xsivhp
Active member
Is this swap worth doing? How hard is it?
Thanks,
XS
Thanks,
XS
Mtnviper
Member
I have one in mine (03 1M 136"). Is it worth it? Yes I think so, but it depends on what your looking for. I'm a mountain rider, so less weight is always a good thing. The 1M skid/brackets weight saving's is 18 pounds (136" to 136"). The ride and weight transfer are also improved. About the only draw back I've noticed, is a little more track slap noise on de-cell due to the looser track tension spec's that Cat uses.
Over the summer I pulled the skid out and made some minor mod's/improvements to work with the Viper chasis.
I cut and angled and re-welded the tips of the rails up slightly. This is to reduce track clip vibration, it wasn't bad but I noticed it. Pulling up the limiter strap would do the same thing, however I like the way it handles/transfers with the limiter strap's all the way out.
The 1M 136" comes with 6 3/8" rear idlers. Since I do some racing with the sled, I decided to convert the rear's to 7 1/8" wheel's to try and reduce some high speed rolling friction. I ended up modifing the rails and building an off-set axle. The off-set axle is required because the smaller 6 3/8" wheels are still required, inside the rails to clear the rear lower arm. That was one of those project's that turned out to be more work then I thought!
If I was to do another skid, I'd probably just leave the 6 3/8" wheels on it. 
Putting the skid in isn't to bad of a job, the front and rear mounts have to be relocated. The Cat tunnel (not Firecat) is 3/16" wider then the Yamaha tunnel. I just removed 3/32" off the outside edges of the front arm and it slid right in.
Over the summer I pulled the skid out and made some minor mod's/improvements to work with the Viper chasis.
I cut and angled and re-welded the tips of the rails up slightly. This is to reduce track clip vibration, it wasn't bad but I noticed it. Pulling up the limiter strap would do the same thing, however I like the way it handles/transfers with the limiter strap's all the way out.
The 1M 136" comes with 6 3/8" rear idlers. Since I do some racing with the sled, I decided to convert the rear's to 7 1/8" wheel's to try and reduce some high speed rolling friction. I ended up modifing the rails and building an off-set axle. The off-set axle is required because the smaller 6 3/8" wheels are still required, inside the rails to clear the rear lower arm. That was one of those project's that turned out to be more work then I thought!
If I was to do another skid, I'd probably just leave the 6 3/8" wheels on it. Putting the skid in isn't to bad of a job, the front and rear mounts have to be relocated. The Cat tunnel (not Firecat) is 3/16" wider then the Yamaha tunnel. I just removed 3/32" off the outside edges of the front arm and it slid right in.
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Mtnviper
Member
ModMMax
New member
I am using a cat skid in a MM. Much lighter. Transfer is better suited to mountain riding that the stock one. Agressive trails, stock guys are better off. For my purposes, I would not go back. There are pictures in a post of mine under mountain riding. Thread is called "new for next season". Installation is a bunch of thinking and measuring. 32" between mounting centers for most cat skids. I built rear brackets when I used the stock tunnel. Modified MPI's when I changed the tunnel. Hope this helps you.
xsivhp
Active member
Nice work! How did you know where to mount the cat skid in the Yammie tunnel?
Mtnviper
Member
I'm lucky enough to have a friend that lives 1/4 mile from me, that has a 03 600 1M. Since it has the same skid as I'm using, he let me take measurements off they're sled.
I did have to compensate for my 9 tooth drivers, the Cat has 10 tooths. For the front to rear mount spacing, I made a giant set of caliper's. Then it's possible to measure off the mounting bolts around the running board. I didn't want to ask the guy if I could take his skid out, just to get measurements! In this case the spec is 31 1/4". The tool also came in handy for scribing the location marks in the tunnel.
I did have to compensate for my 9 tooth drivers, the Cat has 10 tooths. For the front to rear mount spacing, I made a giant set of caliper's. Then it's possible to measure off the mounting bolts around the running board. I didn't want to ask the guy if I could take his skid out, just to get measurements! In this case the spec is 31 1/4". The tool also came in handy for scribing the location marks in the tunnel.
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