First ride today

[CO Powder]

So after seeing some Grand Mesa and Wolf Creek pics form this first good storm, I figured I had better drive up and check out Red Mountain Pass.


There was snow...















I had a couple seemingly minor sled issues. I fouled a plug early, didn't have a spare set. I spent half an hour with my bic flicked to get it running again. I rode a couple hours more being conscious of not letting it sit and idle and keeping the revs up when riding. I switched the plugs when I put them back in. The pto side fouled this morning, I haven't checked to see which one went as I got back to the trailer. It didn't like coming back down the road at light throttle I guess. Red Mtn Pass is 11,000 feet. Wondering if anybody else has had a plug fouling experience during the break in period?


Then I had the hi fax fail where the screw is supposed to hold it. It wrapped it up around the driveshaft. No damage I can see yet other than a slightly twisted up hi fax. Should be easily re-usable. Screw is still in the hole. I will countersink the hi fax a little bigger and use a washer.


Sled ran real good otherwise. I didn't flog it though. I suspect it is going to be REALLY fun once the QD belt is broken in and the fat programming expires in the fuel mapping.

 

[CO 2.0]

Nice report. Ran mine too today just above 10000ft. 20 miles. No issues for me, ran great. This motor is definitely a lot more powerful than the previous generation.

 

[cascadesnowjunky]

You have bad luck my friend. You have had more bad luck on the first ride out than me in the last 5 years.

 

[2007dragonman]

sled

How much oil was put in the gas?

 

[CO Powder]

How much oil was put in the gas?

One quart was added to ten gallons of gas. I had dumped some into whatever came from the factory when I ran it yesterday. I probably have it pretty rich on oil. I pulled the plugs and it was the PTO side fouled again, mag side is dark but dry with good burn color on the electrode. Mag side wasn't nearly as wet as it was this morning but the sled sat in the garage for a couple of hours too.


I have about one more hour before I am out of the break in mapping. If it still fouls that plug I will take it in. Could be an injector leaking I guess.

 

[Falcon1772]

32oz (1 Quart) added to 10 gallons of fuel should be 40:1 which is what it calls for during break in.

 

[AndrettiDog]

It's a lot of oil the first tank around. I can see how it would foul the plugs. I go out for the first time tomorrow. I know it smokes big time at the house now.

 

[die hard poo]

Nice report. Ran mine too today just above 10000ft. 20 miles. No issues for me, ran great. This motor is definitely a lot more powerful than the previous generation.

This is good news to hear after all the speculation of power output from the HO motor. Seeing that you own both a cat and an axys, how does the power output compare between them? Thanks in advance.

 

[RMK-King]

Im sure the premixed fuel and the rich 2.5hr break in map caused your plug to foul. I noticed I had oil dripping out of my pipe after a few min of run time, engine should be well lubed after all of that!

 

[snowmobiler]

riding like a gramma fouls plugs too.LOL.

 

[CO 2.0]

This is good news to hear after all the speculation of power output from the HO motor. Seeing that you own both a cat and an axys, how does the power output compare between them? Thanks in advance.

Same. Poo might even have a little more down low

 

[CO Powder]

riding like a gramma fouls plugs too.LOL.

I was trying not too. Up the roads is easy, you can rip it pretty good. Coming back down the roads was tougher when you KNOW there are lots of rocks way to close to the surface still.


Definitely a little grandma action....


Neither of my Pro's had this problem but the Pro didn't have the fat break in schedule.

 

[CO Powder]

It's a lot of oil the first tank around. I can see how it would foul the plugs. I go out for the first time tomorrow. I know it smokes big time at the house now.

Mine smoked me right out of the garage when I ran it on the stand...


It is a lot of oil and probably right at the threshold where it causes problems. If it is 40:1 in the tank and 40:1 from the injection you are at 20:1 which is real close to where power starts falling off because the mixture is tough to burn. Pretty sure that is what I have going on.


My only concern is that the PTO side fouled twice and the Mag side was fine even after fitting the semi wet plug back in that hole.

 

[snowmobiler]

maybe the mag side runs a little hotter

 

[CO Powder]

Rail tip cap is missing on the side that peeled the hi fax off. Not sure what happened there, the bolt, nut and washers are in the hole but the cap is gone. If the cap was broken and fell off that would explain the hi fax.


Of course the part has to be ordered because it is new for the '16s.

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

Rail tip cap is missing on the side that peeled the hi fax off. Not sure what happened there, the bolt, nut and washers are in the hole but the cap is gone. If the cap was broken and fell off that would explain the hi fax.


Of course the part has to be ordered because it is new for the '16s.

I lost a rail tip on my pro once after doing the reverse drive out of a pickup.
Same deal it shattered the tip and left me a bolt.

 

[CO Powder]

Second ride in the books now. For the most part, this one went much better. I was halfway through the pre mixed tank of fuel that caused me plug fouling last time out. I topped off with about 4.5 gallons of gas, fresh set of plugs, new rail tip...


I still had around an hour of the 2.5 hr break in left. Within 1/2 a mile of the truck I smacked a rock, threw me off the sled and put a bend in the lower a-arm. It isn't bad, sled rode fine, off we went. Once the hour meter clicked over to 2.7 I started ripping on it some. WOW, just wow. This sled pulls way harder down low than the old Pro can even dream of. The pull keeps coming, I was seeing 8200-8300 rpm. I think it is stronger than either of the other two 800s, though we didn't have a Cat along.


We found a couple powder holes and the Axys feels like a toy, changes direction instantly and you can throw it back and forth with impressive ease. It really does feel amazing, gave me perma grins....


So for me, the power and response, after the break in, are huge improvements. The 2.6 track throws an obnoxious roost much like a PC 2.6. No cooling issues even with mostly trail miles. There was still enough loose snow that I didn't expect an issue, didn't use the scratchers.


The cooling system in general is much better. Warm ups take half the time or less compared to a Pro. Temp stability on restarts seems much better. Sled ran awesome all day. I love the lighter thumb throttle, no sore thumb like I would usually get.


I really like this sled. If you don't have one, you should GET ONE.


I think my plan for this early season a-arm is going to be a quick, heat and bend followed by a quench. I have been doing some reading and it seems like that is my best bet to retain most of the strength.


Waiting for the next storm to roll through Monday/Tues and hopefully some more riding!

 

[tincuprider]

Rode mine this weekend as well and can second your handling observations. Really balances well on one ski where the old chassis wanted to stay planted on hard snow. We were at 9k and it would only pull 8000 rpm but I think that is just break in mode.

One question for you, COPowder, did you notice a drag or breaking feel that was greater than the old sleds when you let off the throttle? Mine is a 2.6 163 and I noticed this was worse, almost felt like a 4 stroke.

Absolutely loved it though, can't wait for more snow.

 

[earnhardt38]

Exciting reports gentleman. If you don't mind me asking. What weight are you running in the primary? I know it calls for 10-62 weights, but have read that some have said that they had to run 10-60's to achieve the rpm they wanted. I have a 163 with the 2.6. Will probably be a month before I get it out and was just curious. Thanks and have fun!!

 

[CO Powder]

Rode mine this weekend as well and can second your handling observations. Really balances well on one ski where the old chassis wanted to stay planted on hard snow. We were at 9k and it would only pull 8000 rpm but I think that is just break in mode.

One question for you, COPowder, did you notice a drag or breaking feel that was greater than the old sleds when you let off the throttle? Mine is a 2.6 163 and I noticed this was worse, almost felt like a 4 stroke.

Absolutely loved it though, can't wait for more snow.

I am in and out of the throttle constantly, seemed to coast down normally to me.