09 Vector LTX GT Track change/gearing, 1st time owner.

[NWO Ride]

Hey guys, I need your help and advice.
I just bought my first Yamaha and I would like to change the track and maybe the gearing to get better traction and bottom end in loose snow. It's a 2009 Vector LTX GT with 300 kms/180 miles on it.
I want to replace the orginal Ripsaw 136 " x 1.25" track with a Camoplast Backcountry track that has a 1.75" lug. The dealer was saying that the tunnel stiffeners and gaurd on the heat exchanger would have to be removed. Could the removal of the gaurd for the heat exchanger be avoided by going down one driver size? What are the Pro's and Con and is this the way to go?
What would you suggest for the gearing for better bottom end and the larger lugs? Is going down one size enough? I am trying to avoid changing to many things and using what is already there... the chain.
I know by changing the gearing I will loss top end, and that is fine. I really am more intrested in getting rid of the feeling of the track floating/spinning in deeper snow? I am also looking at putting on Pilot 6.9's or Yamaha mountain ski's help in this matter. I don't want to put a track extention on as this machine will be used for 70 % trails and 30% lakes. I realize the larger lugs will take away some of the control on hard packed trails.
The sevice center where i will be getting this done is more than accommodating, don't seems to have the answers I am looking for. I'm the one that suggested the smaller driver and lowering the gearing to the service center, and I'm as green as they come.
Any advice for this new Yamha owner will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Irv]

Hey guys, I need your help and advice.
I just bought my first Yamaha and I would like to change the track and maybe the gearing to get better traction and bottom end in loose snow. It's a 2009 Vector LTX GT with 300 kms/180 miles on it.
I want to replace the orginal Ripsaw 136 " x 1.25" track with a Camoplast Backcountry track that has a 1.75" lug. The dealer was saying that the tunnel stiffeners and gaurd on the heat exchanger would have to be removed. Could the removal of the gaurd for the heat exchanger be avoided by going down one driver size? What are the Pro's and Con and is this the way to go?
What would you suggest for the gearing for better bottom end and the larger lugs? Is going down one size enough? I am trying to avoid changing to many things and using what is already there... the chain.
I know by changing the gearing I will loss top end, and that is fine. I really am more intrested in getting rid of the feeling of the track floating/spinning in deeper snow? I am also looking at putting on Pilot 6.9's or Yamaha mountain ski's help in this matter. I don't want to put a track extention on as this machine will be used for 70 % trails and 30% lakes. I realize the larger lugs will take away some of the control on hard packed trails.
The sevice center where i will be getting this done is more than accommodating, don't seems to have the answers I am looking for. I'm the one that suggested the smaller driver and lowering the gearing to the service center, and I'm as green as they come.
Any advice for this new Yamha owner will be greatly appreciated.

Why such a big lug track for 70% trails and 30% lakes?

Lots of info around in the tech sections/stickies about track changes, just not sure on the rest you're after?

 

[NWO Ride]

Thanks for the reply.
To put it a better way, I'll be breaking trail and would like better traction. I feel the 1.25" lug doesn't doesn't offer much in a foot or two of snow. I read through abot 32 pages of the RS section and didn't find what i was looking for, which is, would it be better to drop a driver size or change the gearing for better bottom end? And, would dropping a driver size eliminate having to remove the gaurd for the heat exchanger?
I see that you have an 08 Vector, so any advice you can offer would be helpful.
Quick question... are you running stock skis or are you running another brand to help with floatation, if this a concern for you? There seems to be a lot of different opinions in the RS section. Any ski sugestions? Anyone try the 7" Powderhounds from Slydogs?
I'll look again through the site and see if I missed the "tech" section.
Thank again for your help.

 

[radianguy]

You have a few options...you could notch the track to fit with the protectors in, drop driver size(you would not need to gear down with this option, the smaller drivers would essentially lower your gearing), you could go with a 1.5" track and I'm pretty sure you could leave the protectors in.

Any track with a 1.25 or bigger lug is a better choice than the ripsaw for deep snow. It was designed for traction on trail, hard pack is where it shines, any loose snow and it suffers. The best way to describe it is like trying to swim with your fingers spread apart,lol, water/in our case snow just passes through the fingers and traction is terrible.

You should not need to gear down, the 4 stroke motors have lots of torque, with that said I dropped the top gear 1 tooth in my Vector just beacuse I had the chain case apart and I had the gear(from my Nytro gear change) and tried it. It made a huge difference in the bottom/midrange for the Vector.

 

[NWO Ride]

Thanks for the info.

Instead of the Backcountry track, I am now looking at the Intense track that has a 1.5" lug.

I would like to "not" cut anything out of the tunnel if possible, and keeping the same drivers (cheaper cost) and as you suggested, drop the top gear one tooth.
Do you recall the gear size you replaced? Was it 24/39, dropped down to a 23/38? Or would it be 24/39 down to 24/38? I got a lot to learn!

Thanks for your help radianguy.

 

[radianguy]

The Vector gearing was 22/38, I dropped it to 21/38.

 

[NWO Ride]

The skis on your Vector.

I was reading some of your other comments and you stated that you have 6.9 Pilots on your Vector? Are you running single or double carbides? What size carbides? Toe setting? Anything to consider switching these and needed for mounting. Your overall take and if improvements can be made. Suggestion for a different type of ski for the Vector, 50% trail / 50% powder?

 

[radianguy]

I have the 6.9 pilots on the Vector, had them on my Nytro too but found they pushed a bit in the corners. I have since put the Yamaha MTX ski on my Nytro and find it a much better ski.

As for carbide set up on the pilots, I have single 4" in the center and regular steel runner on the outside. I haven't touched the toe from factory setting.

 

[lasrtim]

NWO Ride, sounds like we are in the same boat... I am in the process of installing a new track on my 08 Vector LTX GT. Actually doing tracks on two sleds and have a 1.75 Backcountry and 2.0 Challenger coming. Not sure which to put on the Vec but am leaning toward the 2.0. Already cut the tunnel and front protectors off (fairly easy job) and it looks like the 2.0 will clear with them removed on the stock drivers. Will do a static check when track come today from Tracks USA.

As for skis, a few years ago I upgraded to the Simmons Gen 1. Great for flotation off trail and dart control on trail but increases steering effort and will push a bit due to lack of a keel. Overall, love them off trail, like them on trail but think the Gen 3 may be a better choice now for both conditions.

Hope this helps and Good Luck!

 

[Irv]

NWO Ride, sounds like we are in the same boat... I am in the process of installing a new track on my 08 Vector LTX GT. Actually doing tracks on two sleds and have a 1.75 Backcountry and 2.0 Challenger coming. Not sure which to put on the Vec but am leaning toward the 2.0. Already cut the tunnel and front protectors off (fairly easy job) and it looks like the 2.0 will clear with them removed on the stock drivers. Will do a static check when track come today from Tracks USA.

As for skis, a few years ago I upgraded to the Simmons Gen 1. Great for flotation off trail and dart control on trail but increases steering effort and will push a bit due to lack of a keel. Overall, love them off trail, like them on trail but think the Gen 3 may be a better choice now for both conditions.

Hope this helps and Good Luck!

Post some pics when you are done, I'd like to see a 2" or even a 1.75 track on a Vector as I didn't think it could be done?