Opinions on Cat Crossfire

[Hoosier]

Tossing around the idea of buying a Crossfire. See a few out there at what seem to be decent prices. Are there a lot of differences in the years? What to look for on them? Do they have the diamond drive? Is that a problem?

In my group at least the Cat engines haven't had issues, even with high miles.

 

[pez]

I bought a 2010 new. I loved it. I changed the bearing in the diamond drive to the BDX right away. No issues at all.
Sold this past fall because I didn't ride it anymore.

 

[Tracker]

well as you know...the one flaw a cat has and as always had ( I wrote the factory a letter aboot this obviously they never saw it....LOL) the main bearings on the drive shaft ALWAYS fail at 3000 or 3500 miles....like church time...IT NEVER VARIES....LOL....so with that in mind the mileage will signal whether you want to do that or not...and a tip for ya....if ya get a 2004 or up to 2008 I think....you can replace it with a NTN BLUE SIDED SEALED RACING BEARING that wont fail for 10,000 miles....blue is for cold weather applications....red for summer....black for general purposes....that's why the regular bearings have black sides when you buy a tube....don't go there IMO....so you gotta see what year the crossfire is and then see if there is a NTN that fits it...some don't...so then I went to ALLBALLS RACING BEARINGS on machines that NTN don't make a blue sided SEALED one for....they go at aboot 7000 miles....my suggestion....would be this instead...in the past I have taken my BRANDY NEW SLED and changed those bearings before even one mile to NTN....this sled is the 1st one I am not going to do it on....I want to see if cat ever listens to high mileage costumers or not...I have bought sleds from central Indiana several times as they are 5 X cheaper and nicer than others states since theres limited riding here with low low miles....but ya gotta work on em so saving money over new might not work so well or break even in the end....it depends all on condition and price then....but go for this....I did the 8000....too much power....600 perfect...sale ends today...4000 off....my 2c.

http://www.upcat.com/2016-Arctic-Ca...064&in-stock=1&vin=&unitType=1507&unitBrand=3

 

[mezz]

If your in the year 04 to 07, those drives were BDX (Black Diamond eXtreme). Proper maintenance they will not fail, neither will the drive shaft bearings Just sold one with 4498 miles on it & ZERO issues with either. An all around very good & reliable sled
. -Mezz

 

[Hoosier]

well as you know...the one flaw a cat has and as always had ( I wrote the factory a letter aboot this obviously they never saw it....LOL) the main bearings on the drive shaft ALWAYS fail at 3000 or 3500 miles....like church time...IT NEVER VARIES....LOL....so with that in mind the mileage will signal whether you want to do that or not...and a tip for ya....if ya get a 2004 or up to 2008 I think....you can replace it with a NTN BLUE SIDED SEALED RACING BEARING that wont fail for 10,000 miles....blue is for cold weather applications....red for summer....black for general purposes....that's why the regular bearings have black sides when you buy a tube....don't go there IMO....so you gotta see what year the crossfire is and then see if there is a NTN that fits it...some don't...so then I went to ALLBALLS RACING BEARINGS on machines that NTN don't make a blue sided SEALED one for....they go at aboot 7000 miles....my suggestion....would be this instead...in the past I have taken my BRANDY NEW SLED and changed those bearings before even one mile to NTN....this sled is the 1st one I am not going to do it on....I want to see if cat ever listens to high mileage costumers or not...I have bought sleds from central Indiana several times as they are 5 X cheaper and nicer than others states since theres limited riding here with low low miles....but ya gotta work on em so saving money over new might not work so well or break even in the end....it depends all on condition and price then....but go for this....I did the 8000....too much power....600 perfect...sale ends today...4000 off....my 2c.

http://www.upcat.com/2016-Arctic-Ca...064&in-stock=1&vin=&unitType=1507&unitBrand=3

Yeah those new prices are great on the 600's. Bud picked up a 16 zr600 lxr from Ken's earlier this year for $7,500...wish I could swing it right now.

 

[Magnumb]

The only issue I've heard of was with the diamond drive. but I think some of it was due to lack of maintenance.

 

[bayfly]

I have owned a 2006, 2009, and currently have a 2011 and 2013 crossfire. The only real problem I have had has been with the clutch on both the 2011 and the 2013. This is now resolved. I highly recommend purchasing a crossfire. That 2006 was bullet proof.

 

[pippy_b]

Crossfire's are a blast. Get the 141"x 1.5" for an all around awesome sled.

 

[shelby369]

2011 CF 141 600 ............ 7000 miles of pure fun....love it.

 

[jedoyle]

Loved my 2006 Crossfire 700 SP that I had for 3 seasons. That thing was pretty bullet proof. Very little maintenance (changed DD oil annually) & did not have to put much money into it. Sold it with 5XXX miles and no issues.

 

[snobuilder]

Just a fwiw...I don't trust any of the chit bearings that the mannys use.
Pick the seal and grease every year, they will last a good long time with lube

 

[bus8787]

2010 Crossfire 600. 7800 Miles and been bullet Proof. normal wear items only. Secondary clutch wore out at 7000 miles and just
hyfax,wheels,belts. the Normal. Bought a new XF 7000 and now my Son took over the sled but I still love to ride it. Lightweight and
great in the off trail and Motor is still strong at 7800miles.

