ranger1
TY 4 Stroke Guru
I have posted earlier about gearing up my 07 RTX which has the 22 top gear to a well recommended 23 tooth.
Some of the posts said,"don't bother gearing up an RTX because the CK skid is slow & that's why they geared it lower"...hmm, I was kinda thinking they geared it lower because it was meant to be a corner to corner ditch banger that was more focused on "quickness" & not speed.
Either way, I was able to take most of the unwanted friction out of the pro- active skid by changing out all the skid wheels with larger Diameter ones as well as adding a marginal snow wheel kit on the bend of the skid. Next to no wear from the front of the skid to about 3/4 of the way back, then the last 1/4 is down to about half way, evenly wore. Pretty good for almost 1,400 miles..oh ya, & she glides quite nicely after the engine breaking kicks out!!! Those simple mods made the skid waaaay more efficient!
Lots of sledders believe that the only way you can gain more top end from gearing up is if you have perfect conditions that allow full shift out. I used to be a firm believer in that as well, until Essarx had a very interesting theory. He said that the higher gear would be faster even in not so so perfect conditions as the taller gearing would require less shift out to equal the same final drive ratio, which would also bring you closer to a more efficient 1:1 ratio.
At full shift out the primary would be as efficient as it can but the secondary would be at its worst because the belt is forced to turn in a small radius.
Machzrobbie stated that they consistently got more top speed using the 24 top gear so this is why I opted to try the 24t.
FINALLY, THE TESTING!!! (sorry for the long post!!!!)
I opted to do the testing in a less than perfect speed conditions (not plowed ice road) & did it on packed lake with about 1 inch fresh snow just to test Essarex's theory as well as test the gears.
With the stock 22t gear I registered a consistent 118-119 on the speedo. Sorry, forgot the GPS!!!!!. ( prob about 103 though)
One & a half hours later, with the new longer chain & 24t gear I clocked a consistent 124 mph(dreamo of coarse)!!!!!! That is a definite gain in poor conditions with no full shift out!
I noticed no difference in quickness, mainly because I don't run a picked track & with the 22 I spun a lot more than with the 24. The 22 would be better with picks in that category.
Some say they lost gas mileage going from the 24 to the 23, but I didn't notice any gains by going up to the 24.
I will post my top speed gains in perfect speed conditions.....when & if the conditions come,lol!!!
I will keep the next posting short!!!!!!!! hahahaha
I gained lots of knowledge from all of you & I like to give some back....that's what it is all about, sharing what we know, that's what makes us better sledders & have better Yammy's for it, wuhoooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Some of the posts said,"don't bother gearing up an RTX because the CK skid is slow & that's why they geared it lower"...hmm, I was kinda thinking they geared it lower because it was meant to be a corner to corner ditch banger that was more focused on "quickness" & not speed.
Either way, I was able to take most of the unwanted friction out of the pro- active skid by changing out all the skid wheels with larger Diameter ones as well as adding a marginal snow wheel kit on the bend of the skid. Next to no wear from the front of the skid to about 3/4 of the way back, then the last 1/4 is down to about half way, evenly wore. Pretty good for almost 1,400 miles..oh ya, & she glides quite nicely after the engine breaking kicks out!!! Those simple mods made the skid waaaay more efficient!
Lots of sledders believe that the only way you can gain more top end from gearing up is if you have perfect conditions that allow full shift out. I used to be a firm believer in that as well, until Essarx had a very interesting theory. He said that the higher gear would be faster even in not so so perfect conditions as the taller gearing would require less shift out to equal the same final drive ratio, which would also bring you closer to a more efficient 1:1 ratio.
At full shift out the primary would be as efficient as it can but the secondary would be at its worst because the belt is forced to turn in a small radius.
Machzrobbie stated that they consistently got more top speed using the 24 top gear so this is why I opted to try the 24t.
FINALLY, THE TESTING!!! (sorry for the long post!!!!)
I opted to do the testing in a less than perfect speed conditions (not plowed ice road) & did it on packed lake with about 1 inch fresh snow just to test Essarex's theory as well as test the gears.
With the stock 22t gear I registered a consistent 118-119 on the speedo. Sorry, forgot the GPS!!!!!. ( prob about 103 though)
One & a half hours later, with the new longer chain & 24t gear I clocked a consistent 124 mph(dreamo of coarse)!!!!!! That is a definite gain in poor conditions with no full shift out!
