2017 850 Summit Issues

This video is from 2016. No longer have the sled. LOST A PILE OF MONEY ON IT. Funny all the updates that doo came out with in 2018!
If you own one of these sleds, vent your belt covers and take out your sway bar links, it may help you! Hopefully you get a good one, there are far more good ones than bad!

[@Velislide]

First year sleds of a new chassis are usually going to have issues. Early adopters need to know what they are signing up for.

[@jefflemke3176]

Pretty sure I saw this sled getting parted out on eBay last month. Couldn’t forget all the pink.

[@18jivan137]

Tried climbing a rock ledge on an 06 Renegade X and just smashed into it. No damage to A-Arms, spindles or skis, Snapped the bulk head in half. Lots of hours drilling out rivets haha. Good luck my man!

[@sethspring5609]

wow that sucks.. I would contact them because that could be a porous cast which allowed that to crack that easy. it happens in production and could have been missed.. Best of luck to you!!!!

[@Joesac]

Grip and rip chassis re inforcement is used on a lot of doo not sure if they have it for the new style but I'm sure it would have helped

[@baker967]

i currently have an axys but love the new 850s. but the sway bar area damage would have made my heart drop :(

[@klow7361]

I broke the tab off my side panel also. did not hit anything do not know how it broke.

[@slangingiron4016]

Found a good deal on a very low miles 2017 ski doo. Should I not but it because of all this? Or should I get it and have all the recalls handled.

[@MrSeebobski]

Thanks for telling your experience. I don't feel you bashed anyone. I ride cat 2011 m8 now and they all have their own quirks. Find a brand that you can except the quirks and live with them. I would try to get it fixed under warranty as U never know. I got my gas tank replaced with labor being 2nd owner free of charge. It was a known design flaw I saw lots of complaints that was handled case by case. Should be a recall on the filler neck being to thin. One thing I suggest is ask more than one dealer and may get lucky as with the gas tank some people posted the dealer wanted to charge and make, I mean take $$. The big flaw with cat is how they treat the dealer's as you know working for one I believe U said. Sucks to have a new sled and a few rides early in the season. I feel for U as I can't ride for 6 weeks because of my recovery from emergency surgery to remove infected hardware in left leg. I hope your sled recovery goes well as my leg is doing!

[@fxnytroxtxFPP]

i broke that flimsy clip on my mxz too. the worst part is you have to buy the whole upper airbox unit to replace. that being said it is the best sled I've owned! i think doo will fix most of these problems next year

[@CameronPerdue]

Rode my 13 cat since new, hit a lot of things good! Like real good, I bent a lower a arm once. Gotta love their toughness

[@ChuckBeefOG]

The Assaults are tough from Poo, not sure the same can be said for the Pro line, but they are over 50lbs lighter so... I have hit numerous old poles on hydro lines and rocks ski on with my assault. I twisted a loop even once but no arms. Nice skidoo

[@TheIrongutz]

I had many doo's over the years and finally switched due to engineering issues that they won't admit to.

[@lifeupnorth9385]

Been there with previous gens, I'm surprised they never improved the bulkheads... I've had to pay out of pocket for a rental sled's new bulkhead after my gf clipped a tree doing like 3 mph, twisted the whole thing. First thing I did when I bought my '11 backcountry is to put the aftermarket bulkhead strengthening brackets and a carbon fiber skidplate, never had any issues, and I've hit rocks/stumps/ and a tree head on.

[@Rumblefan]

Yup. Anyone who’s been riding long enough pretty much knows the bulkhead issue has been around since the REV came out in 2003 MY. I like Ski-Doos so much though that I’m willing to continue to buy them and just buy aftermarket strengtheners like you mentioned. But that means we’re probably part of the problem as to why skidoo doesn’t fix it. They probably think “oh well we’re still the leader in snowmobile sales and there’s plenty of aftermarket options for them to fix the issue, so screw it!”

[@aaroncoggan7455]

My buddy of mine bought one of these sleds and he drives his sleds/stuff hard and he was going roughly 20 mph and hit a tree in the same spot and nothing happend, I personally think that it was a flaw in the metal but ether way they are a really good sled.

