Better ski flotation

[Hawkster]

This isn't the first machine I've done this to, I should of done it sooner before blowing the torx bolt head off with an unforseen object under the snow.

Skis walking the terrain as far as I'm concerned causes more rider fatigue, less flotation, more resistance/drag in deep snow and more likely damage in my case.

Pics are stock spindle bumper compared to a more rigid spindle bumper.

Boards are in the same spots, stock bumper the front of the ski is on the floor.


Another view


I moved the blocks in front of the spindles, skis pivot up but the one with the stiffer bumper resists a lot more.



Another with the skis tipped up, you can see the gap with my hand slid under. The stocker rubber on the other side allows it to come in contact with the floor.


I did not fudge anything and this is not the first machine I've done this to.

Tight fit,

Somebody might have another option but I'll tell you no one makes this upgrade, they just copy stock.

 

[arcticridr]

Yes I remember you pmd me on this very mod and I kinda spaced it doooooh so those ski doo ski rubbers will do the trick ? What the hell I already have a Linq snow flap on my cat why not ski rubbers !!! Lol It's is like adding positive caster on a vehicle moves the contact point forward that's why almost every vehicle made has positive caster !!!

 

[Hawkster]

you can either force them into place or grind out two little spots to lock them in place. it'll be self explanatory if you go with those.

Remember put them in backwards.

These might be another choice found them digging in a parts box tonight, wish I would of remembered them earlier.

Another option.



They will take a little time, nothing a hacksaw and bench grinder can't fix.


They are a tad long but could easily be shortened front and back, the Cat ones are to short
The nubs that keep them from moving would need to be cut or ground off and grind new ones in to set and lock in place.
Again they'd be more work, and I would also put them in backwards.
They would be even more rigid then the ones I did and in my book that's a good thing

Just another option, I'm gonna do these and pull the Doos.

Added a correction , the bigger end of the rubber bumpers you want behind the spindle. I was thinking of the Cat ones being in backwards to help with the steering.

So you have what you brought up, Positive Steering

 

[tuneman]

While you're at it, also replace the skis with Polaris Grippers. The Cat skis suck, IMHO. Too much keel makes for very heavy steering.

 

[deanross]

If a guy were to reverse stock cat rubbers, would it help? Or are they too soft?

 

[Vern]

I’ve read on the faceyspace about guys switching to the ascender chassis ski rubbers. I guess they’re stiffer than the catalyst rubbers or something

 

[koolaid]

While you're at it, also replace the skis with Polaris Grippers. The Cat skis suck, IMHO. Too much keel makes for very heavy steering.

I am doing this for next season.

 

[go-on-two]

Have you tried the Grippers on the Catalyst chassis or are you referring to the Asender chassis? Is it all pros and no cons doing the gripper swap onto the Catalyst?

While you're at it, also replace the skis with Polaris Grippers. The Cat skis suck, IMHO. Too much keel makes for very heavy steering

 

[Hawkster]

If a guy were to reverse stock cat rubbers, would it help? Or are they too soft?

I did that not to long ago, it makes a little bit of a difference but theses Catalyst stock rubbers are soft as the original gripper ski rubber.

Those were junk also, a lot of Poo guys switched them out for an aftermarket.

You can see how deformed it is in post #3

As an improvement do it, all it costs is time.

Before you do both switch just one and set it back down to compare how the skis sit.

 

[Hawkster]

While you're at it, also replace the skis with Polaris Grippers. The Cat skis suck, IMHO. Too much keel makes for very heavy steering.

The Ascender and the Catalyst actually have different skis. It's subtle and they look the same but heels are different one is the same width the other goes from narrow to wider in the back.

Alignment is a big deal and more so with the tapered heel.

The grippers are over rated I think. They did come out with a one of the best and first factory deep heel skis though.

If you were to look for a set of used look at Doo's DS-4 with the wider tips on the ski that come on snowchecks and certain models, floor models are usually missing those tips. Two newer 850 Summits down the street came without those tips.

They make a crap load of different skis so buyer be aware 6.9 are not a DS4.

I think people that sell those DS-4 do it for the bling and may have bought a lesser ski.

The plus to the Cat ski is it's light and the front flexes, kind of mimics the old Simmons ski but it probably had something more to do with cost.

Tips took out some bump steer by flexing, you could ride along side a set and watch them work.

I'm not a fan of these Cat skis on this Catalyst but I'm trying to figure out if there's a reason for keeping them.

The Cat and Doo are metric, not sure off hand if the Poos are?

 

[turboless terry]

I went to try a set of slydog attack skis on the catalyst but don't fit and no fit kit available. I don't know if a polaris bushings fits in the spindle. Otherwise I would have to cut the cat one down. Didn't feel like taking the bushings out of boost to see.
The catalyst steers hard with grouchy shoulders. Slydogs probably wouldn't help that. Just wanted to try them.
Ds4 skis steer harder. Ds3 steer easier. Never really been a fan of doo skis.

 

[ndfb35]

I went to try a set of slydog attack skis on the catalyst but don't fit and no fit kit available. I don't know if a polaris bushings fits in the spindle. Otherwise I would have to cut the cat one down. Didn't feel like taking the bushings out of boost to see.
The catalyst steers hard with grouchy shoulders. Slydogs probably wouldn't help that. Just wanted to try them.
Ds4 skis steer harder. Ds3 steer easier. Never really been a fan of doo skis.

I run them with the Ascender kit on my Catalyst and they work well.

 

[Hawkster]

That attack is a nice ski, they are one of the few designed to force feed and hydraulic snow under the ski for float.

I've been curious about getting a set.

The catalyst steers hard with grouchy shoulders. Slydogs probably wouldn't help that. Just wanted to try them.

Have you checked your alignment? They have to be as close to perfect as possible, otherwise they put up a constant fight even in good snow.

 

[turboless terry]

That attack is a nice ski, they are one of the few designed to force feed and hydraulic snow under the ski for float.

I've been curious about getting a set.


Have you checked your alignment? They have to be as close to perfect as possible, otherwise they put up a constant fight even in good snow.

Alignment is off a touch. Not much. Some is what bothers my shoulders wouldn't bother you. Had higher hopes. Cats have had heavy steering forever. This was supposed to be power steering. Poo and doo feel like power steering compared to these.

 

[High Voltage]

The Slydog Attacks are a lot heavier than the Doo DS3s. They do float better, but they probably did get more tiring. This year I put the stock skis back on and like it better especially with Ibackshifts ski rubber in them. The slide dog ski rubber was junk and did not last long.
I’ll keep the Slydogs and try them on the new Expert next winter if the DS4 skis are as bad as some say.

 

[arcticridr]

Turboless Terry here is a screen shot of the mount kit for the slydog attacks

 

[deanross]

I did that not to long ago, it makes a little bit of a difference but theses Catalyst stock rubbers are soft as the original gripper ski rubber.

Those were junk also, a lot of Poo guys switched them out for an aftermarket.

You can see how deformed it is in post #3

As an improvement do it, all it costs is time.

Before you do both switch just one and set it back down to compare how the skis sit.

Thanks. I’ll have to try it.

 

[turboless terry]

Turboless Terry here is a screen shot of the mount kit for the slydog attacks

When I was looking they didn't have anything. Tried calling and couldn't get anyone to answer.

 

[arcticridr]

Yea I looked earlier in the year and nada now they show it as you can see !