Did Cat sneak a 600 engine upgrade right under our noses?

[Frostbite]

I was reading an American Snowmobiler article called "White Out".

They dynoed all the sleds participating in this sled shoot out. The 600 Cat engine this year seemed to be way up on power compared to previous years.

Here's a quote from the article.

"Another dynomite dyno performer in the 600 class was Arctic Cat's new F-6. It showed considerable improvement after several years of being considered a slouch, even by many of the Cat faithful.
This year was different as the F6 seems to have a much healthier powerband. Jim Czekala noticed the power valves opening much sooner in the pull and the F6 having a much smoother band throughout the test. The F6 garnered 129.6 hp and 88.3 ft/lbs or torque. While the twin spar chassis is relatively heavy, this appears to be a stronger 600 to power it."

Did Cat do some work to this engine and not say anything or is this power increase just from a pipe or ECU change which opens the power valves earlier for a longer duration?

Here are the 600 class dyno numbers

Cat F6

129.6 hp
88.3 ft/lbs

Polaris Rush 600

124.4 hp
84.8 ft/lbs

Skidoo 600 ETEC

121.1 hp
78.4 ft/lbs

Yamaha Vector

130.5 hp
91.5 ft/lbs

Yamaha Nytro XTX

135.0 hp
93.3 ft/lbs

 

[SaberKitty]

What's a trail sled?

 

[Offroad Engineering]

What's a trail sled?

The thing everyone from your state rides cause there's no use for a mountain sled out there....

 

[Frostbite]

That's really my question.

Do you suppose the M6s also have the same (roughly 10 hp) swing for the 2010 model year?

 

[davidhahn15]

The thing everyone from your state rides cause there's no use for a mountain sled out there....

lol

 

[Woody67]

from the engineering seminar and powerpoint presentation at the 2010 snowmobile dealer meeting:


600 L/C:

•Same specifications as 2009

 

[TheBreeze]

Maybe cat snuck a hopped up sled into the shootout?

 

[TheBreeze]

The thing everyone from your state rides cause there's no use for a mountain sled out there....

No need for a mountain sled here. This picture was from the first week in december.

 

[KAWGRN]

Yep no change to the engine -----------Now the ECU that a different story

 

[sledhead_583]

Yep no change to the engine -----------Now the ECU that a different story

so is it worth updating the older 600's ecu?? any more info on this

 

[Frostbite]

I don't have any more infor on the subject. I just thought it was kind of strange for Cat to go from the basement regarding 600cc engine power output to the top of the foodchain (kind of like Cat 800 motor).

Yet, there was no fanfare whatsoever.

 

[rcr1978]

No need for a mountain sled here. This picture was from the first week in december.

Um is that sled stuck on flat ground on the road???
Now I understand getting stuck somewhere like this but the flat road WTF!!!!
JK man LOL

 

[sledbasher M7]

600 cat

The prob just leaned it out.Prob lots of power gained there???