The next big innovation in snowmobiling?

[Clarke673]

What do you guys think it will be? About 15 years ago engine technology went through the roof and greatly surpassed the chassis. Honestly, close to nothing has changed on the 2 strokes in the last 10-15 years. They added EFI but they should have had that before, its been around since the 60’s so it only took 30 years for them to adapt it.

In 2003 our chassis and suspension designs changed dramatically thanks to the good old rev.

But what will it be now? Honestly I think the next advancements in 2 stroke consumer sleds ( i.e. Polaris, Articat, Skidoo) will have to be in the engine and drive train designs.

The bar is set with the new imitions, we all want more power burning less fuel while being more efficient with less failures. I honestly hope that the 3 big sled manufacturers ( that’s right I didn’t include yammi’s!) can improve on they’re technologies and give us what we want and what the government and the greenies are forcing us to have.

So what will it be? What do you think the next big advancement in snowmobiling will be?


Engine/drive train

Suspension

Chassis


IMO there is a lot to be gained (and lost… I.E. weight 1 lb of rotating mass = 7) in the clutching, drive shaft, jackshaft, chain case and drivers as well as the track and engine.

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

What do you guys think it will be? About 15 years ago engine technology went through the roof and greatly surpassed the chassis. Honestly, close to nothing has changed on the 2 strokes in the last 10-15 years. They added EFI but they should have had that before, its been around since the 60’s so it only took 30 years for them to adapt it.

In 2003 our chassis and suspension designs changed dramatically thanks to the good old rev.

But what will it be now? Honestly I think the next advancements in 2 stroke consumer sleds ( i.e. Polaris, Articat, Skidoo) will have to be in the engine and drive train designs.

The bar is set with the new imitions, we all want more power burning less fuel while being more efficient with less failures. I honestly hope that the 3 big sled manufacturers ( that’s right I didn’t include yammi’s!) can improve on they’re technologies and give us what we want and what the government and the greenies are forcing us to have.

So what will it be? What do you think the next big advancement in snowmobiling will be?


Engine/drive train

Suspension

Chassis


IMO there is a lot to be gained (and lost… I.E. weight 1 lb of rotating mass = 7) in the clutching, drive shaft, jackshaft, chain case and drivers as well as the track and engine.

my guess..will be a new clutch system that uses a computer and rams to work..very liteweight and very very effieceint(almost no belt heat or wear)when I was getting my polaris certs got to bs a bit with an factory engineeer and he was hinting that this was coming someday...

 

[banditpowdercoat]

The Pivaro Clutch is allready here. Clutching NEEDS some breakthroughs. Sleds are performing great, lots of HP, but still loosing alot in the power transmission

 

[Clarke673]

I happen to know a guy who used to build mod sleds in the mid 90's who is working on a sled with out a secondary, jackshaft, or chain case. That’s all the further I can go but I can tell you that it looks like it might work lol. Maybe.

 

[Mafesto]

What do you guys think it will be? About 15 years ago engine technology went through the roof and greatly surpassed the chassis. Honestly, close to nothing has changed on the 2 strokes in the last 10-15 years. They added EFI but they should have had that before, its been around since the 60’s so it only took 30 years for them to adapt it.

Nothing has changed on the 2 strokes in the last 10-15 years?????
Are you serious?
How can you look at the E-Tec & make that statement?

 

[kennyblatz]

Diesel

 

[Superdutytd]

Haha diesel.

I think clutching needs to see some advancements soon. I believe in the next five years the FourStrokes will really come on as the main engines to be used.

 

[Rprecision]

Diesel

I dont see that becoming that popular. #1 as far as they have come the limits of Diesel and extreme cold makes a bad mix for sleds. #2 cost prohibitive. #3 they dont have the fun factor sledders want.

I forsee more 4 strokes. Lighter, higher performance, and more fuel efficiant. I'm sure the powertrain is next on the list.

I like two strokes they are fun, but as things evolve I think more will see the advatages of 4 stroke. I know that pissed off some people, but its true.

One thing that always amazed me and maybe its a patent issue, but why hassent a rotary 4 stroke ended up in a sled yet? Also known as a Wankle engine. Mazda put them in the RX-7. Seems it would be a good match for a snowmobile ?