[@mik_maccc]

glad I got a 16' so they can work out the issues in the next couple years. hopefully doo will get smart and use a weldment or a billet suspension module instead of cast.. or at least use a different material than aluminum...

[@iBackshift]

Holy shit buddy...i cant believe that's cracked like that. What...the...fk? The second day out i disconnected the sway bar, love the sled handling better without it. My heart goes out to ya bud - makes my stomach turn. I would talk with skidoo anyway about this.

[@jgodawa13]

This is the price you pay for having the first generation of any machine!You get to play r&d for whatever manufacturer you buy from

[@Silly46337]

Thank you! Cast bulk heads are a huge reason I'll never buy another ski doo. Would much rather buy a new a arm or tow it out than rebuild the whole front end (which I've done multiple times with doo). Polaris is the best. Smash a rock at 20mph and one arm is destroyed but bolt a new one on in about 20 minutes and you're back riding at 1/10 the cost.

[@jeremiahlf]

MFiskeaux Polaris switched to a cast aluminum bulkhead in 2011 that is glued to the tunnel.

[@WilliamStewart1]

MFiskeaux I've seen first hand cracked bulkheads on Axys RMK's. There's a reason they're the lightest sleds, paper thin material.

[@skippygaming7216]

Go watch powermodz he hits stuff all the time on his rmk and he only bends a arms so I call bullshit

[@alancall5113]

I love Skidoo also. tired of rebuilding 2 stroke but I switch teams got a Arctic Cat 1100 Turbo 2012. I got it right now after big expense clutch problems reverse problems. manufacture did not want to notice there was a problem. going with castparts in the bulkhead not good. definite design flaw. cast aluminum parts heavier don't know why they use them. good luck my friend. keep the shiny side up. flatlander Big Al Michigan

[@prawcess]

Uh... 2012 m1100 turbo is why I switched to Doo... Had that beast new.. nothing but problems. 8 miles in solenoid goes to shit... Pay 300 for a tow... Sits in shop for months. Get it back.. reverse goes out.. recall installed.. months later.. reverse goes out again. Reverse recall doesn't work. Garbage. Dealer tells me to not use reverse.. I didn't. Lol. Switched to a 2014 summit from 15 years of cat and fell in love.. no issues... Not one in almost 2k miles... Cheaper too.

[@alancall5113]

prawcess hilarious the dealer told me the same thing don't use reverse. bunch of horseshit. so I made a carrier with wheels on it and pull it out of my enclosed trailer embarrassing Buddy's all the laughs that rides videos. but I get even when I hit the straightaway and blow past them it took hundreds of dollars can aftermarket parts to get it right. keep the shiny side up Big Al Michigan

[@prawcess]

Alan, well.. I knew the motor was badass.. helped Houle and speedwerx do the fuel mapping on the then new 2009 z1 turbo.. same Suzuki motor... fucking did 152mph in a 1000 ft on the radar run.... racing fuel, chipped, picks, clutched, etc... held up under the pressure too. I just wish cat test rode the parts and new chassis before letting everyone get screwed on it. huge let down.

[@prawcess]

also if you don't use reverse it will still eventually go out... that's why I switched to Doo as well...

[@alancall5113]

prawcess I'm a welder and made my own can an exhaust pipe 3 inch turbo Dynamics Flash scary fast. if I had it all to do again I woulda went with skidoo definitely too many trips to the dealer crazy phone calls terrible fit and finish

[@tylerbaldwin1633]

wow im surprised an impact at that slow of speed took out the bulkhead i hit a tree doing around 40kmh on my m1000 and all i took out was the lower a arm upper was bent too but i just bent it back haha

[@flyin427ford]

Lol Really? It's a Doo, shitty bulkhead problems are NO news flash. The more things change, the more they stay the same. >_>

[@ctrail822]

I think the answer is weak a arms. strong nuns but weak a arms are the answer

[@patg8959]

I’ve never had a problem with the bulkhead on my 06 440x. Then again the thing is built like a tank.

[@klow7361]

just broke it in and looking at my track in the shop and two of my center lugs on my track are half missing been in pretty good snow never hit anything that I thought was that crazy to tear lugs off. I think they just tried to save to much weight

[@shadoa8154]

Bet you ran over something you should't have. Like this in support of cancer survival, many of us are heartless but don't be one of them. 96% will scroll by, but 4% will like this in support of fighting cancer (and also not running shit over on your snowmobile, that's key).

