Season end near-Going to say officially, Winder best sled ever!

[KnappAttack]

Big melt down this week and looks like our season is done here locally. Had a great ride last Friday with my buds and wanted to say I can finally call the Winder my favorite machine I've ever thrown a leg over. It has a fantastic combination of all the things I want in a snowmobile that are important to me.

I've been critical of the Winder in the past as I've never had it just perfect, or it was always lacking somewhere or blowing belts or rollers, and I don't like sleds that give a person grief. I don't know how long I've really owned the Winder, it certainly has not been perfect and has made for some major frustration, but I've stuck with it because I love the ergonomics, ride and handling. I have always loved the basics of the machine, but we know how problematic they can be in the driveline, belt and roller department when you pour the power to it, even in stock configuration it can be less than stellar.

I can now say that I have my machine perfected in all the problematic areas and the issues associated with running big power are behind me. The sled is fast as all get out and finally wows me with no roller, belt or driveline issues. Its taken years to get it to this point and I have no intentions to get a new machine this spring.
I had told my wife I was going to order a new machine the spring but after tuning and riding many new turbo sleds, I just don't feel the need. I love my sled!

I feel my machine is as tight at 6000 miles as any of the brand new machines I've worked on this year and I find it actually rides a wee bit better than the new low slung SRX's as well. I'm really surprised on how well its wearing, or I should say not wearing, if it was a DOO, the seat would be sacked out and shot, the front end loose and needing attention with bushings and parts along with the rear suspension. I'm actually quite impressed with how well its holding up from that standpoint. I love everything about it! I can ride it faster than any other machine I've ever owned or been on and be comfortable.

The only thing I don't like is its a little heavy. Next year I will go back and put a lightweight battery in it which will help. I prefer to ride it will a low fuel load vs a full fuel load. It does not handle heavy however. Nice easy steering compared to any of the lighter Doos by a long shot. What an amazing front end!

I feel like I can finally say it my favorite machine ever, but it took me too long to perfect it, partially because of the poor winters we have had and trying multiple pieces and components, sometimes over and over again to find just the right combination of parts. I wanted to see what worked and what didn't and try all the combos for myself, that just how I am, so it took a while. I had to evolve it over time when we had snow, so it took a while.

Anyway, I look forward to next season as I return to work next week. I really feel I have the greatest trail sled I've ever ridden to look forward to next winter waiting for me, I'm very, very happy with it. Best machine I've ever owned.

 

[swampcat]

Time well spent, pays off. Congratulations.

 

[SidewinderConvert]

Congrats, I hope I can get there. I truly love the winder when it is running right. I just have had something go wrong almost every weekend I had it out this year. It has been something different every time so I am hopeful I will get it there but it isn't encouraging when basic things like track tensioners fail (most recent failure).

 

[Macheater]

Big melt down this week and looks like our season is done here locally. Had a great ride last Friday with my buds and wanted to say I can finally call the Winder my favorite machine I've ever thrown a leg over. It has a fantastic combination of all the things I want in a snowmobile that are important to me.

I've been critical of the Winder in the past as I've never had it just perfect, or it was always lacking somewhere or blowing belts or rollers, and I don't like sleds that give a person grief. I don't know how long I've really owned the Winder, it certainly has not been perfect and has made for some major frustration, but I've stuck with it because I love the ergonomics, ride and handling. I have always loved the basics of the machine, but we know how problematic they can be in the driveline, belt and roller department when you pour the power to it, even in stock configuration it can be less than stellar.

I can now say that I have my machine perfected in all the problematic areas and the issues associated with running big power are behind me. The sled is fast as all get out and finally wows me with no roller, belt or driveline issues. Its taken years to get it to this point and I have no intentions to get a new machine this spring.
I had told my wife I was going to order a new machine the spring but after tuning and riding many new turbo sleds, I just don't feel the need. I love my sled!

I feel my machine is as tight at 6000 miles as any of the brand new machines I've worked on this year and I find it actually rides a wee bit better than the new low slung SRX's as well. I'm really surprised on how well its wearing, or I should say not wearing, if it was a DOO, the seat would be sacked out and shot, the front end loose and needing attention with bushings and parts along with the rear suspension. I'm actually quite impressed with how well its holding up from that standpoint. I love everything about it! I can ride it faster than any other machine I've ever owned or been on and be comfortable.

The only thing I don't like is its a little heavy. Next year I will go back and put a lightweight battery in it which will help. I prefer to ride it will a low fuel load vs a full fuel load. It does not handle heavy however. Nice easy steering compared to any of the lighter Doos by a long shot. What an amazing front end!

I feel like I can finally say it my favorite machine ever, but it took me too long to perfect it, partially because of the poor winters we have had and trying multiple pieces and components, sometimes over and over again to find just the right combination of parts. I wanted to see what worked and what didn't and try all the combos for myself, that just how I am, so it took a while. I had to evolve it over time when we had snow, so it took a while.

Anyway, I look forward to next season as I return to work next week. I really feel I have the greatest trail sled I've ever ridden to look forward to next winter waiting for me, I'm very, very happy with it. Best machine I've ever owned.

