First thoughts of a first time Proclimb owner.

[Einar74]

Hi

I recently bought myself a 2012 Proclimb 1100T and am excited to give it a try. This is my first 4stroke and first time on a 200+ HP sled. it has the stage 1 EVO map and some other stuff .

Okey, all good with that.

While waiting for winter I decided get to know this sled under the skin. So I checked it over and my feelings for that is the reason for this post.

I know 2012 was the first year and all that.
But after pulling the hood and other panels of it to take a look of the engine and other stuff. You start to wonder what the hell Arctic Cat designers where thinking when they did design some parts on this sled.

First of the hood
It is maybe not very complicated to take it of after you have figured it out. But this really is not something you would want to do on the mountain or the trail for that matter. unscrewing this, unhooking that and so on. Also the front of the sled is in to many pieces and for a deep snow machine you have way to many ways for the snow coming into the engine bay.

Clutch guard in 2 pieces and how in the hell am I going to get a new belt on the drive clutch without unscrewing the plastic cooling stuff on it. and the ECU is on the clutch guard and I would say that is not very convenient.

Whey having the air intake so complicated? having a special air box= extra weight and complex and then a intake with "dust filter" underneath the hood next to the exhaust manifold. This machine should have come with air intake like what EVO is selling stock. the "air intake" is already there on top of the hood!!.

This is my first take on this sled, I know there are many other things that can be discussed, but these where my biggest surprises for the first time with this sled.


Specially after coming of a M-series sled that was super easy to access the engine and clutches and also the front area much better closed for snow access.

Also the quality of the plastic is not very good, it is to hard. the old M plastic was much better, had more flex in it.

All in All this sled design leaves me puzzled in many ways. I thought mountain sled should be light and easy to work on. and have good fitment to seal snow out for engine and clutch area so the machine performs well in xtreme terrain.

I hope it rides well,because I am no fan of how it is put together. Strange how Arctic Cat thought this was the way to go after the popularity of the M-series.

Is the hood fitment the same on 2014-15 models?

thanks for reading

 

[Hotchief]

I hear you.

I rode mine stock on break in & then began the updates.

The sled deserves the EVO treatment in the stages that financially make sense for you.
Download their catalog.

Although heavy, if set up right - it is upstoppable in deep powder.

AC offers a deep snow kit that is pretty cheap, which makes better sealing of the panels.

Venting is key in order to help the beast run as cool as can be; this will also help your belt life.

I believe hood fitment is current through the 2015 models.

Enjoy the ride, feel free to ask away - the 1100T group on here are great.

 

[JustBoostIt]

Well you hit the main ones lol.

The hood is not convenient so do things to make it better as suggested. Evo cai and turbo elbow to match is a good place to start. Next the Evo quick release kit for the hood and seat relieves some of the rage.

They lightweight up pretty quick with a battery and a hood.

Lots of good posts in this section, start reading my friend.

 

[WyoBoy1000]

I prefer a sled that doesn't need access to under hood unless making mods. Which this sled doesn't need to be worked on. The fitment is questionable but for what it is there is not a better option so far. I e 4stroke turbo. I have plenty of complaints but rarely need to take the hood off unless modifying.

 

[high time]

You're right with all the points you mentioned...

I had a hard time riding mine the first year, but new skis and suspension adjustment fixed that. I don't like the weight, but I like a lot of the finer points. I'm using this year to figure out if I want to go back to a twostroke.
I ride here in the Midwest boondocking and in the mountains of Idaho, Montana, Wy and BC. I have a '12 and have had no problems, still on the first belt at 3,000 miles. It's still like new. From what I here the most popular two stroke can't go that far on just one engine. Now I bought the best two stroke a '10 M 8 . I'll ride them both almost every day. then we'll see.

Owen

 

[APEX SUPER]

what have you done to your suspension on the four stroke

 

[high time]

I just let air out of the front ski shocks , cranked up the front skid and set the rears soft. Made the front end feel lighter.

 

[Einar74]

I prefer a sled that doesn't need access to under hood unless making mods. Which this sled doesn't need to be worked on. The fitment is questionable but for what it is there is not a better option so far. I e 4stroke turbo. I have plenty of complaints but rarely need to take the hood off unless modifying.

WyoBoy,
I am not following you completely, may it is because I am a Foreigner
Are you saying you prefer a sled that is not easy to access the engine? Mods or not I can only see it as a benefit to have easy access to the engine.

Also is the fitment or design, on the hood and fairing on the Proclimb better or than on the Ski-doo or Polaris?

