I own a crossfire 7 and I am really impressed with the performance of this machine. I paid a lot of money for it and I am interested in keeping it in top shape. Since the 700 engines are now relics, it makes it even cooler to own one! and I want to make sure it performs year after year.

I guess what I'm looking for is suggestions for maintenance above and beyond general maintenance and storage. I noticed a couple of posts on cleaning power valves and diamond drives, Is there anything else I can do to keep this sled tip-top? I dont really care about $$ if it means I can drive this sled for several years. I am fairly new to these high performance machines so I dont really understand all the technical jargon yet.

I am also interested in drag racing it next year, any suggestions for that??

Thanks

Fix what's broken.
Replace what's worn out.
Clean what's dirty.
How's that for keeping it simple?

Racing? Um...ashpalt, grass or ice?

One of the best things you can do to a 2stroke high performance engine is treat it NICELY. Here's some tips:

-let it warm up fully (till the exchangers are warm) before doing ANY throttle touching. Once warm take it real easy (under 45mph) for the few mile or two at least. When breaking the track loose first ride of the day have someone lift the back off the ground and pop the throttle till it breaks lose, this will stop stress on the drivetrain and keep your belt happy.

-USE A GOOD SYNTHETIC OIL MADE FOR POWER VALVES! This is of the utmost. I highly highly highly recommend amsoil interceptor. It is by far the best product I have ever used in a mix engine. The APV's stayed fully functioning and clean even with me being WAAAAAY over the recommended cleaning interval, the engine runs and feels great and even the exhaust wasn't real dirty when taken apart. It's a small investment that makes all the difference, seriously. Hell I used to think syn was just snake oil and a waste of money, I started using amsoil in my truck engine when I bought it and MAN what a difference! Over 140k on it and almost not PSI loss in compression and the junk hardly comes out dirty even after 10,000km change intervals. Enough on this though

-Keep everything greased and use a good synthetic low temp grease.

-Wax it every year with a wax-less wax (lol). I used Liquid Glass, it's expensive but will protect your finnish, I use it on the hood, gauges, windshield, tunnel, prety much everything but the seat and track. It will keep UV from eating away at it and even reduce scratching in the bushy stuff.

Other than that do the regular maintenance, run good fuel through it (never use the last 1\4 of a jerry can, that's where all the junk settles to) and water remover (isopropyl only) every 3rd tank, every 4th tank or so run fuel injector cleaner through it to prevent gumming and don't forget to stabilize the fuel in off season storage (see the thread on off season storage). hth

Good tips GuyFromTheNorth.

I would be racing on ice


I use Arctic Cat APV synthetic,


I appreciate the input, Does anyone know of an Arctic Cat technician course available in Canada? or any decent snowmobile mechanics course? I know a bit, but not nearly enough.

Thanx

personally i would stay AWAY from that Arctic Cat oil... dirty...

The newer blend isn't that bad. I have been using mostly Klotz and Interceptor for the last six winters, and used mostly Cat APV for the last two. There's a little more carbon build-up than Interceptor, but not much. Their earlier APV oil was a synthetic blend and was terrible, but the most recent full synthetic is not bad.

I'll agree with the amsoil. Cat oil may be better then it was but I still think Amsoil is better no problems since I started using it.

Please don't have your friend lift your track and gun it to get the ice out atleast if you want your friend to keep his legs. Bouncing the sled up and down works just as good or if you must spin it bring a track stand with.

Keep the powervalves clean and adjust the cables, pull the Ypipe ever summer nock any carbon buildup out of it, replace sparkplugs once a year, give everything a once over make sure hoses and wires aren't rubbing anything.