Massive Snow injestion

matchrocket · Feb 18, 2019

Three 18 Mountian Cats and one Alpha in my ride group. A recent trip to some DEEP snow conditions in mid-Idaho resulted in all four sleds having issues staying running or bogging at the end of the day.

Upon further inspection, we found the airbox at the front, behind the bumper after you pull the top cowling SOAKED. Red Square in the picture below.

It's very clear that these sleds are sucking in the snow like crazy, and its causing run ability issues. The inside of the airbox had standing water in it. I am aware of the vent gaps, and none of them seem to have that issue based on what I know of the problem.

We suspect there is a fitment issue where the top/hood mates to the airbox behind the front bumper, and snow is getting in.

Does this community know of this issue at all? I am asking here to help the group out in case they can't get any solution from the dealer.

P.S. NOT A BRAND BASH POST. I truly want to help my riding buddies. :-D Not fun to have a poor running machine in deeeeep snow regardless of the brand.

bjd68 · Feb 18, 2019

Yes it known that snow can get in there ! I have a 18 mountian cat and had to silicone gaps in the intake screens and also used a flashlight to shine in hood to see the gaps in airbox and then siliconed those also and now it seems to be good !
Can also buy a prefilter that goes in front of the nose cone in the airbox, cant remember the name of it though!

Turblue · Feb 18, 2019

I have a 18 cat. Ordered the update intake with the screws, siliconed up a couple spots under the hood. Never missed a beat yet. Cold and handlebar deep the last few days.

partypete · Feb 18, 2019

Mine is an 18 and has mountain addiction intake fix and was bogging in deep powder. Very annoying but wonder if bdx hood would fix it

M8onEdge · Feb 19, 2019

The air intake design is poor. Snow can get in at the top intake screens, gaps in the air box itself under the hood and where it seals to the nose cone....your red circle. I’ve read of guys using heavy grease to help that seal. I’ll be trying that next. Also, obviously if there is snow piled on your vents at the top....because they lie horizontally, it won’t run. Someone needs to design a deflector/fix for that. Would sell like crazy.

Clark42 · Feb 19, 2019

There is a fix. Mountain fit defender kit
http://stores.mountainfithoods.net/proclimb-procross-ascender-chassis-defender-air-intake/

Nitroused383 · Feb 19, 2019

Mine has mountain fit intake fix but also had huge gaps up front near the goggle bag so I sealed those with rtv silicone. I followed Lund's post http://www.snowandmud.com/2018-ascender/114674-airbox-leaks-check-sled-8.html

I rode deep snow all weekend and had 0 snow in my throttle body area on my 18 mountain cat. I used a 9x9 sheet of spi prefilter fabric. It's not pretty but it's the only full proof way.

Turblue · Feb 20, 2019

So I did some investigating on mine to see how it’s doing with the new style intake. Well still getting a bunch of water in there. I took the nose cone apart and right at the front there is no lip like the rest of the air box. Smooth mated surfaces...I’m going to seal that up with rtv.
My dealer said it’s definitely getting snow and I need to seal the air box and they won’t cover anything under warranty due to the problem being low in numbers.
What’s the customer care contact email? Cats website link doesn’t work.

turboless terry · Feb 22, 2019

You would think after this many years they would figure out how to build an intake for deep powder. The ones by the bars are laying flat so they are plugged off all day. They have the one underneath them but are inset, with a crease in the hood, so they are plugged off all day. The vents in the hood have that little piece of hood, that I always want to grab, that holds the snow so they are plugged off all day.

CATDIESELPOWER · Feb 22, 2019

Ya the intake design is a joke. Stupid. I’m not real fond of the center pull rope either. Other than that I’m pretty dang happy with my ‘18 Mtn. Cat.

turboless terry · Feb 22, 2019

I'm getting electric start for next year. Not a fan of pulling the rope anymore and I was one wasting all my money at a $100 per pound to get rid of weight. Too many years of troweling concrete and a bone spur. Pulling the rope isn't the end of the world but it's the awkward ones on a steep sidehill after you just rolled your sled that really suck.

willjogervais · Feb 22, 2019

turboless terry said:
I'm getting electric start for next year. Not a fan of pulling the rope anymore and I was one wasting all my money at a $100 per pound to get rid of weight. Too many years of troweling concrete and a bone spur. Pulling the rope isn't the end of the world but it's the awkward ones on a steep sidehill after you just rolled your sled that really suck.

I couldn't agree more. I ordered my 19 with es and love it. have to get a light weight battery now

killerrf · Feb 22, 2019

U know looking at the pic of that nose cone opened up....get rid of that plastic piece between the side walls and u have a nice spot With ledge to put custom made filter or stretchy prefilter screen over and secure down. Cat made it already to make it work without sucking in water and snow into engine...they just have to see it.

M8onEdge · Feb 22, 2019

Cat has to fire their hood guy. Hopefully he'll retire soon:bowl:. A backcountry mountain sled that drowns and can't breath on the best days is an embarrassment. It's really the last thing to fix. Seems like maybe they could pull that off. Guess we'll know later today.

killerrf · Feb 23, 2019

Took my intake apart and put this together. Used weather strip adhesive cause it was gasoline coolant solvent resistance and worked down to -54c and 200c temps. Then secured it down with some tin strips and tiny screws with locknuts

<a href='http://i.imgur.com/cfeWhGs' title=''><img src='http://i.imgur.com/cfeWhGs.jpg' alt='' title='Hosted by imgur.com' /></a>

<a href='http://i.imgur.com/nxBjNnX' title=''><img src='http://i.imgur.com/nxBjNnX.jpg' alt='' title='Hosted by imgur.com' /></a>

<a href='http://i.imgur.com/iz8pjIR' title=''><img src='http://i.imgur.com/iz8pjIR.jpg' alt='' title='Hosted by imgur.com' /></a>

sno*jet · Feb 23, 2019

cats like to be thawed and melted out fully in between rides.

killerrf · Feb 23, 2019

sno*jet said:
cats like to be thawed and melted out fully in between rides.

True but doesn’t help when it’s still sucking in snow dust and condensation build up while riding.

White Rad · Feb 23, 2019

My alpha wasn't even rideable in super deep pow especially when it was slightly heavier snow. One or two big downhill carves and the intakes were so plugged it wouldn't even run.....spent the deepest days trying to keep the intakes clear. Especially concerning when coming out of downhill line and low marking above a must make turn out and the sled dies. I guess if all you do is climb theer won't be nearly as much pow packed into the intakes but thats not my style. I was going to put a flapper intake under the hood as there should be some good air to pull especially if it was located near the front venting screens but never got around to it...

josh@andeon · Feb 26, 2019

I have been putting 3/8" bead of grease from grease gun on female or hood intake slot. It completely quit sucking in snow dust but its messy for sure. Use a high temp grease so it stays stiff low temp will melt and run all over and not seal

M8onEdge · Feb 26, 2019

Has anyone tried SLP powder valves at the top of the airbox by goggle bag to help when dash vents are buried?

Massive Snow injestion

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