What's been your experience with Ski Doo 1200 4 stroke?? Good? Bad?

[craze1cars]

Russ: Chaincase & brake don't generate significant heat (normally). Maybe after a series of moto-cross style racing hard stops your brake temporarily gets hot, or after a 100 mph railroad grade blast your chaincase will get pretty warm. But the big sources of heat are clutches/belt on the left side, and muffler/exhaust on the right side. And of course the engine itself between them...

Dickmsp: there are several grounds. My loose one was located under the battery tray. There's a second one near or at the battery tray also (maybe above it? can't recall). There's a big ground strap integrated with the mag side front engine mount, which grounds the engine to the chassis. Those are the 3 big/obvious ones. There are likely a few other chassis grounds also, but you gotta tear down the sled to access them and I don't know if/where they are off the top of my head. And nearly EVERY single plug/connection on the sled has a terminal that is also a ground wire...so depending on how you look at it, there are MANY ground connections...

 

[dickmsp]

Thanks craze 1, I'll double check as many of those grounds I can find!

 

[dekx]

craze1cars, man your of wealth of info and I appreciate it!

As for the relays, is their specific ones you should carry? When I go to dealer, should I grab all the relays? Which ones do you carry and do you have part#'s?

As I said, I am thinking about the 1200, so this info would be a huge help if I order one.

Again, thanks in advance!

 

[craze1cars]

There's only 2. A 30 amp and a 50 amp. I don't know part #'s off hand, but dealer will. They're something like $12 each I think. They're just generic relays...you can even walk one into NAPA and buy one in a pinch...but price is no different or better.

If you buy a sled, just buy a couple relays with it, wrap em up nicely in a little bubble wrap and tape, and stash them on the sled somewhere safe...it's just like carrying a spare tail light bulb or whatever...they're about that size. You'll probably never use them.

 

[dekx]

Ok buddy, thanks for info!

 

[groomerdriver]

Friend bought a leftover '12 1200 GSX SE and I had a chance to put some quality miles on it. My current sled is a '05 Vector with a M10 rear skid. Couldn't really get a feel for the ride quality as the trails were as flat as highways but one thing I will say (to comment about what another poster here said) is that the 1200 motor is significantly louder to me than my Vector. Maybe it's just because the exhaust is right there by your foot vs. out the back like on my Vector. Nothing I couln't get used to though! 1200 motor sounded pretty decent too.....not like the Cat 4S lawnmower engine sound. Good ergo's, comfortable ride...I could see myself on one!

 

[xcsp]

Came across a '10 1200 GSX LE with 2k miles and the price seems decent, anything to watch for on a 2010 model year 1200? Will have to take a peek at it.

Was thinking of going with a 900 ACE, but for the price, this 1200 may be a better buy at this time. Really do like the XS styling, but for the right price I could live with the XR.

 

[russholio]

It seems from all my reading that most of the bugs were with the '09 models. But I'm new this year to the 1200, so I'm still learning, too. Oh wait, the primary clutch....the E2 is new this year, prior to that it was the TRA, I believe. Lots of guys were swapping those out for PB80's.

 

[craze1cars]

Clutch rattle is about it for the 2010's, assuming it still has original TRA clutch. The TRA did not work well on the 1200's and it took Doo a couple years to figure that out and basically admit it. That's the only potential expensive upgrade...about $500 for either the new Doo E-drive or the aftermarket Powerbloc 80, both work very well and I favor the PB80 for ease and lower expense of tunability, and dirt cheap rebuilds if/when it is needed.

The only other minor thing that's been updated after 2010 was an occasionally leaking oil cooler ($35 kit and a few hours labor to repair).

Otherwise same as any other sled, look for abuse, wrecks, lack of maintenance, and general care.

 

[dickmsp]

Laws Work On Snowmobiled??Lemon LawsSuppose LemonPostWas Up In Hurly AndMadeOutUpTO Krupps, But ItKilledOnMeAgain, AndOfCourseWas RidingWith Yamaha Guys!! Took It Back To Tousley AndThey Replaced The DEss KEy POst ... HopefullyThisIudTheFinal Fix! Had My New Gsx SE 1200 A MonthAnd 4 Days.. Has Had These Problems Every Weekend In 2400 Miles...Ride It Then Bring It In. I Don't Diode

 

[dickmsp]

Sorry Everyone About Last Post, And Speaking Of Things That Don't Work, Anyone Have A Droid RazR Lol!! I' Typing This On My Smart Fone.. So, Do Lemon Laws Work On SnowmobilEs? Tousley Is Getting As Frustrated As I Am... If New Key Post Isn't The Problem, They're Gonna Replace The Computer.. This Is My 7Th Doo, Spring Ordered 2 '06'S , Had Lotsa Problems, Swore Off Doo Till Now, Thought They Were Better Now... Guess Not!

 

[craze1cars]

Man that sucks. You have to be frustrated. To answer your question, NO, lemon laws in most states (Minn included) are only for autos, truck, vans. Period.

