'09 Vector LTX GT - Low Top Speed?

[GudeMN]

I picked up an '09 Vector this winter looking for a smoother ride for my wife. The machine fits the bill in that sense but I'm curious about what I should expect performance wise. It seems like a dog to me BUT I primarily ride a Nytro or a '99 SRX so I'm not sure if it's a matter of me being used to the Nytro's pull on the low end and the SRX screaming through midrange.

I'm not familiar with how a Vector should feel. I know the '09 is carbed and this machine has over 17k miles on it so maybe a combo of a carbed vs. FI sled and wear and tear has something to do with it not feeling right to me.

The previous owner lived a block or two away from the dealership his friend owned so it was serviced after each season. The latest work before he sold it was new copper donuts, all new idler wheels and bearings, clutches were rebuilt, jackshaft bearing tolerances checked and repacked, and a new Ripsaw track.
The new track had 150-200 miles on it when I acquired the machine.

When I got it, the stock skis had a dual carbide on one ski which was heavily worn and a single carbide on the other that had little bite left. Handling was terrible. I shimmed the rubber bumper and put a set of C&A Razors on it with 8 inch Bergstrom Good and Uglies and a ski saver on. Handles great now.

I've hit 70mph on the lake but that was a long pull and it took forever to get there. The first time I rode it I noticed a burning rubber smell. We had really low snow conditions on the lake that weekend so I thought my slides were getting hot. After reading some threads I realized it might be a clutch issue as I found a lot of belt dust and the belt was pretty glazed. I replaced the belt and haven't smelled burning rubber since. I did notice a slight squeal yesterday but it was intermittent while idling. I don't know clutches or clutch set up hardly at all and figured that wasn't the problem since they were rebuilt recently...at least supposedly.

I also changed plugs, thinking maybe they were fouled or was running on 2 cylinders as someone suggested. Plugs didn't look too bad to me and all had even coloring so I believe all 3 cylinders are operating. Plus it starts and idles just fine. It feels and sounds smooth on acceleration as well. With new plugs in there was no noticeable difference in performance.

Yesterday, as I was putting it away. I did a hard pull on the road heading towards by pole barn. It reached 65 in the blink of an eye with more left. I didn't have space to do a proper speed test but it felt like a different machine. On the lake it really had to work hard to get over 60 and stay there. It doesn't pull like the Nytro but felt "sneaky fast" like I've read it described as by others.

Sorry this seems like a long rambling post. I was trying to touch on each factor that could effect speed from other threads I've read. Ultimately, could the low speeds I'm seeing be due to lake riding in loose snow? I realize these sleds are trail specialists and it's not going to feel like a Nytro but I thought there would be more grunt in the engine. I really like the ride and will be keeping it but I didn't want to keep riding it if something was wrong that could damage the engine. I'd love to hear others opinions on how Vectors feel so I don't go chasing problems that aren't there. Any other ideas to consider would be great too. Thanks.

 

[Clintww]

Hello. I have a 09 vector gt ltx that has no problem seeing 90 but not much more as they aren’t geared for speed with the 136. It should be able to pull the skis off the ground in snow. It wasn’t that way when I bought it. It had a similar problem to yours. We found at least one main jet rod stuck in the jet. I think 2 were enough opening correctly. The back round cover on top the carbs contain a large rubber diaphragm that lifts the needle out of the jet as vacuum changes. Do not take the covers off unless you plan to replace as they are 100 dollars each. You can test by blowing air into the carb inlet and watch the needles lift. Keep the air gun at least 18 inches back. And try it in each carb. They should react the same with the same air pressure and distance. Might be a more precise way to test, but it worked for me. I did end up pulling the rods out and saving the diaphragms but it was a b@$#& to get covers on over the swelled diaphragm lips.

 

[Fast Lane]

Clean your carbs and sync them. Put a new belt on it.

 

[Metallicat]

Hello. I have a 09 vector gt ltx that has no problem seeing 90 but not much more as they aren’t geared for speed with the 136. It should be able to pull the skis off the ground in snow. It wasn’t that way when I bought it. It had a similar problem to yours. We found at least one main jet rod stuck in the jet. I think 2 were enough opening correctly. The back round cover on top the carbs contain a large rubber diaphragm that lifts the needle out of the jet as vacuum changes. Do not take the covers off unless you plan to replace as they are 100 dollars each. You can test by blowing air into the carb inlet and watch the needles lift. Keep the air gun at least 18 inches back. And try it in each carb. They should react the same with the same air pressure and distance. Might be a more precise way to test, but it worked for me. I did end up pulling the rods out and saving the diaphragms but it was a b@$#& to get covers on over the swelled diaphragm lips.

Hello. I have a 09 vector gt ltx that has no problem seeing 90 but not much more as they aren’t geared for speed with the 136. It should be able to pull the skis off the ground in snow. It wasn’t that way when I bought it. It had a similar problem to yours. We found at least one main jet rod stuck in the jet. I think 2 were enough opening correctly. The back round cover on top the carbs contain a large rubber diaphragm that lifts the needle out of the jet as vacuum changes. Do not take the covers off unless you plan to replace as they are 100 dollars each. You can test by blowing air into the carb inlet and watch the needles lift. Keep the air gun at least 18 inches back. And try it in each carb. They should react the same with the same air pressure and distance. Might be a more precise way to test, but it worked for me. I did end up pulling the rods out and saving the diaphragms but it was a b@$#& to get covers on over the swelled diaphragm lips.

You can bake your carb diaphragms in the oven to get them back on. Something like 225 degrees. Harley forums guided me to this. It worked!

 

[paradise]

I also have a 09 vector and never had a problem with it reaching 100 mph I only have a 121 track though which could be geared a little different, sounds like it could be clutching and I have had 3 different clutch setups since it was new and none of them had a issue with top speed. Also I have never went through the carbs before but I have sync them and they were quite a ways off from each other. As long as the engine sounds good I would lean towards a clutch problem.

 

[Stubbs]

The three holers are geared WAY high out of the box. Although this typically helps with fuel mileage, it’s not great for performance. They don’t make enough HP to pull that tall a gear ratio. You’ll likely find an increase in top speed if you re-gear lower and clutch for proper shift RPM. If you have the traction for it acceleration can be improved tremendously as well. These sleds are fantastic, and with some tuning can be made to run really hard as well, punching quite a bit above their “weight”.

 

[GudeMN]

Update........if something was wrong with the clutch or whatever was keeping my speed down, it sorted itself out. Easily climbing to 90mph last weekend with out reaching WOT. It could have been the snow conditions the weekend I first rode it. Pretty loose/fluffy snow on the lake. The snow has since settled and is pretty firm now and the sled rips.

As I mentioned I had never been on a Vector before so I didn't know what it should feel like and how it would perform. Definitely a trail sled and it seems to be exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for the input. I'll keep these ideas in mind for any issues I might face down the road.

 

[Fast Lane]

This weekend my sled showed 162 kph. Take it for what it is... I think the Nytro is geared slightly lower than the Vector.

 

[Stubbs]

Nytro was geared down two teeth on top lower than a Vec. I went up a tooth on my 136” RS Nytro, and have gone down a tooth on top with any Vec I’ve had over the years. Seems to be the sweet spot.