high percentage of our time at wot.... but we also don't spend the majority of our time actually climbing.. yet, THAT is when we need that power. It's all about having the power when we actually need it & having it in a useable manner. A sled that goes from nothing to monster power, like some apex's I've ridden, have a very unusable powerband... something we want to avoid for a very light rider.

 

[hatchers]

i would enjoy the 6 just because it has an elec start option...4-5 times a year i wish i had this feature

i hear the 6 is doing just fine with a 2876, builds boost quick

 

[WyoBoy1000]

Are you bored, we all know your going to get her a 8 with a stage III, just like she had the stage II before you did. I have not been impressed with any 600, although I have not seen many either, but in 08 I rode with a rmk 600 running on 6-8lbs that wouldn't run with my mod m1000 at 5000ft but they had told storys before how bad as$ it was??? who knows because I don't, just thought I would feed the troll. It may work but it would really suck if it didn't!!

 

[backcountryislife]

Yeah... that's pretty much how it's gonna be I think!

I don't want to run the stage III really, 13 is enough, and 15 is just for sh**s & giggles, so more than that is pretty pointless.

Either way... I need to sell her's first, thought it would go quicker, only had a couple hits so far.

sick sled... you know you need another spare wyo!!!
8500!! (steep discount from the $1,000,000 I posted the other day over there!)

 

[WyoBoy1000]

LOL

But you will never know tell you try it. I already have 2 and still can't decide which to keep. How many miles do you have on that thing now.

 

[backcountryislife]

2100ish now


ready for you!

 

[Timber12]

Is there really an advantage in paying the extra money for the stage three kit vs the stage 2 kitwhen you only gain a few extra pounds of boost? The stage 3 is good for 18lbs and the guys at the local cat dealer are running 15lbs through their stage 2's. Way easier install with the stage 2 and you don't have to worry about your throttle bodies coming apart.

Whichever you do, put some mesh screen or something over the air intake. headlight clips DO come off and the turbo itself cost 1300.