Do you have a Proclimb 1100t now? I thought you where now on a Ski-doo XM.

 

[Einar74]

Thanks guys for the replies.

For my personally. Over here in Iceland I don´t have to worry to much about some things that you guys to in the west.

For the most part the snow here is 90% of the time stiff after being wind blown so snow "dust" in the engine bay like you get in the powder snow is rarely an issue over here, get snow blown under the hood when the sled is stop , when riding in high winds is more of an issue. But I think deep snow kit is not something that will be needed here in Iceland.

The stock skies are good enough I think, for our conditions most of the time. So that is not an issue.

Heat build up under the hood is less of an issue because we to more of like mountain "trail" riding where average speed is much higher then in the tree riding you do in the Rockys. But extra vents is always a benefit.

Here in Iceland we have only naked mountains so hillclimbs and overall mountain blasting is what we to for the most part over here. So weight is not as big of an issue as it is in the Rockys. But of course weight is never a benefit.

In many ways the terrain we have here suits the 4-stroke I think.

But everything I mention is the first post is more my first general feeling for this sled not how it will fit my needs in my terrain. Of course the market for mountain sleds is the western USA and Canada and these machine should be made to fit the conditions over there. So I was really surprised seeing the hood fitment and all the ways for the dry powder snow could enter the engine bay on the proclimb.

I know Arctic Cat wanted one chassie to fit there line-up. I guess deep powder snow is not a big issue on the Minnesota trails as is here in Iceland. But this longtrack trail sled could in many ways be something that fits the terrain here in Iceland. strong chassie and good suspension that fits woops and doing fairly high speeds is really a bigger benefit, then extra light weight and super flickable chassie. But of course being ability to dangle is always a big plus

My sled is the LTD model so the tunnel is coated and it had the following mods when I bought it

Vertical steering post
38" a-arms
EVO stage 1(low elevation map) 220-225hp on 91oct
EVO BRV
EVO intercooler fan
D&D big dog barker can
extra vents

I then installed the turbo inlet neck on it( it was really a tight fit) with the stock plastic cover over it. Is that normal?

I really think it only needs for now the EVO CAI , but I have a hard time getting over the price for a "rubber tube"

I guess you can always had something to make it better, but I guess if I where going to do some modding to it, it would be getting ride of that stock hood and add some better pumpers to it,( stock pumpers is another thing your scratch your had over ) and then I have read the getting a strong chain is a big benefit for reliability.

 

[high time]

I don't ride trails in MN.

 

[Einar74]

I don't ride trails in MN.

I hope I didnt offend you. I know you get lot of snow in states like Minnesota, But I guess you know what I mean.

States like Minnesota that is a big snowmobile state, but really doesnt have any mountains. so I guess the main market are not mountain sleds. But I know that a lot of guys from the flatland have mountain sleds and haul the sleds hundreds or even thousands of miles to get to the mountains.

I bought my last to sleds from guys in Minnesota and North Dakota and they where a 153" and 162" sleds.

 

[high time]

No offense taken.......

You are right about most riders in the Midwest. All the guys I ride with boondock off trail. We had more than enough powder for mountain sleds last year in Northern MN., those pictures are from here , but if we have a low snow year, we go to the UP of MI. The get about 300'' and like us, lots of back woods riding available, but even there most people ride trails. Thank goodness!

 

[Turbo11T]

I don't ride trails in MN.

Owen,

If I come up will you show me some riding like this up there? I may never drive out west again. . . . Lol

Yes the 12 proclimb has some inperfections as far as a deep snow sled goes. Most of which were addressed in 2013 and if not were addressed in 2014. The Evo product you have is a great start. The CAI is a nice piece and will finish the puzzle. Many people say that the 215 remap on a 1100t will climb and go faster than pump gas turbos and run right with many race gas turbos at higher elevations. It is impressive to say the least.

I think Owen is right get your suspension figured out. If there is any chance you have 4 scales you can figure out how to make the front of the sled light even when you are not on the throttle. It may make it a bit squirly on a hard pack trail but there are trade offs and you could always run a more agressive carbide in that situation.

I am not sure if you are on facebook but if you look up Skinz Protective gear you will find they have a few videos about shock setup. I wish I still had my 1100T to try to get the settings they talk about. Either they are really smart or just very good at BS. But it makes sense to me so I think I will even try to set my ski doo up to the specs they talk about to make it feel even lighter and handle even better.

 

[Einar74]

Talking about suspension setup

Just to start with, what would be ideal shock pressure on this sled with a 190lbs rider?