Answers ...

Question 1) Yes. Sort of.

a) You pull the skis up on a hard lauch or over a bump or jump.

b) In the right condtions you can do a sideways wheelie on one ski for as far as you can go in straight line.

Question 2) Sorry. I can't help with that one. I sold my snowmachines when I left Alaska.

1995 AC ZR 580 EFI Mountain Cat
2001 Yamaha 700 Mountain Max 141

I generally use boiling water on the exhaust manifold of the snowmachines. Same deal but safer perhaps; can also be used on stubborn/iced carbs without worry about an open flame. Obvious precautions apply in applying water/steam around a fuel system, of course, to avoid exacerbating an existing problem.

I know my sled will stand up on it's tail. I put a clutch kit in it which really changed the performance on this thing and it flat out rips for a 600. My wifes would probably stand up but she doesn't ride it as hard as I do. These newer machines perform so much better compared to technology from 10 years ago. I'd let you rip on mine, if you wreck it, it gives me an excuse to buy a new one!

We have a great time on these things and we get to see lots of country most folks don't get to see. We're staying at a friends cabin up near Talkeetna this coming weekend to watch the start of the Iditarod and will be taking lots of pictures. Good times!

I am with las on the snowmachine style....I have 2 Bravo LT's but I do have 1 Bearcat 570. Put a set of Kimpex ski skins on the Bravo and some 6" carbides and it is just one fine lil' runner. The Bearcat has all the footing I need and plenty of power. The mechanical shifter is very good to have. The Bravo's I use when I trap, am considering a Comet 102 for one of them soon.

I understand that the 2 strokes will be "underfire" soon so am currently studying a 4 stroke....question is what model for my mountain travels and trapping that "will" start in the cold weather.

What do you mean by "underfire"? If you don't want to spend the bucks on a new sled especially a $10K - $15k 4-stroker, just rebuild what you have. That is what I have been doing.

kusko......I have heard and am led to believe the standards which we are so use to may just change. The days of 2 strokes of any kind are waning thin. Most recreational dealerships are becoming aware of EPA req/changes and most if not all of us will have to deal with it.
I wanted to know about the power and efficiencies of a 4 stroke sno-mobile and its ability to start when cold. I have used many a big atv 4 strokers and still own one 750 EFI King Quad...try starting that at -15 degrees.
I continued to perserver(sp) and found the 600 ACE in a Tundra to possibly be the next purchase...money be damned!
Wish I could use a nice rippin sled like some of them city dudes use but have no absolute use of them
The sales fella at the Fairbanks dealership just mentioned the cold start up temp is -35 max on the 600 ACE..seriously?
Just passing my day by with my grandaughter here so...."word" of the day is 4 stroke.
hope I did not deter from the original post

Nothing yet is beating a simple old piston port two stroke for starting with some ease in the cold. And a fan-cooled is the best way to insure the ability to cool the engine when running at work speed. Liquid-cooleds - and I like them- require much more maintenance and rebuilding out on the coast where snow is hard. I can't imagine having to go through a four-stroke engine on a regular basis due to overheating damage. (And don't forget to keep the crankcase breather clear or you'll blow seals.)

This is old news, they've been talking about this for many years now. They are hoping that by putting hard restrictions on 2 stroke motors that the manufacturers will stop making them but Iserioulsy doubt that will eve happen.

4 strokers are nice but they are heavy and don't have much power compared to a comparable 2 stroke. Using 1 for trails and such should be fine but not for hard mountain riding and boondocking.

The problem with cold starting a 4 stroke is the oil in the crancase that turns to molases on cold temps. It is intrinsic in how the machines opperate and you'll need a means of heating that oil to get the machine to start in exterme cold. They also tend to be electric start only in the bigger cc's.

2 strokes can clean up their emisions with direct cylinder fuel injection which also improves fuel economy, but then you have the complexity of a computer for the fuel injection. Also air cooled engines require more fuel as it effectively works to help cool the cylinders.