cat skids

[..SNAKEBIT..]

so whats the deal with the cat skids?
looking to switch over my MTX thinking 153 or 162?
thought I read that a cat 153 worked as a 162 MTX?
mounting the frt arm in the stock position?
is there difference in the cat mountain skids?
can I use any M series
one that works best?
any help would be helpful
Thanks Marty ..SNAKEBIT..

 

[tapex_07]

Yes, this would be great info to know!

 

[pro116]

On a mountain specific site many guys did this I have got on but didn't use it yet.

They made a float skid from 09-10 which is about 30lbs lighter then the yami skid.You need a offset axle (the freedom axle) from mountain machines and 9" wheels on the 153 skid and it boldt right in the nytro mtn 08-09 holes and the apex mtn holes to make a 162 inch.

The skid is set back so you you should run anti stab wheels.

With the nytro being rider forward it does put a little more pressure on the ski's.

 

[pro116]

The 2010 and newer skid are the same as the 08-09 but they have coil springs vs the rear float so i don't know the weight difference.

 

[hugger70mtnmax]

I kinda feel like I am beating a dead hose because I have posted this elsewhere before but I don't like the idea of doing the 153 in the nytro to run a 162.

I have measured the rails between the two and the rails are within 1/4" of each other on the 153 setups. The whole point of going to the 162 track is to get more track on the snow than with the 153. If you have the same rail length as before you aren't getting any more track on the snow. It is just being eaten up by the wheels and the angle up to the drivers. I think the best bet is to mount it like the cat would be with the front arm further forward. I think we all know the cat climbs better in stock form so I'm thinking their way of mounting it is probably the right way.

I don't think it is a thirty pound weight savings. I weighed my 153 setup before putting it into the mountain max and it was 43 pounds with no idler wheels but with scratchers. So I would say more like 25 lbs. I still think it is a great skid to use. Much more cost efficient than some of the aftermarket stuff out there.

 

[hugger70mtnmax]

As far as I know the skid after 08 has not changed. The rails are the same and every one that I have seen at the dealer that is the sno pro model still has the float shock in the rear. They never had the float shock on the front of the skid. I think 07 and later also are set up for 8" wheels also so that is one thing to consider if you don't get a whole setup with a skid that you buy.

 

[rlcofmn]

As far as cat skids go I have done 3 different cat skids now in 3 different tunnels. The 05-06 cat skids had some geometry problems that could be corrected but also the way the rear arm mounted was weird and may pose a problem with mounting in the yamaha since cat brackets are 16 7/8" wide as the brackets offset out on cat's. To put them into a yamaha the easyest way is to just cut down the cross shaft but with the 05-06 it may be a little more difficult. On the 07's you have to cut down the cross shaft as well as the torque arm where the cross shaft goes through and on the 08+ float skids all you have to do is cut of the cross shaft to whatever you tunnel width ends up. Stock width tunnel is 16 5/8" minus whatever your drop bracket is.

I would for sure say run what length you plan on running I dont see any reason not to. Setting back a skid will make for a heavy front end to feel even heavyer And all it takes is a little work to put it in right. But do make sure no matter what you do you run a anti stab kit.

Here is a 07 cat 153 skid next to a 08 MTX 153 skid

here is a picture of my stock bracket from the front of my tunnel compaired to the 1/4" alluminum one I made for my cat swap. You can see where the mounting hold is compaired to stock.

A side veiw of the tunnel showing where the two holes (stock and cat) are at in relation to eachother.

 

[rlcofmn]

Here are pictures of all the different M series skids from oldest to newest.

05-06 (pics I found on SW classifieds)

front arm location with the relocation bracket, stock mounts in the bolt hole just below and to the left of the relocated hole.

rear arm you can see the weird mounting brackets, Im not sure what it would take to narrow a 05-06 rear arm.

07 skid look in post above

This is my 08 float skid on 07 141 rails, they are all basically the same to current except 08 had different rails and 09-current use the same rails. now on 2011 they offer a coil rear spring instead of the float as well but they are all basically the same skid.

 

[Nikolai]

I would look for a 2010 skid. As Rick mentioned, all you have to do to fit the rear is cut the upper cross shaft to width, very easy. 08-2010 skids are all Float shocks with the only differences being rail design. I think there were valving changes too but I'm not 100% positive.

Stock 2008/09MTX skid is 68 lbs, my 141 skid with an anti-stab kit and OFT rear axle/wheels is 43 lbs. The oem rear 2-wheel setup is another 1.5 lbs or so lighter but I wanted strength in the back. I've been really happy running the the 141 skid setback an 1.5" to run the 144 track. Better approach angle and not much ski pressure. If I had a 153 skid I'd run a 155 or 156 track.