If you're looking for legal teeth for your situation, you need to look into Federal law called the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and pray for some help there...

Otherwise it's very simple. Your warranty is a written contract. Read it. If any portion has been violated, and Doo hasn't protected themselves in fine print, you can ask courts to decide how to interpret that written contract.

Have you contacted Ski-Doo directly yet and filed a complaint? That's another alternative to consider.

I do not know what's the best course of action for you. Just ideas.

 

[dickmsp]

Good

Man that sucks. You have to be frustrated. To answer your question, NO, lemon laws in most states (Minn included) are only for autos, truck, vans. Period.

If you're looking for legal teeth for your situation, you need to look into Federal law called the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and pray for some help there...

Otherwise it's very simple. Your warranty is a written contract. Read it. If any portion has been violated, and Doo hasn't protected themselves in fine print, you can ask courts to decide how to interpret that written contract.

Have you contacted Ski-Doo directly yet and filed a complaint? That's another alternative to consider.

I do not know what's the best course of action for you. Just ideas.

HopefullyThis Fixed The Problem. The Good Thing Is I'll Be Able To RIDe IN A Few Days And Test it Out.. Thank God There's Still Good Snow!! I'd Hate To Store It 8 Months Without Knowing Its Fixed. If its Still Acting Up I'll Call Doo Directly. Thanks For The Input, And I'll Post What My Results Are!! Thanks Again!

 

[whitedust]

Good
HopefullyThis Fixed The Problem. The Good Thing Is I'll Be Able To RIDe IN A Few Days And Test it Out.. Thank God There's Still Good Snow!! I'd Hate To Store It 8 Months Without Knowing Its Fixed. If its Still Acting Up I'll Call Doo Directly. Thanks For The Input, And I'll Post What My Results Are!! Thanks Again!

Maybe you can have your dealer work on a deal for a 2014 & your sled for let's say $500? Difficult to trust a sled like that & OEMs have away of making lemons disappear. You need to ask & go proactive stir the pot see what happens nothing to lose.

 

[dickmsp]

Great Idea.. I'll Mention That When I Call Montreal. I May Have To Ride By MyselF This Weeken... I'm A Little GunShy To Trust This Machine On A Solo Ride... I'll Have To Tow My Reliable 2011 Arctic Cat Z1 Lxr Behind Gsx So When THe Gsx Dies I Won't Have To Walk Back To My Truk!!! Now That's Gonna Be Great PR YouTube Video for ski doo!!

 

[whitedust]

Great Idea.. I'll Mention That When I Call Montreal. I May Have To Ride By MyselF This Weeken... I'm A Little GunShy To Trust This Machine On A Solo Ride... I'll Have To Tow My Reliable 2011 Arctic Cat Z1 Lxr Behind Gsx So When THe Gsx Dies I Won't Have To Walk Back To My Truk!!! Now That's Gonna Be Great PR YouTube Video for ski doo!!

Now that would be funny!! When I was a doo guy I found Valcourt to be very helpful & many times called me when I least exspected weeks later & my dealer was outstanding. Unfortunatley moved away from my dealer & Valcourt took a pissy attitude about 800 doo frozen crank & flaking rings left me with $2400 engine bill... f them & hello Yamaha. I bought soooooo many Doo sleds but when chips were down they let me down. I probably would still be buying doo 4s sleds knew I was going 4s but Yamaha guy now & nothing performs like a Yamaha but I would never know if I didn't have that blown doo 800. Strange how things work out sometimes.....Good luck!

 

[dickmsp]

Thanks! I'll Let you Know Good Or BAD What Happens When I Ride It This Weekend...

 

[dickmsp]

So, Looks Like The New Key Post Worked...Only Put ON 120 Miles, But It Ran Perfectly! I Was Planning On Ridin This Weekend To Make Sure It Works.. BuT Not SUre About The Warm WeatherAndPossibLe Rain...

 

[dickmsp]

102 more miles and it runs and starts!!

ran up to fortune bay casino on saturday 3-31-13, put on 102 miles on actually great trails!! Lake vermillion was getting a little squishy with all the snow and warm temps, so i went on the Arrowhead(?) trail, the one that runs along the south side of vermillion and went up to the bar/restaraunt/gas stop in Byuick (?) just a couple thin spots, but smooth trail with lotsa snow.. Anyway, looks like the new dess key post did the trick.. I have about 220 miles on with the new part and it's worked perfectly since.. was also a solo ride, at least I wouldn't have froze--temp was 48 degrees by the time i had to put er up on the trailer and go home..

 

[whitedust]

Sure hope this works out for you it is difficult to see someone have sooooo much trouble with a new sled. I had it happened with a new 96 AC EXT just could not beleive the trouble I had with that sled everything broke engine blew, shocks blew, clutch blew, Es jammed & efi chips were mulitiple choice never did get the bog out of it. Got so bad the dealer loaded the sled in his truck & took back to TRF for help. Traded that nighmare in on doo F3 700 & never went back to AC. Not sure if that was good or bad but understand the fustration.