I will go out on a SOLID limb and make a bold statement: Those XP owners that are complaining about their XP's ............ You started your whining to SOON! 
I have been biting my lip for the last month watching all the complaining and issues new owners have been voicing about their 154 Everst XP's. Waiting since we wanted to go thru our Break-in/Set-up/Tuning procedues.
Wite this down ................ The XP is the MOST impressive machine I have ever seen/ridden .....PERIOD! (Turbo/Superchargers excluded but who cares IMHO )
Here's my suggestions, and advice on why our 4 XP's are wicked bad sleds:
#1. BELT Issues: IMHO the biggest issue is how you break it in and SECONDARY adjustment. We have (3) 154's and (1) 146 with a total of about 450 miles, NO blown belts, let me repeat NO blown belts. I feel this is why; Beforethe first ride, took both sets of belts and scrubbed them down in soapy water and dried overnight. First ride BABIED the throttle for the first 5 miles always feathering the rpm NEVER going over 7000 rpm - I believe this to be critical. Then we stopped for 10 minutes, opened the panels and let the clutches kool off. Then we went another 5 miles, and feathered up to 8000 rpm, again NEVER pinning it. Again, stopped after another 5 miles, adjusted secodary if needed, opened panels and waited 10 minutes. Last 5 miles (to 15 now), we would pin it for 3 - 4 seconds and keep feathering the thriottle, stop open panels, adjust and kool off, after that ........ Rode it like a $1000 hooker. On the way out on the first ride, we swapped belts to the new one and repeated the process on the way out. I know 140 miles is not alot to brag about belt wear, but I was full throttle for 1 FULL miles at 90 mph after this break in and the belt looks PERFECT.
#2 Along with the break in above, Attention the new secondary is paramount. Yes it might be a PITA, but there are some things that are a MUST for your belt. Always ensure your belt deflection is set at the top of the cord even with the top of the sheave (top of the notch bottom). If the sled feels like its dragging you down, STOP! and check your primary, you will see a black mark in the center, ADJUST the seconday to as stated above. Another point, the plastic center nut needs attention almost each time you stop for awhile, Again, this is an issue, but you can over come it by just being proactive and checking it and adjusting it. We found we were not tightening the center fitting enuf, (but don't CRANK it down!) and the belt deflection would change as we rode, hence, belt would wear bad, adjusted it, and walla issue gone.
#3. Yes you need some type of clutch side venting. For now, I have removed the shock tower button plug, and cutout the small triangle section of the panel and covered with screen. We also drilled (7) 1/2 inch holes at the foot rest spot in the panels to exit hot air, and of course you must remove that damn clutch cover plastic piece of garbage.
#4. Gearing change will help, but (2) of the 154's are being ridden by 210-240 lb doods WITHOUT a gear swap, and they have no issues either.
#5. Now the fun part, QUIT worrying about the performance until you hit about the 100 mile mark, when It wakes up,OMFG!! Its like a different sled, exrtemely fast and one of the most impressive mid-ranges I have ever rode. At first I could not go past 60mph, later that day when it changed,It pulled hard to 90.
#6. Once you hit this break-in sweet spot, NOW you can clutch, IMO you are going to need to put BACK in the 2 gms of primary pin weight DOO had your dealers take out, I had our dealer leave both Jo's 146 and my 154 primary weights in, and now we are STILL both over reving even at 8000 ' el. I intend to re-clutch
There are a bunch of other tuning tips to be had for this sled, but I cant tell you ALL the good stuff
If you are not LOVING this sled, then you most likely are one that just pulls the cord and pins a brand new sled on your first ride, out of the box, not setup and in 4 feet of fresh snow and then GEE, you blow a belt at 34 miles ................ and then goes back to your dealer and *****es that its a POS Granted there are exceptions, but all in all, this is a sled that once set up and broken in smartly will ROCK the snowmobile world, once again; "Just this Old mans opinion"
Hope this helps, good luck!
I have been biting my lip for the last month watching all the complaining and issues new owners have been voicing about their 154 Everst XP's. Waiting since we wanted to go thru our Break-in/Set-up/Tuning procedues.
Wite this down ................ The XP is the MOST impressive machine I have ever seen/ridden .....PERIOD! (Turbo/Superchargers excluded but who cares IMHO )
Here's my suggestions, and advice on why our 4 XP's are wicked bad sleds:
#1. BELT Issues: IMHO the biggest issue is how you break it in and SECONDARY adjustment. We have (3) 154's and (1) 146 with a total of about 450 miles, NO blown belts, let me repeat NO blown belts. I feel this is why; Beforethe first ride, took both sets of belts and scrubbed them down in soapy water and dried overnight. First ride BABIED the throttle for the first 5 miles always feathering the rpm NEVER going over 7000 rpm - I believe this to be critical. Then we stopped for 10 minutes, opened the panels and let the clutches kool off. Then we went another 5 miles, and feathered up to 8000 rpm, again NEVER pinning it. Again, stopped after another 5 miles, adjusted secodary if needed, opened panels and waited 10 minutes. Last 5 miles (to 15 now), we would pin it for 3 - 4 seconds and keep feathering the thriottle, stop open panels, adjust and kool off, after that ........ Rode it like a $1000 hooker. On the way out on the first ride, we swapped belts to the new one and repeated the process on the way out. I know 140 miles is not alot to brag about belt wear, but I was full throttle for 1 FULL miles at 90 mph after this break in and the belt looks PERFECT.
#2 Along with the break in above, Attention the new secondary is paramount. Yes it might be a PITA, but there are some things that are a MUST for your belt. Always ensure your belt deflection is set at the top of the cord even with the top of the sheave (top of the notch bottom). If the sled feels like its dragging you down, STOP! and check your primary, you will see a black mark in the center, ADJUST the seconday to as stated above. Another point, the plastic center nut needs attention almost each time you stop for awhile, Again, this is an issue, but you can over come it by just being proactive and checking it and adjusting it. We found we were not tightening the center fitting enuf, (but don't CRANK it down!) and the belt deflection would change as we rode, hence, belt would wear bad, adjusted it, and walla issue gone.
#3. Yes you need some type of clutch side venting. For now, I have removed the shock tower button plug, and cutout the small triangle section of the panel and covered with screen. We also drilled (7) 1/2 inch holes at the foot rest spot in the panels to exit hot air, and of course you must remove that damn clutch cover plastic piece of garbage.
#4. Gearing change will help, but (2) of the 154's are being ridden by 210-240 lb doods WITHOUT a gear swap, and they have no issues either.
#5. Now the fun part, QUIT worrying about the performance until you hit about the 100 mile mark, when It wakes up,OMFG!!
Its like a different sled, exrtemely fast and one of the most impressive mid-ranges I have ever rode. At first I could not go past 60mph, later that day when it changed,It pulled hard to 90.#6. Once you hit this break-in sweet spot, NOW you can clutch, IMO you are going to need to put BACK in the 2 gms of primary pin weight DOO had your dealers take out, I had our dealer leave both Jo's 146 and my 154 primary weights in, and now we are STILL both over reving even at 8000 ' el. I intend to re-clutch
There are a bunch of other tuning tips to be had for this sled, but I cant tell you ALL the good stuff
If you are not LOVING this sled, then you most likely are one that just pulls the cord and pins a brand new sled on your first ride, out of the box, not setup and in 4 feet of fresh snow and then GEE, you blow a belt at 34 miles
................ and then goes back to your dealer and *****es that its a POS Granted there are exceptions, but all in all, this is a sled that once set up and broken in smartly will ROCK the snowmobile world, once again; "Just this Old mans opinion" Hope this helps, good luck!
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