Add a turbo and the sky is the limit

 

[banditpowdercoat]

Acctually, I think it was Arctic cat that had a wankel in a sled years ago. So did Scorpion. I owned a RX-7 Loved it. The rotary a great engine design, smooth as all beans. But, they dont have crap fro torque. The Tq numbers are too low for sled use.

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/1971-arctic-cat-303-wankel-rotary-vintage-snowmobile/1575950134

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpjXNVSbKYk

 

[Rprecision]

Acctually, I think it was Arctic cat that had a wankel in a sled years ago. So did Scorpion. I owned a RX-7 Loved it. The rotary a great engine design, smooth as all beans. But, they dont have crap fro torque. The Tq numbers are too low for sled use.

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/1971-arctic-cat-303-wankel-rotary-vintage-snowmobile/1575950134

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpjXNVSbKYk

I stand corrected. Intresting, never knew they did that. Then again I was like -8 years old when those came out

 

[SAWYER]

I'm hoping fro cheaper sleds so we can still afford to ride them

 

[Ollie]

I'm hoping fro cheaper sleds so we can still afford to ride them

Polaris is trying that with their Shift line of sleds.

I think you will see more direct injection 2 strokes.
More 4 strokes (both Cat and Polaris have pretty good turbo sleds).

You will see tube chassis sleds in the next couple years.

 

[Burndown1]

Diesel

This has already been done. Alot of black smoke and no go. The manufacture I got to admit I will have to ask a friend. It did not work. Yamaha had a Hyd. system for the drive. Auto trans. Piece of crap. The best system, Primary, secondary, jackshaft, and chaincase. 1981 SRX engine in a Kawasaki drifter body with a snojet suspension.

 

[Burndown1]

I dont see that becoming that popular. #1 as far as they have come the limits of Diesel and extreme cold makes a bad mix for sleds. #2 cost prohibitive. #3 they dont have the fun factor sledders want.

I forsee more 4 strokes. Lighter, higher performance, and more fuel efficiant. I'm sure the powertrain is next on the list.

I like two strokes they are fun, but as things evolve I think more will see the advatages of 4 stroke. I know that pissed off some people, but its true.

One thing that always amazed me and maybe its a patent issue, but why hassent a rotary 4 stroke ended up in a sled yet? Also known as a Wankle engine. Mazda put them in the RX-7. Seems it would be a good match for a snowmobile ?

Add a turbo and the sky is the limit

They are called apex seals. Hell most sledders cant keep a 2 stroke running. The rotary is a good engine, but not in a sled. 4 Stroke 4 cylinder is probally the future.

 

[Trenchmaster]

There was an interesting article in last months Sled Tech magazine. Someone developed a two stroke engine with a valve to open and close the exhaust port with a simple linkage, driven off the crank. It really cleand up the emissions and improved fuel efficiency.

 

[Mafesto]

There was an interesting article in last months Sled Tech magazine. Someone developed a two stroke engine with a valve to open and close the exhaust port with a simple linkage, driven off the crank. It really cleand up the emissions and improved fuel efficiency.

That was Boyeson (Boyeson Reeds)
They certainly have a lot to lose if the 2 stroke fades away!
It looked like a very smart simple design.
Kinda like.....Why didn't someone think of this long ago?

 

[JDKZRT]

I honestly hope that the 3 big sled manufacturers ( that’s right I didn’t include yammi’s!) can improve on they’re technologies and give us what we want and what the government and the greenies are forcing us to have.

I think it's odd/funny that you don't include Yamaha in your list. My prediction is that in the next 5 years, there will be either 2 or 3 big sled manufacturers ...... and Yamaha will be one of them.

 

[mtn mike on boost]

Hydrogen enhanced injection=more torque, better fuel economy, and lower octane needs.

 

[flying pig]

roto motor is already in developement, has been for a few winters. DI sleds I'd say will be the big innovations, that and four stroke turbos, cuz that one is very very obvious.

Would love to see DI come into the motocross world and save the two stroke for us freeriders/freestylers. Wouldn't it be sweet to have a two stroke bike as advanced as the new 450's, especially the Honda?

 

[Sako7STW]

New trans system that is more effecient. I also think the tracks could come a long ways. There has got to be a way to make a track alot lighter!