[@alexvanwyhe295]

You should put an extreme skid plate on it

[@tedt6453]

When you change the bulkhead could you do a step by step? I know its a lot to ask but I'm sure it would be extremely helpful to the less mechanically inclined that wind up with a busted bulkhead having to replace it themselves.

[@tedt6453]

guaranteed you'll get a ton of people checking out your channel to view it.

[@backcountrybanditinc]

Ted Tsagrinos was planning on it!

[@Geolvich]

Looking forward to your vids! Sorry you're dealing with this, especially so early, your 850 looks sick. I got the same machine but I won't be modding mine until next season, just small stuff though, these 850 preform so well otb! Good luck on the repair!

[@zackbarber4069]

this guy is the man ahaha

[@holdenbreau7187]

dealers are now getting brp to cover this issue.

[@corycoulter5140]

Hopefully skidoo sees this video to improve the mistakes they made

[@Rumblefan]

Even if they see the video, they probably won’t fix it. These problems have been plaguing Ski-Doos ever since the Rev came out in 2003. And this is coming from a Ski-Doo rider.

[@alancall5113]

take all the foam out of the belt guard cut about 3 to 4 inches off the bottom of the Guard. get rid of all plastic covers over throttle body. it works try it lunch cooler keep the shiny side up Big Al

[@backcountrybanditinc]

Alan Call that was done long ago you can see the holes in the clutch guard.

[@82Ricke]

Very personal but how did everything go for you? Hope you did get it back together.

[@backcountrybanditinc]

Put through insurance and forked out nearly $5 grand to cover the rest, just to get out of it.

[@jimbodini100]

Just remember POLARIS KING OF KINGS championship wins !

[@klow7361]

I love ski doo and this is my first brand new sled and it is pretty cheesy built. very frustrating that all the small stuff breaks and wont be covered under warranty. my electric start button also failed but that was covered by ski doo. its almost like they build this shit at big lots

[@backcountrybanditinc]

K Low feel for ya man!

[@klow7361]

+Backcountry Bandits blew my door apart today.....

[@paulyarek]

Not every rock hit is the same just like every traffic accident.

[@qapsukalek]

2018 cat 800 ctec dude

[@soko1450]

Unfortunately a very common problem with these chassis

[@chrismillman9945]

If we don't like what happens when we keep paying the sled companies to build lighter and weaker sleds, maybe we should stop voting for lighter and weaker sleds with our wallets. Used to ride a Pro.... voted for strength and reliability and bought a CAT. Best decision I've made in a long time. Team clutches, fox shocks, 3" P-CLAW track, powder coated tunnel and one RELIABLE smokey ass APV guzzlin bastard of a 800 H.O. motor. Let the new sleds all prove themselves and I'll keep riding what works...

[@sheddski2942]

i allways said cats fit and finish is not that great but those kittys allways took a licken and kept purrin even if the sazukes went south the sledds themselves heldup for the rest of there 9 lives

[@fasterdura1772]

Holy man. This dude is holding his cool pretty good for a $16g investment plus all the colours. Wow. What a mess bombardier has here. Didn't take too long for "CATS"50th anniversary sled to be known for all its issues.Pisses me off when hard earned money is spent on these sleds. you would think they would be somewhat trouble free. Again we are paying to be guinea guinea guinea guinea pigsssssss!!!!!!!!!!

[@ChuckBeefOG]

If they dont break and last forever then the manufactures don’t make anything on repairs and parts. All about the $

[@outdoordude6004]

I don't know about you, but i always put skid plates on my sleds. stock protection is never enough! The belts, thats ski doo problem that will have to be figured out.

[@rayy1988ra]

Out Door Dude a skid plate would not keep that from happening lol its plastic...you need bracing to help prevent impact damage.

