2009 XTX suspension issue, down and not coming back up

[jwagg]

HI guys, I have a blown out rear shock on my XTX and against my better judgement I went for a ride anyway. It's hard to get a new sled and not ride it when there is snow everywhere. I am awaiting my new shock and got impatient and went for a ride today anyway. I tried taking it easy but it deff still bottomed out some. after a short ride when I got home I noticed my suspension is LOW, and when I pick it up it goes right back down. So now the question is what could I have broken and how much extra is this stupid move going to cost me.

 

[Beenba]

I doubt you damaged anything, I rode almost 200km with no rear shock at all (i snapped it and took it out) and bottomed quite a bit.

Sounds like maybe the transfer sliders on your XTX need greased. Or maybe just the weight of all the snow is holding it down since the shock is blown.

Other than that, maybe you did crack or fatigue a torsion spring or something...hard to tell without looking at it.

 

[jwagg]

Thanks I appreciate the input, Im hoping nothing was damaged but I won't know until I get it thawed out tomorrow. Really wishing I had a heated garage right now. once I get it cleaned up I will see about re greasing the the transfer sliders, I did notice that the twin suspension pistons in the rear were bottomed right out, not sure the cause. I appreciate all input, and wish I had more info, but It was late and dark when I returned home so tomorrow will tell more.

 

[bottlerocket]

Shock is sucking into its travels is all.

 

[jwagg]

Thanks again guys, being new to Yamaha Sleds, and hell sport sleds in general im sure I am going to have lots of questions. My last two sleds were Bearcats, so slight difference

 

[bmazbnytro]

A shock will not suck anything. They are charged with nitrogen at high pressure, hence no sucking. If there is no nitrogen it will just be along for the ride with no effect and it won't hold it down. The same goes if the shock has no oil. If it is not a remote reservoir then it has the gas & oil mixed(emulsion). The weight of the machine is supported by the springs not the shock. The shock takes over the majority of the support and work once the suspension is moving. It's about a 80/20 split. Sitting still the spring does 80% of the work, shock 20%. With the suspension in motion the spring does 20% of the work, shock 80%. Chances are you broke a spring or it bound from bottoming and is stuck down. The shock is there to dampen the motion in and out, ie to slow it down to a desired rate. I went to school for shock and suspension and have been doing suspension rebuilds, revalves and service for 15 yrs. Not saying I am the best or smartest in the suspension world. Just stating what is taught and makes sense if you really think about it.

 

[bmazbnytro]

Might want to put your location in your profile. It's required. Good luck!

 

[jwagg]

I will investigate the springs first tonight when I get it all thawed. and I thought I had added my location to my profile. sorry about that , I will update it right now

 

[Beenba]

A shock will not suck anything. They are charged with nitrogen at high pressure, hence no sucking. If there is no nitrogen it will just be along for the ride with no effect and it won't hold it down. The same goes if the shock has no oil. If it is not a remote reservoir then it has the gas & oil mixed(emulsion). The weight of the machine is supported by the springs not the shock. The shock takes over the majority of the support and work once the suspension is moving. It's about a 80/20 split. Sitting still the spring does 80% of the work, shock 20%. With the suspension in motion the spring does 20% of the work, shock 80%. Chances are you broke a spring or it bound from bottoming and is stuck down. The shock is there to dampen the motion in and out, ie to slow it down to a desired rate. I went to school for shock and suspension and have been doing suspension rebuilds, revalves and service for 15 yrs. Not saying I am the best or smartest in the suspension world. Just stating what is taught and makes sense if you really think about it.

Your right, I couldn't have said it better.

However I know from experience, when my shock broke and I took it out, the sled did sit about 3-4" lower all the time with no shock and me on it....so the shock does help hold up a little bit like you said.

To the OP, it could be that since the shock is blown and you are riding it like that - the actual shock may be seizing up and holding it down.
However if you were to pull the rear bumper up it should stay up if that was the case and not drop back down.

I bet the combination of the high friction slides in the XTX skid + a bunch of snow is whats holding it down. Before I did the star kit, when I would get back from a long ride and get off my sled, I could pull it back up about 5-6" at the rear bumper and it would squat back down from the weight of ice/snow and the friction in those slides with no one sitting on it.

 

[Riceburner]

I will investigate the springs first tonight when I get it all thawed. and I thought I had added my location to my profile. sorry about that , I will update it right now

Do not put anything under ski's or track.

XTX rear skid height on my turbo gets confues in the shop if you have dollies under neath.

 

[bmazbnytro]

Very true on the dolly being under it. It completely changes the leverage with all the weight in one little spot as to the weight being distributed through out the entire skid. Good point!

 

[jwagg]

I did have it sitting on a dolly, today I started thawing out the sled today and took it off the dolly. When I dropped it she popped back up. Got quite a bit of ice it from under it. Now I can pick it up 3 or 4 inches fromwhere it sits normal. Which is about what it was before. Thanks for all the help on this, no more rider's till the new shock is in.

 

[BADSLED]

Springs determine your ride and suspension height not your shocks. Shocks function is to dampen compression and rebound.

 

[jwagg]

what would you guys recommend for springs to get it sitting at it's peak height? I noticed in another post that someone was using one Apex Mountain spring combined with one stock spring, which makes sense that this would work. anyone else have similar solutions? Or is the best solution getting the star kit and some spring dampeners? I am new to the Nytro and trying not to sink to much money into it before I see how much I like it.
Thanks for your input