Belt life?

[tmo1620]

1000 km on mine so far, some hard deep days belt still looks mint

 

[8000 ProClimb]

Over 700 Miles and just did 2 days of 3-4 feet of powder riding and belt is still like new. There is now 4 of these new Ascender Mountain Cats in our group (mine 153 and the other ones are 162's) and everyone is blown away with the performance of these sleds

 

[Slamnek]

I’m looking into a leftover 2018 MC and threads like this just solidify my decision to stick with a cat. I know I don’t need to spend a bunch of money making the clutching on a new sled work. Doolaid drinkers must hate seeing threads like this.

 

[drew562]

I’m looking into a leftover 2018 MC and threads like this just solidify my decision to stick with a cat. I know I don’t need to spend a bunch of money making the clutching on a new sled work. Doolaid drinkers must hate seeing threads like this.

Been on doo since 2012. Not gonna miss 600-800 km a belt averages. Alpha 1 snowcheck coming.

 

[Eldereldo]

If you were getting 600-800km sounds like you were one of the lucky ones. I have 1000km on my 2018 MC and the belt looks new. Finally blew a belt on the 2014 after 2000k,and the was on an over the hood deep day, wide open throttle the entire time. Belts are definitely not a consumable like oil. Although the 2018 seems to sip oil as well.

 

[drew562]

If you were getting 600-800km sounds like you were one of the lucky ones. I have 1000km on my 2018 MC and the belt looks new. Finally blew a belt on the 2014 after 2000k,and the was on an over the hood deep day, wide open throttle the entire time. Belts are definitely not a consumable like oil. Although the 2018 seems to sip oil as well.

those km averages includes my xm’s. Just my 850 blew 11 belts last year. My 850 best belt was 400km. Worst was 2 belts in the same day.

 

[skegpro]

I think a guy may see a couple more cats out on the hill this winter.

 

[tmo1620]

I think a guy may see a couple more cats out on the hill this winter.

Finally people are getting smarter

 

[Teth-Air]

Finally people are getting smarter

It just goes to show that if a manufacturer gets serious, they can rise from the bottom of the barrel to near the top. 2012 Cats were terrible for belt life when they first came out. They tried to fix it and when the fixes were not 100% they changed to Team clutches. Someone in the organization must have had to swallow their pride to accept that decision. BUT in the end it may have been an expensive decision but I bet it has more then paid for itself.

 

[Cat401]

It just goes to show that if a manufacturer gets serious, they can rise from the bottom of the barrel to near the top. 2012 Cats were terrible for belt life when they first came out. They tried to fix it and when the fixes were not 100% they changed to Team clutches. Someone in the organization must have had to swallow their pride to accept that decision. BUT in the end it may have been an expensive decision but I bet it has more then paid for itself.

Not sure I completely agree with you. IMO, the belt issue on the Cats were the 2012's and a few 13's. Belt deflection and poor alignment was the main cause. If I remember correctly, the 2014 came with a "finned" clutch face plate creating a fan to remove heat....belt issues were pretty much eliminated. 14's and 15's with the Cat clutch were not belt burners.
The switchover to the Team design came a couple years later....that brought significant improvements in engagement and shifting....and maybe better alignment?....not sure.

 

[Teth-Air]

Not sure I completely agree with you. IMO, the belt issue on the Cats were the 2012's and a few 13's. Belt deflection and poor alignment was the main cause. If I remember correctly, the 2014 came with a "finned" clutch face plate creating a fan to remove heat....belt issues were pretty much eliminated. 14's and 15's with the Cat clutch were not belt burners.
The switchover to the Team design came a couple years later....that brought significant improvements in engagement and shifting....and maybe better alignment?....not sure.

I agree with you, it was not the clutches at fault as they worked on the pre-2012's just fine but they wanted to reassure their customers and show they were serious by going to the Team clutches.

 

[tmo1620]

Our group found that the 16's were actually harder on belts than the 14's and 15's, first year of the team clutches may of had to work a couple bugs out. Since then they have been getting better again. Almost 2000km last year on my 18 MC and belt is looking great

I agree with you, it was not the clutches at fault as they worked on the pre-2012's just fine but they wanted to reassure their customers and show they were serious by going to the Team clutches.

 

[Slamnek]

It just goes to show that if a manufacturer gets serious, they can rise from the bottom of the barrel to near the top. 2012 Cats were terrible for belt life when they first came out. They tried to fix it and when the fixes were not 100% they changed to Team clutches. Someone in the organization must have had to swallow their pride to accept that decision. BUT in the end it may have been an expensive decision but I bet it has more then paid for itself.

My 12 has great belt life. Blew one with 600km on it but that was over the hood deep. It’s got a full vent kit and I did the 2014 gearing and clutch and never blew another belt. I also checked alignment and made sure it was bang on. It’s been a great reliable machine. I just put a deposit on the 18 MC. Can’t wait for winter!!!

 

[bgraff1]

My 12 has great belt life. Blew one with 600km on it but that was over the hood deep. It’s got a full vent kit and I did the 2014 gearing and clutch and never blew another belt. I also checked alignment and made sure it was bang on. It’s been a great reliable machine. I just put a deposit on the 18 MC. Can’t wait for winter!!!

Slam, did you get your sled from lethal or where did you go? im just east of you in blackfoot and also picked up an 18

 

[Eldereldo]

Not sure I completely agree with you. IMO, the belt issue on the Cats were the 2012's and a few 13's. Belt deflection and poor alignment was the main cause. If I remember correctly, the 2014 came with a "finned" clutch face plate creating a fan to remove heat....belt issues were pretty much eliminated. 14's and 15's with the Cat clutch were not belt burners.
The switchover to the Team design came a couple years later....that brought significant improvements in engagement and shifting....and maybe better alignment?....not sure.

I think Cat went with the Team clutches because they decided that they weren’t going to build something better than what they could buy, and they wanted the development funds for other things. My 2014 had a horrible take up, always sounded like it would slip and then suddenly engage with a bang . Changing up helix and spring/weights helped. 2018 clutch is just on a completely different level. Doubt AC could have come up with that on their own.

 

[0neoldfart]

Nothing wrong with the cat clutch, actually stronger then the team which replaced it (primary). 2012 had issues with chassis alignment, and lack of airflow (venting). As far as being able to build a clutch,the 1st production roller secondary was from cat, they were the hot ticket on any model of sled for years ( kinda like puttin P85,s on Rotax builds).
Anyway, quality control was the issue,some clutches were too tight from factory, balanced poorly, etc etc.

 

[kanedog]

I want to try an old school cat clutch on these new fangled sleds. Anyone have an old relic to sell or donate?

 

[Slamnek]

Slam, did you get your sled from lethal or where did you go? im just east of you in blackfoot and also picked up an 18

I bought my 12 from white knuckle. I just bought an 18 MC from Dons Speed Parts. They had a demo with 70 miles on it for a good price. Lethal was $1500 higher than every other dealer I talked to.

 

[catrutt]

Over 700 Miles and just did 2 days of 3-4 feet of powder riding and belt is still like new. There is now 4 of these new Ascender Mountain Cats in our group (mine 153 and the other ones are 162's) and everyone is blown away with the performance of these sleds

How do you find the 153 stacks up with the 162?

 

[tmo1620]

The 153 works great, that 3" track really moves. Obviously it wont be as capable as the 162 for some things but I found the 153 to be way more fun than any 162 Ive had, although Ive never had a 162 3" so cant really compare. All i know is that this 153 3" is more capable than the 162 2.6" I had a few years ago. I ride outside the mountains as well so the 153 is definitely better for that

How do you find the 153 stacks up with the 162?