Over heating???

[Drlsldr]

Curious if other Catalysts are running too hot. M600 154” 3”
My sled seems to run at one bar from top of heat gauge, if not all the way hot.
Mainly on trails running to play areas, my last 2 rides there was loose snow and fresh snow on edges, but still would not cool down.

Does the catalyst give a temp warning signal or message of some sort if it’s truly getting too hot?
I have not seen any message or alarm? I don’t think the gauge gives an actual temp readout option?

Trying to decide if it’s good to go or it is having an issue that needs to be looked into further…

Also, any tips or tricks that might help it?

 

[NHRoadking]

Short cooler and no snow flap with 3 inch lug = hot!

They should all have longer coolers and removable snow flaps.

Some Poo guys in the other group we ride with made their own removable snow flaps for their 850 Slash sleds.

 

[turboless terry]

My daughter's catalyst runs at 3/4 on looser snow. I think they are going to suck on icy trails. No idea how hot they are. I've had it full bars for a .inute but no light. Usually on a bar graph you are thinking middle. Don't remember where it runs in deep snow. Everyone needs to look at polaris's new scratchers. They don't need a longer cooler or removable flap with 325 track.

 

[Hawkster]

They typically run high on the gauge and when it stays solid bars across the gauge long enough the gauge will start flashing HOT. It didn't pop the cap yet but I didn't push it when it notified me it's HOT.

No, it's not Hold On Tight

I pulled some antifreeze and added water wetter a bit higher then their cold mark.

 

[Dan O]

My Alpha would run hot on the trails if under 20mph or even off trail. I added a set of scratchers to the ski's and that took care of the problem. They came from WPS and were around $60.00. Easy to put down or up.

 

[Drlsldr]

My Alpha would run hot on the trails if under 20mph or even off trail. I added a set of scratchers to the ski's and that took care of the problem. They came from WPS and were around $60.00. Easy to put down or up.

I was considering that, glad to here it made a difference for you! Thanks

 

[MTN_VIPER]

Curious if other Catalysts are running too hot. M600 154” 3”
My sled seems to run at one bar from top of heat gauge, if not all the way hot.
Mainly on trails running to play areas, my last 2 rides there was loose snow and fresh snow on edges, but still would not cool down.

Does the catalyst give a temp warning signal or message of some sort if it’s truly getting too hot?
I have not seen any message or alarm? I don’t think the gauge gives an actual temp readout option?

Trying to decide if it’s good to go or it is having an issue that needs to be looked into further…

Also, any tips or tricks that might help it?

I recently had an opportunely to ride a 600 demo sled for a couple of days and temp gauge registered pretty much the same as what you described. Never did have a overheat warning light come on, so I'm thinking that it might be normal. I was pretty diligent about using the scratchers while on the trail, which makes a big difference on my Alpha.

 

[Grand Lake Catalyst]

Curious if other Catalysts are running too hot. M600 154” 3”
My sled seems to run at one bar from top of heat gauge, if not all the way hot.
Mainly on trails running to play areas, my last 2 rides there was loose snow and fresh snow on edges, but still would not cool down.

Does the catalyst give a temp warning signal or message of some sort if it’s truly getting too hot?
I have not seen any message or alarm? I don’t think the gauge gives an actual temp readout option?

Trying to decide if it’s good to go or it is having an issue that needs to be looked into further…

Also, any tips or tricks that might help it?

I have the exact same set up M600 Catalyst with 154 inch track and 3 inch lug and am constantly watching the temps. Went for a ride this morning in Grand Lake, CO with about 4” of fresh snow but still too hot (got the Hot light as I coasted into the driveway). I have a snow flap from Country Cat but it isn’t a good fit (sucked in with first reverse even though I trimmed it). I guess this sled is only for pure powder days but would love to find a way to make it more rideable..?

 

[turboless terry]

I have the exact same set up M600 Catalyst with 154 inch track and 3 inch lug and am constantly watching the temps. Went for a ride this morning in Grand Lake, CO with about 4” of fresh snow but still too hot (got the Hot light as I coasted into the driveway). I have a snow flap from Country Cat but it isn’t a good fit (sucked in with first reverse even though I trimmed it). I guess this sled is only for pure powder days but would love to find a way to make it more rideable..?

