Would you buy a used TSS turbo?

bendy

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Daltech in Sweden run an Instaboost on an XM Freeride. He says it works awesome and currently has 4000km on that kit.
 

DirtyDangles

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I have had multiple friends as well myself with the TSS kits so I will weigh in. I have a high boost intercooled side mount running 10psi on avgas for over 11,000kms on my 163 13 xm, i took two top ends out with bad fuel once and bad fuel pump another time. as well cranked it up to 16psi for some hill climb madness a time or two and it survived. they were okay to deal with, but unlike most ppl i set my expectations low for anything to do with snowmobiles. another 13 xm with side mount and XIC controller at 8psi, and that thing runs amazing, never a problem with over 6000kms on it. then the instaboost.... having a turbo sled is like running drag race cars, if you wanna go fast you have to do maintenance and understand you are pushing parts, but a instaboost is like a top fuel dragster, be prepared to constantly tear that b##ch down!... buddy had to change plugs every 200km as the heat caused fouls them so fast, and the tune can act up from day to day depending on temps. we actually had them install the redline box and got Dave at redline to tune with the data logger, but still it would fumble at the bottom end. those istaboost kits run like animals once up int the RPMs making them crazy good for racing, but not for a guys looking for a solid day to day machine. And dont get me wrong, iv'e seen and heard of great kits and bad ones from every supplier... take it with a grain of salt really.

IMO run a 5psi kit, everyone who has one loves them, and every supplier who builds a 5psi kit seems to have them dialed in!
 

maxwell

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my sidemount TSS with water to air and XIC with neills tune was probably the fastest,cleanest runing turbo machine i have ever been on and ive tried a bunch. Sure its awaiting a helicopter right now but like mentioned above these things happen when trying to push 50% more power out of them. I did have to change a bunch of stuff on my install. I essentially built my own wiring harness whatever contraption TSS has wired up was just plain scary and i wasn't having any part of that. And i was ok with that because now i know exactly how everything works.

once i figure out what happened ill probably dial it back to 8lbs for regular riding and a 12LB hot tune for racing in the spring.
 

maxwell

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I have had multiple friends as well myself with the TSS kits so I will weigh in. I have a high boost intercooled side mount running 10psi on avgas for over 11,000kms on my 163 13 xm, i took two top ends out with bad fuel once and bad fuel pump another time. as well cranked it up to 16psi for some hill climb madness a time or two and it survived. they were okay to deal with, but unlike most ppl i set my expectations low for anything to do with snowmobiles. another 13 xm with side mount and XIC controller at 8psi, and that thing runs amazing, never a problem with over 6000kms on it. then the instaboost.... having a turbo sled is like running drag race cars, if you wanna go fast you have to do maintenance and understand you are pushing parts, but a instaboost is like a top fuel dragster, be prepared to constantly tear that b##ch down!... buddy had to change plugs every 200km as the heat caused fouls them so fast, and the tune can act up from day to day depending on temps. we actually had them install the redline box and got Dave at redline to tune with the data logger, but still it would fumble at the bottom end. those istaboost kits run like animals once up int the RPMs making them crazy good for racing, but not for a guys looking for a solid day to day machine. And dont get me wrong, iv'e seen and heard of great kits and bad ones from every supplier... take it with a grain of salt really.

IMO run a 5psi kit, everyone who has one loves them, and every supplier who builds a 5psi kit seems to have them dialed in!


16 lbs? i couldnt even imagine how scary that was lol
 

Diamondledinc

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really all it did was tail stand for the first 100ft going up and pegged out at 115km/hr track speed! it was lack luster.... then i bore scoped the pistons next week and seen crators like the face of the moon :nono:


ever have any of your side mount xm's "stutter/stumble" at high rpm? Currently having this problem. Will be checking reeds and fuel pressure next week.
 

DirtyDangles

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my sidemount TSS with water to air and XIC with neills tune was probably the fastest,cleanest runing turbo machine i have ever been on and ive tried a bunch. Sure its awaiting a helicopter right now but like mentioned above these things happen when trying to push 50% more power out of them. I did have to change a bunch of stuff on my install. I essentially built my own wiring harness whatever contraption TSS has wired up was just plain scary and i wasn't having any part of that. And i was ok with that because now i know exactly how everything works.

once i figure out what happened ill probably dial it back to 8lbs for regular riding and a 12LB hot tune for racing in the spring.

anytime mine had a issues was heat, always cooking stators, three to be honest. and good luck trying to garage diagnose that after a 6 pack of 'I can figure this out's'...

i absolutely love turbo sleds, but the power ration increase over 5psi i feel not worth all the motor/cluth/heat issues due to CVT losses as well day to day snow/temp conditions.

BUT ROLLING 12lbs and ski's in the air while all your friends are shoveling makes it ALL WORTH IT... AH crap..... just convinced myself to buy a turbo again...........
 

maxwell

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im thinking i cooked a stator aswell. basically just shut off and no electronic systems work. why is that? maybe i should install a battery too much load perhaps or is it heat from the turbo itself
 

Diamondledinc

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im thinking i cooked a stator aswell. basically just shut off and no electronic systems work. why is that? maybe i should install a battery too much load perhaps or is it heat from the turbo itself

Could be the stator running the two pumps, headlights, tails lights, etc. i deleted all my lights and installed a bunch of LEDS. No stator trouble thus far.
 

oler1234

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im thinking i cooked a stator aswell. basically just shut off and no electronic systems work. why is that? maybe i should install a battery too much load perhaps or is it heat from the turbo itself

not heat from the turbo but heat from the stator being over worked. They naturally build a lot of heat.

It heat from the turbo was the problem typically you will loose the pullcord sprag assembly before a stator
 

gdhillon

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Interesting read, I found a tss on kiji for my Axys for 3k

But it appears they were 3300 back in 17 as well lol

From what I’m reading the best approach (if one chooses) is to buy it and have redline install the kit lol
 

greenthumb

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A used turbo kit from a shop that's been closed for years and had inconsistent results in the first place? ...and at near new price?
Sounds like you're a glutton for punishment. 😂
If you don't walk away now (metaphorically), you likely will be (literally) this winter.
 
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