AC5S shocks

[earthling]

I highly doubt that Arctic Cat uses different valving for different sled models. I think it's more of a "if it fits, it ships" situation.

ok, but valving is specific to spring rate, spring rate is specific to sprung weight. Cat may not change valviing but a 4stroke and a 2stroke on otherwise the same chassis are going to have very different spring and therefore valving requirements. Maybe Cat doesn't care, couldn't say. That would mean that all cat shocks are set for the heavier 4 strokes because they will have the greatest spring pressure and therefore the fastest potential shaft velocity.

 

[twyztid]

ok, but valving is specific to spring rate, spring rate is specific to sprung weight. Cat may not change valviing but a 4stroke and a 2stroke on otherwise the same chassis are going to have very different spring and therefore valving requirements. Maybe Cat doesn't care, couldn't say. That would mean that all cat shocks are set for the heavier 4 strokes because they will have the greatest spring pressure and therefore the fastest potential shaft velocity.

I completely understand the difference and that the shocks should be valved differently. I am just not convinced that they actually are from Arctic Cat... even though the 2-strokes use different springs than the 4-stroke in some situations.

For instance, see the link below for a center shock used on the 137 & 146 sleds.

https://www.countrycat.com/arctic-cat-3704-533-1-5-ifp-front-arm-shock-2017-2025-pta-riot-zr-129-146-inch

You will notice this... it's a mixed bag of 2-stroke & 4-stroke Procross sleds AND Catalyst 600 & 858 sleds... ALL using the same 1704-236 spring in this example (the standard 90/250 spring that comes on 137 Sidewinder center shocks).

Fits the following 129"-146" models with the addition of a 1704-736 spring:
2015-2025 Pantera 6000, 7000 146"
2020 Riot X 8000 146"
2020-2025 Riot 600, 6000, 8000, 858, 9000 146"
2017-2025 ZR 6000, 7000, 8000, 9000 137"
2024-2025 ZR 600 Catalyst 129", 137"
2025 ZR 858 Catalyst 129", 137"
(Excludes 129" ProCross Chassis models)

 

[earthling]

I completely understand the difference and that the shocks should be valved differently. I am just not convinced that they actually are from Arctic Cat... even though the 2-strokes use different springs than the 4-stroke in some situations.

For instance, see the link below for a center shock used on the 137 & 146 sleds.

https://www.countrycat.com/arctic-cat-3704-533-1-5-ifp-front-arm-shock-2017-2025-pta-riot-zr-129-146-inch

You will notice this... it's a mixed bag of 2-stroke & 4-stroke Procross sleds AND Catalyst 600 & 858 sleds... ALL using the same 1704-236 spring in this example (the standard 90/250 spring that comes on 137 Sidewinder center shocks).

Fits the following 129"-146" models with the addition of a 1704-736 spring:
2015-2025 Pantera 6000, 7000 146"
2020 Riot X 8000 146"
2020-2025 Riot 600, 6000, 8000, 858, 9000 146"
2017-2025 ZR 6000, 7000, 8000, 9000 137"
2024-2025 ZR 600 Catalyst 129", 137"
2025 ZR 858 Catalyst 129", 137"
(Excludes 129" ProCross Chassis models)

That fills in a bit of missing knowledge for me. I had a closer look at the shocks and while some shocks are sled specific, it seems to be more by shock feature than shock sizing. It makes it that much more important to work with a shock tuner who has access to a shock dyno.