How many miles on your Sidewinder?

[Turboflash]

Stock track for first 400 miles unstudded.
Ice Attack is a 1.22” with 258 pre studded.

I really think that the sled had an air pocket in the cooling system that just would not purge.

Limp mode occurs on my sled at 211 and that was my norm many times on most days if trails were not perfect conditions, even with scratchers down I had to run at a good clip to keep it from entering limp mode.
Sled had a second mode at 246 on mine.

Have not seen limp mode for many many miles now!

Glad you got the over-heating figured out. IMO, IF you were overheating that much, there was air in system somehow. The best way I found was to elevate the front end at least 3' more than rear. Raise right-front more than left-front. Loosen the plug on the turbo coolant tank. Run engine and keep that plug loose until coolant is coming out of it. Then, tilt right side down and have left side (thermostat housing) higher than anything else. Run engine and keep topping it off until it's full. Key is to have front of sled about 3-4' higher than back. I used my engine hoist and a sling to lift front up high. I have never seen high temps and never gone into limp even on hard icy trails. But, I do have scratchers and if trail is icy, I put them down.

 

[Motorhead]

Glad you got the over-heating figured out. IMO, IF you were overheating that much, there was air in system somehow. The best way I found was to elevate the front end at least 3' more than rear. Raise right-front more than left-front. Loosen the plug on the turbo coolant tank. Run engine and keep that plug loose until coolant is coming out of it. Then, tilt right side down and have left side (thermostat housing) higher than anything else. Run engine and keep topping it off until it's full. Key is to have front of sled about 3-4' higher than back. I used my engine hoist and a sling to lift front up high. I have never seen high temps and never gone into limp even on hard icy trails. But, I do have scratchers and if trail is icy, I put them down.

Yeah it was stubborn. Did what you said except maybe not 3’ but many times at about 2’ or so I am guessing!

I knew it had to be air whereas my buddies rtx ran cool all the time! Should have stood it up on it’s tail huh!

 

[Turboflash]

Yeah it was stubborn. Did what you said except maybe not 3’ but many times at about 2’ or so I am guessing!

I knew it had to be air whereas my buddies rtx ran cool all the time! Should have stood it up on it’s tail huh!

Yeah, LOL. I picked mine up with engine hoist and pretty much stood it up on rear snow flap. Air burped out and all was good. Glad it worked out for ya.

 

[slimjim2525]

Did not find at all that raising the front end to burp the coolant system was best. IMO the best way to burp the system was to keep it flat. With the engine running, and the radiator cap off, forcefully compress the rear suspension 4 to 5 times. If you have someone looking at the filler neck, they will be shocked how much air will come out. Don't ask how I know.

 

[craigwsrx]

Well I just got back from a trip to Quebec we do every year and I now have 19,336 miles and 637 hrs. Will have over 20,000 by seasons end. Those talking about overheating and running hot, I did install BOP radiator kit last season and it does help a lot. Run with 5 other Sidewinders and mine did not get as hot in hard froze trail conditions. Temp will still climb if you idle to long but it sure prolongs overheating. Haven't seen many talking about BOP kit but it does help.

 

[1nc 2000]

Well I just got back from a trip to Quebec we do every year and I now have 19,336 miles and 637 hrs. Will have over 20,000 by seasons end. Those talking about overheating and running hot, I did install BOP radiator kit last season and it does help a lot. Run with 5 other Sidewinders and mine did not get as hot in hard froze trail conditions. Temp will still climb if you idle to long but it sure prolongs overheating. Haven't seen many talking about BOP kit but it does help.

How's your belt life on your sled?
I haven't blown a belt on my sled since I beefed up the tunnel with that stainless steel plate this past fall.

 

[craigwsrx]

Believe or not, belt life has never been a problem. I have never blown one, ( knock on wood) getting up to 4,000 miles and change them just because. I don't ride like a maniac but haven't lost a race yet. Have been running TD tune since 5,000 mile mark, top tune max spool 17. Ride UP mostly but big trips to Quebec yearly.

 

[02ViperMody44]

My 20 SRX overheats bad, runs at least 15-20F or more compared to my buddy's '17 LTX. Removed the goggle bag, added water wetter from the get-go. Going to try jacking it up and purging it I guess. 1340 miles

 

[craigwsrx]

Try burping it per slimjim. He was on our Quebec trip and we had an Artic Cat 998 with us that kept overheating so they burped it like Jim said and it didn't overheat again. You have to treat them differently but yours seems to got to hot to quick. Google bad delete for sure.

 

[SqueezeER]

Geeze what a depressing forum....You guys riding these things in the summer or what?

 

[craigwsrx]

Sorry, I meant goggle bag, get rid of it.

 

[wwolfe68]

just curious...jut completed first weekend on my new 20' SW. I saw 175 when on thinly snow covered road. That was highest temp I saw and did a lot of lake riding and that was 168-172. My question is there a limp mode that kicks in once the temp gets to a certain number? Or does the yellow light come on screen? just curious what controls are built into the SW. I have not removed my goggle bag but my dealer did suggest to do it to allow hot air to escape. do like putting my phone there as it keeps it warm..but minor compared to keep the SW running cool. thanks for the input

 

[Motorhead]

Geeze what a depressing forum....You guys riding these things in the summer or what?

Just stating facts, and the fact is my overheating days are over and have been over since the beginning of last season!

Now mine never gets hot and my neighbors cat7000/Viper overheats when mine is still doing fine.

So for me night and day difference. Just letting Winder owners know of my fix Incase I can be of some help because I know It is discouraging when yours is hot and other models are doing fine on same trail conditions!

My Winder is an animal with cool trail manners if wanted!! Can’t beat that.

 

[Motorhead]

just curious...jut completed first weekend on my new 20' SW. I saw 175 when on thinly snow covered road. That was highest temp I saw and did a lot of lake riding and that was 168-172. My question is there a limp mode that kicks in once the temp gets to a certain number? Or does the yellow light come on screen? just curious what controls are built into the SW. I have not removed my goggle bag but my dealer did suggest to do it to allow hot air to escape. do like putting my phone there as it keeps it warm..but minor compared to keep the SW running cool. thanks for the input

On my machine Limp mode and light happened at 211. Limp mode is just that. It allows your sled to continue moving but with an engine skip which limits rpms and throttle response. My best guess is two things are working at the same time, ignition system and fuel systems are working to limit revs and add more fuel.

 

[rock doc]

Thanks for sharing all the great tips. I have been trying to resolve chronic moderate high temperature on my 141 xtx. I have studs and run with scratchers. Seems like my machine runs consistently at 186 (easy cruising) to 193 (hard pull). Exchangers get hot. Everything seems to be working and it rapidly cools into the 170s down if I turn the machine off for 2-3 minutes and restart it. I have changed out the thermostat once but the machine did get pretty hot once and the temp light came one due to a loose clamp. Hearing that the thermostats are very finicky so perhaps it is not opening correctly?

I had one other thought....are the radiator caps known to be an issue? Thinking perhaps it is releasing pressure to the expansion tanks too early.

All that aside...any issues with drilling a few holes in the thermostat to allow more flow? I did notice the rear exchanger is only warm when I stop to check it. The snow need to melt off it to get hot. My apex had an added rear cooler that was always hot which may suggest a flow rate issue with my sidewinder.