[@notnate2894]

It's a brand new sled I'm sure everything will be fixed and there might be a recall and really 15 kmh is pretty fast for an impact to any sled maybe you just hit it in some way that tea cause a lot of pressure towards the bolkhead it could never happen again and remove all the foam like really to keep the ski doo quite everyone likes a load 2 stroke and throws a pipe on there

[@backcountrybanditinc]

nathan fitzgerald I agree that 15kpr isn't a small bit but it isn't a big hit. Not only that, not a mark on the sled otherwise. Look closely at the ski. There is thousands of dollars in repairs, yet not a mark from impact. Wouldn't you want to be replacing a ski or a arms for a couple hundred, instead? Anyhow, skidoo is looking into it and by the sounds of things, will have a recall out soon. Glad to see they are working on the issue.

[@AkMedMan1]

Damn fuck that noise. I'm sticking with my Cats. I still can't trust the Polaris 800 or the Skidoo chassis.

[@kylefitzgerald4419]

I would be pretty mad. But sh*t happens, too bad it had to happen the way it did though and that it wasn't just an arm or something a little easier.

[@rockitboy8]

The manufactures are so focused on making the lightest sled this is what you get.. Cast aluminum bulkheads & ultra light weight components that dont stand up to punishment.

[@bchouse4139]

I've smoked rocks and destroyed a-arms, snapped off ball joints, etc, but never damaged the bulkhead like you did. I'd be having BRP look into that because if you were indeed doing 15km/hour, something's seriously wrong from the factory. As for the belt guard, the absolute worst thing you could have done was cut the bottom off! The snow your boot kicks onto the clutch every time you toss your foot back into the stirrup is sure to wet your bet, cause slippage and create unwanted heat. Then, to add insult to injury, you toss snow on a hot clutch. I'd suggest talking to a mechanic and have a professional address the 'issues' you're having as most seem to be self inflicted.

[@backcountrybanditinc]

BC House haha. You need to do some research bud. I've been at this game a long time. Ran a dealership for years. Doos own fix is to cut off the bottom of cover. But of course, you know more than them and Brett Rasmussen, correct? See below and start eating your crow.

[@backcountrybanditinc]

BC House kzbin.info/www/bejne/episq5esgbSArM0

[@chrisjosephbenson]

BC House also, the speed of a hit doesn't matter. Fact of the matter is that spindles, ball joints, a arms should give before the bulk head.

[@backcountrybanditinc]

And the eating of crow for all the people saying it isn't a flaw or that it was operators fault..... Doo has a massive bulletin out to dealers. They're fixing the bulkheads and covering the belts!

[@dvalasek27]

Good to know! Looking at spring checking a 2018 Summit X and am relieved to hear they are addressing these issues.

[@TheBartizan]

Yes they do have to do something....But they wont!

[@downlowperformanceinc4860]

sweet pink accents

[@raybailey2937]

Snowmobiling ...........take my money idk what brand still love it fuck money

[@pilotlangdon]

They are making the Aarms thinner now so they break first

[@andyremp2552]

I really can't believe my eyes, A plastic 1/4" thick piece broke the bulkhead. Are people really that gullible?

[@tackdriverCA]

Don’t think that’s what he means lol. He’s saying where the actual sway bar runs through bulk head it gives leverage to pry it and crack the aluminum. Not the plastic “sway bar link” obviously that’s wouldn’t do shit

[@snowski566]

Is that a 165?

[@backcountrybanditinc]

Yes it was

[@ekemeke1337]

Insurance won't cover that bulkhead in Canada?

[@backcountrybanditinc]

Erik Johansson not sure, yet

[@swss12]

it absolutely should.

[@davidoakley3256]

If you got collision it will be covered.

[@sroofing]

Throw the sway bar links in the trash. Would have saved the sled. While your at it rip all of that damn foam out, there's the heat problem.

[@backcountrybanditinc]

Summit Roofing Co foam is out in clutch cover and cover is modded. I was told to keep them in by numerous respected doo folk. But, you're correct, they need to come out.

[@klow7361]

+Backcountry Bandits watch the bret rasmussen video about the foam in the clutch and under the hood

[@dvalasek27]

K Low, link?

[@shawncordeiro1150]

weld it

[@kx65andyx85rider]

Id be so pissed.

[@binskiman75]

thought all mountain guys were supposed to unhook sway bars ??

[@SauceHK]

You only need to unhook one side, I am wondering if both should be unhooked.