Now if we can just take a DNA sample of your sled and send it off to Yamaha and Cat for cloning!!!

 

[KnappAttack]

Now if we can just take a DNA sample of your sled and send it off to Yamaha and Cat for cloning!!!

Isn't that the truth!
When I think to back to all the tings I've changed and tried its kind of mind boggling. Lots of things I have forgotten about until I see someone have issues say with the track adjusters, ROV or the little nit picky things. You forget about all the little items...

Then you think about all the $$$ spent just testing different things. OUCH!

Doesn't matter, if we're having fun with it I guess. Still the finest machine I've ever owned finally, which is saying a lot because I really liked my 1200 Doos both NA and turboed. And the Simons powered Apex I had was a powerhouse too, now this Winder eclipses all of those machines. Not saying there wasn't a time I wanted to run over it with a dozer and crush it, because I guarantee you it was many, many times.

 

[jonlafon1]

Still hoping for one more ride in a week in the UP. Hoping to bust 12k on the old girl!! Just broke in motor eh? I keep asking myself what to do next year. Just went through the sled after a long 10 days of riding in SUB ZERO temps. Antifreeze level? Check! Clutches? Check!! Belt looks awesome. Only thing I found is a slightly leaking front shock under the limiter straps. Nothing major or new. That shock gets worked over hard. But I just don’t know if I can order a new one unless the little things that we all have done get fixed. It’s so hard to believe how close these sleds are to being really great and very reliable for the power. Come on Cat/Yamaha step up and fix the issues. They are not completely impossible to fix!! Just do it!!!
Still loving this chassis and engine combo. I might go for 20k. It’s really going to take some major &$it for me to jump on a spring order. We all will never agree on everything about these things but I’m betting we all smile a little when you feel that pull that just keeps pulling up over a hundo. Just not many sleds can do that!! Also the combination of ideas and fixes that WE ALL came up with including vendors like BOP have in my eyes really made these things reliable and just plain awesome

 

[XP123]

I remember back when I first got my Winder and posted how impressed I was with the ride and handling especially the front suspension and you thought I was nuts Mike.
I will still say it today. The pro cross chassis steers and handles as good as anything I have ever owned. When I first was riding it with my wife she said I was riding much faster than I did with my 1200 Doo.
It never felt as heavy as it was and anything other than off trail it was great.

 

[SledFreak]

Still hoping for one more ride in a week in the UP. Hoping to bust 12k on the old girl!! Just broke in motor eh? I keep asking myself what to do next year. Just went through the sled after a long 10 days of riding in SUB ZERO temps. Antifreeze level? Check! Clutches? Check!! Belt looks awesome. Only thing I found is a slightly leaking front shock under the limiter straps. Nothing major or new. That shock gets worked over hard. But I just don’t know if I can order a new one unless the little things that we all have done get fixed. It’s so hard to believe how close these sleds are to being really great and very reliable for the power. Come on Cat/Yamaha step up and fix the issues. They are not completely impossible to fix!! Just do it!!!
Still loving this chassis and engine combo. I might go for 20k. It’s really going to take some major &$it for me to jump on a spring order. We all will never agree on everything about these things but I’m betting we all smile a little when you feel that pull that just keeps pulling up over a hundo. Just not many sleds can do that!! Also the combination of ideas and fixes that WE ALL came up with including vendors like BOP have in my eyes really made these things reliable and just plain awesome

You are definitely right about the Pull. I told my friends that I was sick of buying sleds where people says a sled hits a 100 with No problem, only to find out it struggles to get past 95. In the TCAT/Sidewinder you really see how hard it pulls even in stock form. It does Not really matter about conditions, it just drives through the C Note like nothing. I raced my buddies 2020 850 BackCountry (over the weekend) 3 times the other day and it was no problem and he had the traction advantage over my 1" track with his 2" PowderMax and the conditions that day were at 0 celcius and very loose conditions. Only 1 times it got my TCAT out of the hole by about 2 lengths and by 400 feet the cat just started to pull by it fast and kept going where it was time to let off. The first race I came off even and I was about 5 lengths on it on, a 1000 foot run. So, let me say I am impressed and it only has 250 miles on it and its stock besides 144 studs. I really cant imagine running 300HP all the time in the trail. So, when the time comes it will get the 270SM tune. lol.

 

[KnappAttack]

I remember back when I first got my Winder and posted how impressed I was with the ride and handling especially the front suspension and you thought I was nuts Mike.
I will still say it today. The pro cross chassis steers and handles as good as anything I have ever owned. When I first was riding it with my wife she said I was riding much faster than I did with my 1200 Doo.
It never felt as heavy as it was and anything other than off trail it was great.

You are correct Joe, although I had to try it for myself. One ride on my Buddies SideWinder, even though I outran him on my turbo 1200 in a straight line, I knew I had to have one. I fought with the Doo in the corners and on the straights and nothing I did would keep the skis on the ground like I wanted. I knew I was done with the Doos and had to get a Winder, it was only a week or two later at the most and I had the Winder in my garage. Now a short 3-4 seasons later I figure I have it perfected. WHT am I going to tinker on next season? LOL! I suppose I'll have to work on the aesthetics and graphics or something along those lines... My hope is we at least get some snow to ride on next season, this season was pretty sad to say the least...

