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Best carbide set up for dual runner skis?

MXD

Pro
Joined
Nov 29, 2005
Messages
171
Location
Boston, MA
I'm going to purchase a set of dual runner skis, not sure which ones yet but I'm leaning toward the Pilots. What is the best carbide set up for groomed trails. I'm trying to eliminate darting AND heavy steering. Those are the 2 complaints I have about my ER. The darting isn't so bad with the shims but the heavy steering is beating me up. Right now I have stock skis with woody's 8 inch and 144 studs.
 

If your willing to try one more addition to your stock skis, you may not need new skis. I run Simmons with Bergstrom tripple points, 8" on inside and 4" on outside. They work very well, no darting but do push in lose snow. A friend put shims, 8" Berstrom tripple points and ski savers on his stock Apex skiis. When riding his sled back to back with mine, I was impressed. His darted slightly in certain conditions but could corner slightly better than mine. His steering effort was lighter than mine but he runs transfer one notch more towards maximum than I do. I think the ski savers are like $10. May be worth trying.
I may try it myself next year and do some long term comparisons.
 
MXD said:
... I'm trying to eliminate darting AND heavy steering. Those are the 2 complaints I have about my ER. The darting isn't so bad with the shims but the heavy steering is beating me up...
Install a set of Bergstrom Triple Points. You already have the skis shimmed. This is what I did and 95% of the darting is gone plus no heavy steering. In fact, I'd say the steering is very easy due to the rocker style shape of the carbide.
 
Too thick a Shim causes heavy steering. {IMHO, simple physics}

Lots of studs cause a sled to push.

To get rid of the push you add more agressive runners

More aggressive runners cause hard steering and darting.

Shims help with darting but cause even heavier steering if too thick.

A tangled web we weave.

As you can see all changes have a negative as well as pluses.

My Apex GTwith only 96 1.325 Megabytes and with stock runners does not dart and is easy to steer. Yes it pushes a little but that is not material to me.

When stock runners wear out I will put on 4 " Dualies or duece bars. Or perhaps go with a 4 or 6" Bergstrom set up.

If you want light steering and little darting you may want to reconsider all the studs, aggressive bars and perhaps reduce your shim thickness.

:yam:
 
MXD,

The shims do make it really heavy to steer. You have the right idea...get new skis. I ran the stock skis with Woody's Doolys. That is a quick fix that makes the sled ride 100 times better. Problem with them is the fact that it seems like you are pushing a snow plow...lot of drag. That also pushed a fair amount in the turns.

I just installed the Slydog Skis that I bought from Ulmer Racing. They are about $325 with Carbides, mounts, loops etc. I have ridden about 600 miles with them and am very happy. They don't push through the corners, steering is light/moderate...not heavy, and virtually elimated darting.

Any ski is better than the stock ski.

P.S. These guys that claim they get the stock ski and carbide to work well are fooling themselves. Me and 2 of my friends with Apex's tried shimming, toe in, toe out, ski pressure, limiter strap, everything to get them to work. They just don't. They suck...end of story. Buy new skis or at least Doolies or Duece Bars.
 
I run the 5.7 pilots with a 6 inch stud boy shaper in the center and a 6 inch carbide bar on the outer. it's on rails man!!!! Steers light up to 75 psi in the floats in center holes in limiter. I did not shim my ski's either. Hope this helps you
 


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