I buried the Puma twice this weekend. I realize a 550lb, 35 hp, 136", .75" lug track isn't ideal for trail breaking. Thankfully, the last time I burred it, we were close to a road and a guy stopped to help us out. Granted, conditions were a bit abnormal for the riding we usually do; more often than not, the trails have usually been ridden before we arrive.
So it got me thinking...what's a decent trail breaking sled..say $1,500. When did they start putting 1"+ lugs on tracks from the factory?
Polaris XC? Cat ZR/ZL? MXZ?
Don't plan on upgrading any time soon...but if the right deal did present itself, who knows....
If you ride a lot of off-trail stuff, the crossover sleds like the Polaris Switchback may be just the ticket. They have a longer track with deeper lugs than the trail sleds and the rail ends are tipped up so you still have a "short track" feel when on the trails.
AC and Skidoo also make sleds in that category, too. Not sure about Yamaha...
Yamaha made the mountain max 700 with a 141 track, but that is about it as far as Yamaha goes. I would take a look at a 90's RMK, summit, or an arctic cat.
If you want I have a couple of 136" x 1" lug tracks, you could just put a taller lug on your Puma and drop a tooth off the top gear and you would have something already!
But if you are serious about having to break trail, A 136 is plenty of track length.
I personally would put my 04 Pantera with a 1.25 Ripsaw and almost 200 hp out there against anything for breaking trail!
If you go to a 144 it wont turn as well and if most of your riding is normally on trail a 136 is IMO is THE best length!
And now that there is a 1.5 rip saw I thought about it! But decided to go with the 1.25 Ice Ripper instead on my other Pantera!
Some really good advice! All good machines to look up next time I'm on craiglist...which is all to often looking at sleds.
I've thought about swapping tracks. I have a feeling I'll have to do drive bearings on both machines and since I'll have the tracks off, swapping isn't a bad idea. Think going from a .78 to 1" lug will help?
My mountain max has been very good. 141" with 2" lugs. You need to have soft trails though with lugs this high, or you will melt the slides. Here, it snows almost every day, so I have never had any problems on the trails. I have only gotten it stuck 2 times this year, both with the machine almost vertical pointed up a hill.
There are a few things that improve deep snow capability, one is a larger track for more flotation, another is larger lugs for more traction, and finally there is reducing the approach angle of the track to reduce trenching.
In my experience, my 141" turns very well, not quite as good as my 121" did, but close. Both were in the same chassis as well. The biggest thing is to balance front-rear traction. The 141" has much more aggressive skis to match the extra rear traction, so it turns in pretty well. I haven't had any issue throwing it through the twisties at 30-40 mph.
If you were close Id give one to you!
But at Hay Days they go from 50 to 100!
Shipping is the PITA!
Check out pull offs! Most of the Stealers have several pull offs and as for a 136 X 15 X1" 2.52! They probably would give you a deal!
Bear,
The mountian we used to ski at had a fleet of those 550 Skandic W/Ts. Quite the machines! I would love one for the woods.
KC...darn that distance! I hear you on shipping. Maybe I'll look at the local sled salvage place in the warmer months and see what they have.
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