I don't know if my sled likes pure powder days. I lost estart and reverse until I thawed mine out. They run hot. I knew that last year because my daughter's 600 ran hot. They need someone to make an aftermarket set of scratchers for them. I would make them to where there is another set of coils on the last bend. Basically where they come out past the track and bend to run parallel to track. This would make them reversible. Then they would have a big spade, at a 45 degree angle, like the new polaris scratchers. Polaris's were always hot until 24. The new ones are a game changer. They even fill your running boards behind your feet. The only problem is whether cat is staying or going. Not worth a ton of time if they are going away. I assume they're not but maybe. This would solve one of my last nit picks. My heat light came on right before the trailer. Followed my buddies, with their reversible scratchers, on their boosts. Thought about putting them down but thought i could make it. Last 1/8 mile there wasn't much fresh. Knew better.

 

[Grand Lake Catalyst]

I don't know if my sled likes pure powder days. I lost estart and reverse until I thawed mine out. They run hot. I knew that last year because my daughter's 600 ran hot. They need someone to make an aftermarket set of scratchers for them. I would make them to where there is another set of coils on the last bend. Basically where they come out past the track and bend to run parallel to track. This would make them reversible. Then they would have a big spade, at a 45 degree angle, like the new polaris scratchers. Polaris's were always hot until 24. The new ones are a game changer. They even fill your running boards behind your feet. The only problem is whether cat is staying or going. Not worth a ton of time if they are going away. I assume they're not but maybe. This would solve one of my last nit picks. My heat light came on right before the trailer. Followed my buddies, with their reversible scratchers, on their boosts. Thought about putting them down but thought i could make it. Last 1/8 mile there wasn't much fresh. Knew better.

I’m going give this a try…. I did use my Catalyst at a mountain skills course in Wolf Creek Colorado (Matt Entze awesome class) that was full of powder and it didn’t seem to get too hot while in the deep stuff, but there was a lot of starting and stopping as we went through instruction on side hilling and route selection. We have two Ski Doo Summit’s in the family that don’t have this heating issue. I would gladly trade the sled for a four stroke Thundercat or Riot 9000 if anybody wants a swap, let me know!

 

[Hawkster]

Throw some water wetter in like redline or equivalent, it's a minor thing but every little bit helps.

These Ms' can't do low snow conditions, they'll overheat quicker then the old skids and those weren't something to brag about either.
]

 

[rkm]

The 858 gets hot on the trail at mid speeds (30-40) and im blaming it on the tune.
Neither my 600 or 800 Catalyst get this hot on the trail.
600s tend to run hotter than the 800s in the Catalyst or the Alpha.
Get on the gas harder and itll cool down.

 

[Vern]

I don’t have much time on my 858 so can’t say if it’s the same, but I found on my 800 ascender alpha with no flap it would run about 10 degrees cooler on the trail at 25-30 mph vs 35-40 mph.

 

[mn.nytronut]

According to a different thread, your not blipping the throttle enough. You gotta flick that thing like working the little man in a canoe on a hot chick.

 

[arcticridr]

I added the OTP ski mounted scratchers , water wetter and completely full of coolant and have the BDX side panel vents both sides on my 20 hardcore Alpha , scratchers helped the most when running on hard pack still have to stop occasionally on the way to the back country to let her cool down (have 6-10 miles on groomed freeways to get to the BC) still sucks having to stop , remember the days when the dual heat exchanger cats were the only ones not having to stop to pack running boards and tops of tunnels with snow just to keep going . Gonna add the ski mounted to the 858 soon as I see if the skis will accept them like the alpha skis do , lack of a snow flap concerns me may have to address that issue , cat sells a shorty made for the 858 may help direct snow back onto the track will see when I get it on the snow !!

 

[Hawkster]

So all you got left is to figure out where to put the side panels on the way to and back.

Don't laugh it works, you might leave one side off when it's warm and the snow is so so.

 

[dgibbons]

Short cooler and no snow flap with 3 inch lug = hot!

They should all have longer coolers and removable snow flaps.

Some Poo guys in the other group we ride with made their own removable snow flaps for their 850 Slash sleds.

I didn't run a cooler on my proclimb or either ascender 153/154s with 3" tracks for the last 11 years and they did great with scratchers down. Ran significantly cooler than my Axys that HAD a snowflap. Axys overheated way quicker than the cats with no flaps. The first two rides I've had, the 858 154 has run 1-2 bars over middle on my standard temp gauge. I ran in two feet of fresh on the trail this last weekend and coolant still ran over middle temp, I just wish I knew what the temp actually was....No idea what that temp is but assume it's hotter than the set temp for the thermostats (105-115) on the ascender that actually showed coolant temps...