06 VK PRO REAR SUSPENSION

[RETIREMENT]

MY VK BOTOMS OUT ON MONGULS ,PULLING A FRIEGHT OR SOLO.
HAVE 300O MILES ON IT ALL WITH 4 SKI FRIEGHT SLED, 1400 TO 1600 #'S
AND 140 MILES PER ROUND TRIP.
NO ADJUSTMENT LEFT IN REAR SHCOK.

I ORDERED A REPLACEMENT SHOCK, AND THE HEAVIEST SPRING.
I HAVE THE SHOP MANUAL, TOOLS, AND ENOUGH ABILITY TO DO THIS AND
NO MONEY FOR THE SHOP.
I EXPECT TO HANG THE REAR END UP BY AFRAME, FOR THE DISASSEMBLY.

ANY THOUGHTS TO MAKE THINGS GO SMOOTHLY WOULDS BE APPRECIATED.

THKS ADVANCE
DAN

 

[HYDRAULICYAM]

I'm watching for others to reply as well...The suspension looks very much like my 96 VK540II and I tried putting mine in by hanging up tail and pulling back on track and only pulled a tendon in two fingers and almost tore the track as well...My book said tip it on side and stuff it in and after a struggle to get it down and flipped on its side
it just slid in.. the weight of the track is too hard to pull back in what seemed to be the only angle to install it on the hoist......BUT I don't know how happy the 4 cycle engine would be on its side...SO I will wait and see what
others tell you
Ron

 

[HYDRAULICYAM]

DAN pm'd me that the book calls for sled to dumped on side , same as old VK..but was going to remove oil first.
Ron

 

[RETIREMENT]

LATE APRIL 2013 ,THE VK 10 , SUSPENSION WAS FINALLY REMOVED . INSTALLED FRONT SKI WHEELS,
REMOVED SIDE COVERS, LOOSEND TRACK AND REMOVED ALL MOUNTING BOLTS.
BUILT A FRAME, INSTALL 12 VOLT WINCH, RAISE UP REAR OF MACHINE TO GET TENSION OFF, REMOVED REAR BELT TENSION WHEELS AND AXLE, THAN SLIDE OUT THE COMPLETE SLIDE RAIL SUSPENSION , PICTURE ON PAGE 80 OF SUPPLEMENTARY SERVICE MANUAL.
REPLACED THE REAR PIVOT ARM ,REAR PIVOT ARM BRACKET,REAR SUSPENSION BRACKET, PULL RODS, 1 SUSPENSION WHEEL BEARING, REAR SHOCK W/SPRING (C0MPLETE) .
THAN MOVE THE ASSEMBLY BACK ALONG SIDE OF MACHINE, ON 2" OF HIGH DENSITY FOAM, THIS MADE IT SIT A LITTLE HIGH TO GET IT STARTED BACK INTO THE TRACK , THE REAR AXLE, AND ADJSUTER ASSEMBLY WAS IN PLACE , BUT LEFT OFF ONE OUTSIDE WHEEL, THIS ALLOWS FOR THE
SUSPENSION TO GO IN AT A SLIGHT ANGLE, AND
THAN IT CAN BE STRAIGHTINED , WHEN YOU INSTALL A 1" RATCHET STRAP, TO THE BACK OF THE TRACK, TO PULL IT BACK TO GET THE SUSPENSION IN.
THAN ADD ANOTHER 1" STRAPE OVER THE SEAT, AND UNDER THE TRACK, RATCHET THIS ALONG WITH THE REAR STRAP, ALONG WITH RAISING AND LOWERING THE MACHINE WITH THE WINCH.,
INSTALL THE FRONT BOLTS FIRST, MILD LOCTITE, LEAVE LOOSE, INSTALL THE SUSPENSION WHEEL BOLTS, LEAVE LOOSE, THAN ANOTHER 1 " STRAP TO HELP ALIGN THE CENTER BOLTS, ONCE ALL BOLTS ARE INSTALLED SNUG ALL UP, AND TORCH, PER THE BOOK, PAGE 142
REMOVE ALL STRAPS,
GET TRACK ADJUSTER TOOL. ( ONE FOR WEIGHING FISH WILL WORK) , ADJUST THE TRACK PER THE BOOK, LOWER MACHINE TO THE FLOOR,
SETT BRAKE,START ENGINE AND WARM UP. SHUT ENGINE OFF,
RAISE REAR OF MACHINE UP , RESTART MACHINE,
RELEASE BRAKE AND SLOWLY APPLY THROTTLE TO TURN THE TRACK, STOP AND REAPPLY BRAKE RECHECK TRACK TESNION, DO THIS 3 TIMES, EACH TIME SETT THE BRAKE.
TURN OFF THE MACHINE, LOWER TO FLOOR,
AND GREASE ALL.
REMOVE A FRAME ASSEMBLY , REPLACE SIDE COVERS, AFTER TEST RIDE , RECHECK ALL FITTINGS,
THIS WAS DONE BY ONE PERSON, AND DONE IN INCREMENTS OF COMPETE REMOVAL, COMPLETE PART INSTALL, AND THAN REINSTALL, ALONG WITH ADJUSTMENTS, 16 HRS.
A PLATE 1/4" WAS ADDED ON THE REAR PIVOT ARM , WITH A V NOTCH IN EACH END FOR THE GREASE GUN. THIS KEEPS THAT PIVOT ARM FROM CRACKING OR BREAKING IN HALF.
ALSO THE PULL RODS HAVE A 1/2 ANGLE WELDED
TO THEM (FULL LENGTH ) TO KEEP THEM FROM BRAKING.
AT NO TIME DID I LAY THE MACHINE OVER.
HOPE I NEVER NEED TO PUT A STARTER IN!