Install the app
How to install the app on iOS

Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.

Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.

  • Don't miss out on all the fun! Register on our forums to post and have added features! Membership levels include a FREE membership tier.

CTEC2 Engine Issues on the way?

G

galljr13

Free Member
Starting to see more stories of top end engine issues with the CTEC2 engines. One cylinder specifically. And now that Cat has announced the biggest change in 2020 is to the top end?

Sounds concerning to me. Anyone else?
 
2007 cat released the 800 laydown engine,
2010 came the HO, new topend and crank.
Lots of the original 800 with thousands of miles on them.

[emoji848][emoji39]
 
Where are you seeing a concerning number of top end failure reports? I do not see them here on the world largest snowmobile forum? My dealer told me yesterday that they haven't had any come back and they have sold out their entire inventory of 17,18,and 19 sleds.


I know a few have gone down due to snow ingestion from a badly sealed intake but that isn't a top end issue, none of them run well on water...


We should probably start a poll and see if we can catch up to the Poo guys with 50 dead motors in their poll...
 
Big10inch said:
Where are you seeing a concerning number of top end failure reports? I do not see them here on the world largest snowmobile forum? My dealer told me yesterday that they haven't had any come back and they have sold out their entire inventory of 17,18,and 19 sleds.


I know a few have gone down due to snow ingestion from a badly sealed intake but that isn't a top end issue, none of them run well on water...


We should probably start a poll and see if we can catch up to the Poo guys with 50 dead motors in their poll...
Click to expand...


Two days ago, I had a few hours to kill. Starting digging into the Doo and Poo world. Wasn't looking for info on Arctic Cat Engine failures but rather just stumbled upon it. Don't remember exactly where but saw about half a dozen showing signs of the same issue. I believe it was the clutch side cylinder burning up. Some as early as 600 miles. I have a 18 mountain Cat which has been flawless for the past 600 miles. Owned Cats for the last 10 years and NEVER had an issue. This info was concerning to me since several guys blamed an aspect of design (fuel rail?) in the 18/19 CTEC2 engine which they said was changed for 2020.

Am I racing to sell my 18 Cat, hell no. Will I pause and do some more research before I buy a 19 or 20 Alpha? You bet.
 
galljr13 said:
Different Engine.
Click to expand...
Correct.
Same principle.
Make it better, more powerful. Doesn't mean the previous model was crap.
The 2007-2017 all have chipped rings with thousands of miles on them. All from the exhaust valves hitting the pistons. Didn't fix that problem till the Ctec. Don't hear about massive failures do u? Its a real problem. All 4 of my 800 zukes had that problem, still rode them without fear for 1,000s of miles.

[emoji848][emoji39]
 
Hope the '20 motor is better. Im on the same 500mi per motor track record with the ctec as I was on the older Polaris motors. At least I got 1200mi on my axys before it went down. Always got 1500-2000 miles on the suzuki. I usually have top end failures but both ctec motor failures of mine were bottom end.
 
Everybody talks about how reliable cat is and how unreliable Polaris is and I haven't seen it. Way more trouble with the cat and I'm around fewer of them than polaris. It's been little stuff but always something. Yesterday a kids double nuts came off on his 154 alpha on his brake. While on a trip mine broke drive clutch spring and air locked. My buddy is always fixing something on his 17.
 
Not with me. I can guarantee I maintain my sleds more than 99% of people out there. Engines blow and clutches can fail. If you ride the piss out of them it happens. This is why warranty is key. Tell me how maintenance keeps an oil pump from failing or a crank to rod bearing from exploding.
 
You are correct but a bunch of these were basically brand new so that excuse doesn't apply.
Tell me how often you check the nuts on your brake or the snap ring on your idler wheels.
 
Last edited:
Big10inch said:
Where are you seeing a concerning number of top end failure reports? I do not see them here on the world largest snowmobile forum? My dealer told me yesterday that they haven't had any come back and they have sold out their entire inventory of 17,18,and 19 sleds.


I know a few have gone down due to snow ingestion from a badly sealed intake but that isn't a top end issue, none of them run well on water...


We should probably start a poll and see if we can catch up to the Poo guys with 50 dead motors in their poll...
Click to expand...


Check the Arctic Cat/Ascender Groups on FB.
 
Pretty sure the nuts on the brake was an update they did to my 18.

I've seen a number of ctec failure reports on Facebook. At least half a dozen. Probably more. I didn't make a list. Our local dealer sold 50 alphas, very few mountain cats but close to 100 ctecs total since they came out. They've rebuilt 5. Four warrantied by Cat. All attributed to snow ingestion. My crank and top end were lost due to the oil line to the fuel rail falling off (was on there a couple weeks ago!). He said my crank was the first one he has done. They updated the engine in '20. Who knows why but not updating the intake also when they're warrantying engines for drinking water is hard to understand.
 
turboless terry said:
My buddy is always fixing something on his 17.
Click to expand...
what's giving your buddy issues specifically? my 17MC has been good. with normal maintenance - track alignment, blowing clutch dust out, etc, basically looking it over well after every good ride. had one issue with bell crank binding, needed to be torqued up tighter. went over every bolt I could access after that. found the back tri-hub bolts were loose too.
side panels rarely come off on the mountain except to check something ive messed with like exhaust. good to hear they fixed the clearance issue with the ex. valves that the zukes had. or did they? wonder what they actually updated for 2020. don't think anyone can confirm anything yet. maybe they updated the airbox. that is the only reason I haven't upgraded my proclimb to ascender yet. for that amount of coin, I don't want to have to add extra filter or get my caulking gun out. my proclimb has been the best sled ive had as far as deep snow bogs.
 
Motor problems

I have 1,000 hard mountain miles on my mtn cat. Other than bad injectors in the early miles my sled has ripped and runs like a champ. I also fixed my intake when it was new I love the sled. Ride with a lot of other older suzuki's and I haven't seen a single engine failure on any of them, zero. We have skidoo, and polaris in our group even an 850 poo none of them have had many problems. They all run well and are very capable sleds. I have ridden them all and they all are very good sleds and with the sleds produced now days its insane where we take them and how well they go in the steep and deep. We are truly lucky to be riding such good sleds right out of the box. Just ride them that's why you have warranty and if one breaks well you will be in a very small group of riders (in the big picture) that have a failure.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
What will CAT do!! lack of dealers to do Recalls!!!
Replies
17
Views
1K
arcticridr
A
A
Yamaha sxr 700 no top end power
Replies
2
Views
331
motojunkie101
motojunkie101
dgibbons
2019 Arctic Cat M8000 Mountain Cat Alpha One 146" Speedwerx Stage 2 - $8750
Replies
0
Views
302
dgibbons
dgibbons
T
22 Boost dies, no answers, only questions
Replies
3
Views
522
TimG
T
I
Sled dies, low idle
Replies
4
Views
717
thumper16
T
Premium Features
Join Now Free!



Back
Top