2000$ sled - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

bluefish · 12-23-2007, 03:59 PM

Hi, I live in north central maine and want to get back into sledding. I have about 2000$ to play with and was wondering if You could offer some guidance in my choice. I am looking at late 90's sleds with 2-3000 miles, 5 to 600 cc's. Are there any models that are out right stinkers? Seeing many cat and skidoo triples as well as polaris 600xcrs and xcs. Any guidance or hot tips you could provide would be appreciated!!! Thanks, Bluefish

Dennismc · 12-23-2007, 04:01 PM

for around that much around here you could be looking at anywhere from a 98-2001 cat zr/zl 600

bluefish · 12-24-2007, 08:02 AM

Come on guys a little help here. haven't kept up w/ sleds the last few years. Last sled I owned was a 95 600XCR, liked it but hoping for a better suspension. It handled well but not much travel in the ass end. Really scared that there may be some lemon models that I don't know about. Paying cash and hope to get a year or two out of it with nothing too major happening (fingers crossed). Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!
Russ

JDS · 12-24-2007, 08:24 AM

I would stay away from triples and Polaris 900's. Other than that Any of the 500-700's are pretty good sleds. I love the suspension on my ZR, and my son who owns a Polaris XC SP of the same model year prefers the ZR as well. Polaris's Fuji engines are bulletproof.

Snakeman · 12-24-2007, 04:09 PM

I can see why you steered him away from the 900,but what have you got against triples?I got one with 12k miles on it,still running pretty strong and the motor has never had a wrench to it.Other than cleaning exhaust valves and carbs.You'd be hard pressed to get me back on a twin after having a triple.

JDS · 12-24-2007, 05:37 PM

Snake: I see you're a Yamaha man. I was only commenting on the sleds I know which are AC and Poo.

**RJ Gleason** · 12-25-2007, 07:39 AM

The triple bias is mainly due to the fact that there is one more cyl to deal with and for the most part , unless you are very good with your maintenance, can be problematic. The twins are generally easier to maintain and do have fewer problems (in general).

That said, If you do find a triple cyl sled that you like, check it over carefully (as you would any sled) and be sure to get any documentation of any major repairs done to it.

bandit_ad22 · 12-25-2007, 05:32 PM

i wouldn't turn him away from the zrt 600's. you can pick one up cheap and they r reliable. i have 11900 miles on my zrt600 and the sled will still hit the T in CAT on the speedo.

i won't do anything else with that sled til the motor blows. its a great sled starts first pull everytime

bluefish · 12-26-2007, 09:01 PM

There are a lot of reasonably priced zrt 600's around. I will check them out when I go out shopping friday. What about the rotax 583 with rave?? There are a lot of them too. Russ

Blownsvt · 12-26-2007, 09:10 PM

i also have a 99 zrt 600 triple. never had much for trouble with it, not sure why the triples get a bad rap.

ac bigbore · 12-26-2007, 10:47 PM

From reading the forums: Polaris triples have a nasty reputation
for blowing crank PTO end bearings. Typical cost to replace
is 600 bucks plus for parts, plus labor.

From experience- the big Cat triples (800cc plus) will blow
bearings on the counterbalancer shaft when the water pump seals
wear out. Coolant seeps through the seals and rusts the
balancer shaft bearings. Cost me 550 for parts and labor to
replace bearings and seals, with engine out and delivered to the
shop stripped. Did the motor remove and replace myself.

The little Cat triples without the counterbalancer shaft, the 600's, are pretty damned reliable, though. Just don't have the
arm wrenching torque of the big blocks.

derrickleejr17 · 12-27-2007, 04:15 AM

the 583 rotax was in my opinion one of the best ever manufactured in that cc class. pair it up with the formula z and you will have one hell of a nice experience. but make sure to go with 97 or newer in the machine. white gauge faces on that year were a lot easier to read

Snakeman · 12-27-2007, 12:10 PM

I agree with derrickleejr that the 583 was probably the best motor Rotax built.Pretty much bullit proof as were the Yamaha triples.

tamacat · 12-27-2007, 12:32 PM

The newer twins are very light and reliable. The triples are just a little more to maintain.And a little harder to sycronize. They also use more fuel.But I loved my 96 ZRT 600.Great motors. I'm bias for CAT and I'm gonna tell you to try to find a ZR 600, 99 or newer.