 

[Modman440]

Had to 06s and no issues with either. Previous owner had replaced bearings ran great did pretty good off trail. Sold to buy my M series

 

[ezra]

the only drives that ere truly problematic were the reverse drives and even those were decent with maintenance. also a 04 to 06 and 09 to 11 are extremely ez to take apart and inspect . the early drives like 04 to 6 were pretty good only thing that would happen to them was the 5 pinion gear would go out after a lot of abuse like over 5k mi and the top bearing on the 09 to 11 was hit or miss but most went 2k to 3k before going bad. . like I said real ez fix . the 5 pinion gear is sort of expensive but not bad I think under 250 at bdx . if looking drain a bit of DD fluid if u see brass shavings the shims on 5 pinion gear on the way out . if u get a 08 with bad drive u can always get a 9 to 11drive switch 2 wires around in the ecu get a new helix and have motor reverse .
I love the crossfire chassis one of the best cat made and best part still has a hood
when looking look down to top of bulk head where steering post bolts on to look for cracks.
look behind secondary for cracks and look a tunnel by fr arm mount for bends . those are the week spots . but I never bent one of mine and have more than 1 time ripped the a arm completely off the sled .
also for some reason the snopros tended to come with the raw tunnel and the a lot standard cam with paint . and spring shocks . IMHO the standards were a better sled the early floats are junk as are raw tunnels

 

[mezz]

Crossfire's are a blast. Get the 141"x 1.5" for an all around awesome sled.

Mine was set up with a 144"x2" along with a set of Cat's Parabolic ski's as well as an 09 adjustable steering post with mnt bars. It is an awesome sled!-Mezz

 

[frnash]

… a set of Cat's Parabolic skies [sic] …

Hmmm … were they blue "skies"? [insert wicked grin here]
(Just an occasional shot across your bow so you know I'm still alive and kicking. Also, consider this your belated birthday greeting — somehow I missed that!) [a 'nuther wicked grin here]

 

[CrossfireLOW]

I've had two crossfire 600s. Bought an 06 dealer demo sled with 150 miles in fall of 07 and rode that for 4 years/5000 miles. Traded the 06 in for a new 2009 (141") holdover in the fall of 2010. I have 5000+ miles on the 09 now. The only mod I've done to them is put on a handlebar riser. Only work I've done on them is basic maintenance before summer storage; greased the suspension, cleaned power valves, changed diamond drive fluid, and replaced worn hyfax.

I think my crossfire is the perfect sled for me anywhere in the mid west, a good trail sled that can handle some deep snow when I find it, thanks to the 141" track.

 

[Attak man]

I had an 07 600 crossfire....it had high miles (9,000 miles), but I bought it cheap...had a friend do a top end rebuild, and rebuild all my shocks...it ran great...though like most cats of the era...it drank oil and gas (9-10 mpg)...it smoked, and vibrated a lot....I switched the ripsaw track out for a 1.3 lug snow cross track (tracks usa).....it was a lot of fun, in ditches, and off trail....I could go just about anywhere...the 600 didn't have enough power for me....if you got a newer 800 with a cobra track for a good deal...jump on it....all around great sleds.

 

[Tracker]

I had an 07 600 crossfire....it had high miles (9,000 miles), but I bought it cheap...had a friend do a top end rebuild, and rebuild all my shocks...it ran great...though like most cats of the era...it drank oil and gas (9-10 mpg)...it smoked, and vibrated a lot....I switched the ripsaw track out for a 1.3 lug snow cross track (tracks usa).....it was a lot of fun, in ditches, and off trail....I could go just about anywhere...the 600 didn't have enough power for me....if you got a newer 800 with a cobra track for a good deal...jump on it....all around great sleds.

yes this is what I thought also....so I purchased the 2016 XF 8000 H.O. LE ES CROSSTREK with the COBRA 1.7....I rode it 150 miles in april may this summer....and I can assure you this....the 600 of today is equal to an 800 of old....that much power.....in the shoot out in NY...without studs...my sled beat all sleds even turbos off the line and only the big big boys got it at the end....and driving it on trail 14 and in the yellow dog plains...mind you now this is with the chip still in yet....I had it laying on top of me and my hip was black and blue for 3 months....it has GOBS...and I mean GOBS of power....I coulda easily gone down to 600 now and be happy...the new motors pull and pull...provided....you get the RPMS DOWN to 7850 or near the sweet spot...if it runs over 7900 it will feel like a slow dog...this is why I recommend a 600 now....my turbo friends...only buy turbos or 1000 or 1200...only big....went down to a ZR 6000 and loves it....the crosstrek is the new crossfire and it hooks up sweet without studs...with studs...its a whole different beast and not recommended IMO....in 3 weeks I will burn out my chip and have 1000 miles on it so I will let you know then EXACTLY whats what....and like everyone says....the used crossfires are awesome also....2011 800 H.O. LE is what I would look for...an LE (limited edition) has 1 inch shafts compared to a standard has 7/8 shafts and components are beefier all around on an LE....a LE standard is better than a regular SNO-PRO

 

[mezz]

Hmmm … were they blue "skies"? [insert wicked grin here]
(Just an occasional shot across your bow so you know I'm still alive and kicking. Also, consider this your belated birthday greeting — somehow I missed that!) [a 'nuther wicked grin here]

Good to hear from you Frank and Thank you! For both the shot across the bow and the belated wishes. What can I say, I'm running with technology that doesn't exactly understand, plus, admittedly, I was not paying attention. Thanks again.-Mezz