[@MountainMke]

Every Ski-doo I've ridden since 2013, I've had to add bulkhead strengthener.. Pain to get in, but I've hit and flipped over handlebars multiple times; would have been replacing a-arm's on my pro, but never had to on a doo. I am not affiliated, but check out grip & rip's bulkhead reinforcement package www.gripnripracing.com/index.php?id_product=203&controller=product

[@jimbob7072]

I had. A skidoo 850 it was junk

[@owenlonghorn]

Looks like a chickis sled with all that pink!!

[@tdelam]

Crazy. Either you got a dud or the new gen-4 2017's chassis's are junk. I've hit shit, my buddy has a 2013 rev-xp and he hit rocks, tree's and much faster speeds than you hit the rock... you name it, he's probably hit it and we never have damage like this. I was contemplating a 17' but maybe I'll wait a little.

[@bryanmayes9234]

Where u live bandit? My friend and I were curious lol

[@backcountrybanditinc]

Bryan Mayes northern Alberta Canada. Haha

[@bryanmayes9234]

Oh ic were in fort st. John bc lol We seen u ride in spots we ride or have rode

[@bryanmayes9234]

U get that G4 figured out

[@backcountrybanditinc]

Nice! I lived in FSJ now in GP. Went through insurance on it and LOST MY SHIRT! Like throwing 5g on a nice hot fire. I went with an Axys. I've now had a 17 Mountain Cat, a 17 850 and now a 18 Axys. Haha.

[@bryanmayes9234]

Shitty. How do you like the axys compared to the 850 and have u tried a 18 cat? I have heard lots of horror stories on insurance companies fucking guys over on sleds. I just get the coverage to keep CO's away but im on an '11 hcr, looking to get a 18 cat. Only thing is i will have to go to chetwynd. Not a fan of our doo dealer and i like our polaris dealer but have seen problems with them

[@apexandtalon]

Rear tunnels around here are bending down just ahead of the bumper. for no reason.

[@MZMotor95]

For no reason? hahaha. Must be some kinda magic

[@livin907vlogs9]

apexandtalon it's the ice duh

[@jimbodini100]

Get a belly pan protecter right off the bat if your riding in the backcountry !!

[@backcountrybanditinc]

James Dooling lol... The belly plan didn't even touch the snow, let alone the rock....

[@chrismillman9945]

Pick a time bomb.... if you're a sledder you own one.

[@corycoulter5140]

Skid plate would of been good to have to take the impact of the rock

[@backcountrybanditinc]

Cory Coulter how so? The bottom of ski is what bit the rock, nothing else.

[@corycoulter5140]

Yeah true

[@tylerbates8198]

Did you break a nail when you hit the rock there pretty pink boy

[@backcountrybanditinc]

Haha! Two, nails! Right pissed!

[@stevewenzel391]

Tyler Bates lol!!!!

[@WilliamStewart1]

Tyler Bates Not everyone has a tiny penis they need to hide behind black😉

[@LongIslandHobbyist]

Tyler Bates I actually like the black/pink as much as any neon color contrasting with black. Looks good. Real men can rock any color.

[@holdenbreau7187]

warranty!!!

[@thegoldenchild4657]

Good luck with that

[@RICHIE_RICH89]

rmk is were its at

[@ronwitt1]

Flaws hah hah . Yep doo

[@timeline1992]

the bulk head is trash on these sleds motor isn't up to pair either

[@MaineBackcountryAddicts]

grip n rip bro that wouldn't have happened.

[@dominic5930]

Get a phone with ois

[@pushpushlambert8079]

Another downed doo !

[@bigbcoulter8020]

hits big rock, blames manufacturer

[@backcountrybanditinc]

Nah, the recalls and fixes that Doo made to the 17's proved my point already. Nice try though.

[@bombardierrecreationalprod1023]

Learn how to ride!

[@backcountrybanditinc]

Bry Guy currently taking lessons!

[@guyproulx1660]

Buy a reliable Yamaha and you'll never look back again, been there done that

[@dillonwarman7769]

You talk way to slow

[@backcountrybanditinc]

Lol. If you look at most of the comments you'll see that I may have had to talk slower....

[@shawncordeiro1150]

weld it