I noticed no difference in quickness, mainly because I don't run a picked track & with the 22 I spun a lot more than with the 24. The 22 would be better with picks in that category.
Some say they lost gas mileage going from the 24 to the 23, but I didn't notice any gains by going up to the 24.
I will post my top speed gains in perfect speed conditions.....when & if the conditions come,lol!!!
I will keep the next posting short!!!!!!!! hahahaha
I gained lots of knowledge from all of you & I like to give some back....that's what it is all about, sharing what we know, that's what makes us better sledders & have better Yammy's for it, wuhoooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yannickapexrtx
Veteran
is that you keep the same clutching with both gear and how long your lake
agaguk
Extreme
my '07 rtx was faster with 22/38 (1.73) then 23/38 (1.65) on normal trail condition. on ice it's a other story i finally choose to installed a 39 bottom gear 23/39 (1.70) so best of both world but anyway those skid are slower than a monoshock ra 
ranger1
TY 4 Stroke Guru
Stock clutching with the exception of a white secondary spring. Same spring used in the attak. The lake run was about a mile long, amble distance to wined er out.yannickapexrtx said:
ranger1
TY 4 Stroke Guru
I know a lot of people say the CK skid is slower than the mono but for some reason my sled is now faster than my buds 08 Apex GT. He used to squeak by me before & now with my suspension mods & the higher gear ratio my sled is quite a bit faster than his.agaguk said:my '07 rtx was faster with 22/38 (1.73) then 23/38 (1.65) on normal trail condition. on ice it's a other story i finally choose to installed a 39 bottom gear 23/39 (1.70) so best of both world but anyway those skid are slower than a monoshock ra
Not sure exactly why I just know this was the outcome of the testing comparison.
Oh ya, my sled took five bucks less in fuel than his at the gas stop as well.
ranger1 said:I know a lot of people say the CK skid is slower than the mono but for some reason my sled is now faster than my buds 08 Apex GT. He used to squeak by me before & now with my suspension mods & the higher gear ratio my sled is quite a bit faster than his.agaguk said:my '07 rtx was faster with 22/38 (1.73) then 23/38 (1.65) on normal trail condition. on ice it's a other story i finally choose to installed a 39 bottom gear 23/39 (1.70) so best of both world but anyway those skid are slower than a monoshock ra
Not sure exactly why I just know this was the outcome of the testing comparison.
Oh ya, my sled took five bucks less in fuel than his at the gas stop as well.
Dumb question, but doesn't changing the gearing change the speedo reading?
miner
Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2007
- Messages
- 30
No, the speed sensor is on the axle. Only changing drive sprocket diameter will affect speed readings.
miner said:
got it, thanks. Didn't know where the speed sensor was.
ranger1
TY 4 Stroke Guru
Rhino48 said:ranger1 said:I know a lot of people say the CK skid is slower than the mono but for some reason my sled is now faster than my buds 08 Apex GT. He used to squeak by me before & now with my suspension mods & the higher gear ratio my sled is quite a bit faster than his.agaguk said:my '07 rtx was faster with 22/38 (1.73) then 23/38 (1.65) on normal trail condition. on ice it's a other story i finally choose to installed a 39 bottom gear 23/39 (1.70) so best of both world but anyway those skid are slower than a monoshock ra
Not sure exactly why I just know this was the outcome of the testing comparison.
Oh ya, my sled took five bucks less in fuel than his at the gas stop as well.
Dumb question, but doesn't changing the gearing change the speedo
reading?
It did change my speedo reading, it now reads 5 MPH more,lol!! Sorry, I couldn't resist! X2 what miner said though. I know these speedos are out 15 mph at 115,(115 =100 real speed) so some are grinding off two teeth on the sensor pickup gear to knock the speed reading down closer to GPS/radar accuracy.
Essarex
Pro
Glad to hear about your success!
ranger1
TY 4 Stroke Guru
I don't mind spending the time swapping parts out, doing a little testing & dishing out a few dollars here & there on the parts, as long as I get positive results in the end. Over the years there have been many trial & errors, many times I changed the clutching & ended up with no gain what so ever, sometimes even loose, hahaha!Essarex said:
This time it was definitely worth the effort, $130 well spent!!!
Thanks very much for your help!!