 

[BlueByYou2000]

Agree 100%. My Sidewinder is easily the favorite sled I’ve ever owned. I knew early on thanks to guys like you about the problems, and addressed them before I rode it. The ROV delete was huge. I did have the case split and resealed at about 1000 miles. I have not changed anything in the chain case. However am checking tension often. I believe this is what has helped with the lack of problems with my chain case. I have replaced primary rollers twice in 2800 miles just for piece of mind. Secondary rollers were changed almost right away (stm) after I tuned and clutched it. Factory rollers already had flat spots after 200 miles. I used to wrench on my sleds all the time but have grown less fond of that as I age. So from the get go, with the tune, Allen Ulmer set me up with a perfect clutch setup for my the EVO tune. It worked great but did blow 1 belt in at the 400 mile mark. After that, I changed to Precision EFI 280 tune and adjusted clutching accordingly. From that day forward my clutch temps are just perfect, haven’t blown a belt in 2400 miles. Here’s what crazy, years ago I could tell you what my center to center was as well as off set. This one, I have no idea. Why may you ask? Well because it doesn’t blow belts and my clutch temps are absolutely perfect. So why would I change a thing? Every time I ride this sled, I fall more in love with it. I did add a MSD launch master and sprinkled in some chisels. Terry at Thunder Products found me a spring that had used for testing that raised my engagement enough to make the a MSD worth while. I have a fried with a ported 850 Doo with a 40 HP shot of nitrous and my sled comes out exactly with him, then pulls away very rapidly. These sleds setup are absolutely insane. They are so bad #*$&@, and everyone you ride with knows it! Sidewinder Power!

 

[1nc 2000]

Yes I am very happy with my winder also!
It is set up now as a rock solid sled and just love to ride it!
Shout out to everyone for all the help,
Mike Knapp, Clutchmaster, Jonafon1, Fatchance, Yamamark, Barn of Parts, Hurricane
And all the other vendors keeping this site rocking.
The fixes and updates to my sled would not have happened if it wasn't for the great information here.

 

[yamahahaapex]

You are correct Joe, although I had to try it for myself. One ride on my Buddies SideWinder, even though I outran him on my turbo 1200 in a straight line, I knew I had to have one. I fought with the Doo in the corners and on the straights and nothing I did would keep the skis on the ground like I wanted. I knew I was done with the Doos and had to get a Winder, it was only a week or two later at the most and I had the Winder in my garage. Now a short 3-4 seasons later I figure I have it perfected. WHT am I going to tinker on next season? LOL! I suppose I'll have to work on the aesthetics and graphics or something along those lines... My hope is we at least get some snow to ride on next season, this season was pretty sad to say the least...

You can use the spare time and come to Sask to find this boost issue I’m still chasing. Lol

 

[XP123]

You are correct Joe, although I had to try it for myself. One ride on my Buddies SideWinder, even though I outran him on my turbo 1200 in a straight line, I knew I had to have one. I fought with the Doo in the corners and on the straights and nothing I did would keep the skis on the ground like I wanted. I knew I was done with the Doos and had to get a Winder, it was only a week or two later at the most and I had the Winder in my garage. Now a short 3-4 seasons later I figure I have it perfected. WHT am I going to tinker on next season? LOL! I suppose I'll have to work on the aesthetics and graphics or something along those lines... My hope is we at least get some snow to ride on next season, this season was pretty sad to say the least...

We had a decent season here Mike. My wife and I put on over 1700 miles so far. I have a 22 900tr X ordered for next season and hopefully will be taking a couple Quebec trips as long as this COVID crap is gone.

 

[justinator]

Nice post Mike. I hope when cat updates the chassis they dont stray tooo far away. Theres alot of updates that they could do and possibly update some body work and a bigger better gauge etc and really make the guys who love it, love it more. Ive owned a fair amount of sleds and this one is my favorite thus far. Its always a bit of give and take and you have to prioritize whats important to you when choosing a snowmobile. I had a 2010 doo renegade that I really liked. It pulled hard for an 800 at the time, rode great and handled nice and flat. Was always in the shop for stuff, not major but always something it seemed. Then at 2200 miles engine took a dump and realized I spent more time worrying while riding then enjoying it. Went to a 2013 switchback assault after and while that proved to be much more reliable overall it left alot to be desired in terms of ride quality and handling. With the sidewinder xtx I have what I feel to be a good balance of ride quality/handling/appearance and reliability as fleecer had filled me in on necessary fixes and things to keep an eye on and combined with all the other info on this forum I havent encountered any trouble. And the power is always a hoot!

 

[SideHogger]

Thanks to all you guys on this forum, my sled has become gas and go now. The one thing I must mention is that I have used the Star Backers for over 5000 miles now with 1.52 INS Hornet studs and they are really incredible. Never a bent stud only carbide tips have fallen out. And I always preferred double backers like many on here. And believe me, we ride over and on everything you can imagine here in the TRUE UPSTATE NEW YORK! Lmao.......Many thanks again to all who post and help on this forum!!!!