C&A skis making my sled turn hard?

[Eric4440]

picked up a 14 XTX last weekend, hardly any snow so I haven't been able ride it much, but the one thing I do notice above all while riding it is it is incredibly difficult to steer. I'm OK with a little effort, but this is ridiculous. I pretty much have to force them when I'm off the throttle. It came with C&A pros on it, I've never ridden one stock so I can't say if the C&A made it worse. Doing some research it's a talk about issue with the XTX models, so yesterday I ordered a 160 pound spring from zbros. After some more research today I have read many people saying C&A skis are difficult to turn on any sled, and with this one already being difficult it's really bad.

I am now wondering if I should've ordered a 135 pound spring, and get a set of curves skis instead of just the 160 spring. I weigh roughly 200 geared up. I have an issue with my shoulder so the easier the steering the better, wondering if anybody has any thoughts on this, because I still could call and change to a 135 lb spring considering it hasn't been sent out yet, and then get different skis.

Otherwise I can just see how it behaves with the 160 pound spring, maybe somebody has some first-hand experience.

Just got the sled and have asked many questions already and so far this site has been awesome I appreciate everyone's help on here.

 

[Grimm]

I can't say anything about the sled, but no doubt the C&A skis are making it more difficult, moreso if they have an aggressive carbide on them. Any idea what C&A ski is mounted? They have several versions. You have to look at the ski profile to find out, or you could post some pics of the bottom of the skis and we could figure out which model you got.

 

[murdered141]

I have c&a pro xcs on my 15 ltx with 6" stud boy shaper bar carbides and now 6" woody's trail blazer carbides and they steer extremely hard, put in a heavier dual rate front skid shock spring, set rear block's to softest setting, lightened the preload on the front shocks with minimal change, i thinking about putting on the cat pro climb 7 ski's as those seem to steer easy on the cat and yammy turbo sleds.

 

[YukonMP]

Barn of Parts has developed a simple kit that provides greater than stock mechanical advantage in the steering, on Sidewinders for now I think. But Travis has been on here to saying it is coming for other models. Bet your bad shoulder likes the sound of that.

edit, kit is also viper at this time

 

[cannondale27]

That spring will help a lot. Keep cranking up preload till steering seems easier.

 

[Eric4440]

I will check them out tomorrow to find out what model they are. The have shaper bars on them but I'm not sure the length I'll check that out as well. I have my fingers crossed but I guess there's no way of knowing if it will help enough till I get them on. If not I'll have to sell the skis and try and offset the cost of some curves I suppose.

I'll have to look up that BOP systems, I've never heard of it before. I'll post back tomorrow with more info

I wish I had gotten the stock skis with the sled so I'd have something to compare these too. MayBe I can find someone selling a pair cheap

 

[murdered141]

That spring will help a lot. Keep cranking up preload till steering seems easier.

I had the spring cranked up till i was bouncing like a kangaroo on a pogo stick over the slightest bump, it helped the steering effort but sled was barely rideable.

 

[Eric4440]

I had the spring cranked up till i was bouncing like a kangaroo on a pogo stick over the slightest bump, it helped the steering effort but sled was barely rideable.

On the stock spring or with a heavier replacement spring? And on an XTX OR LTX/RTX?

 

[Eric4440]

I just looked at the skis, Look to be the older XTX model, they are 7.25 inches wide, They dont fit the profile of either the newer MTX or the XT skis. Also looks to be 8" shaper bars.

I see a lot of cat guys and viper guys run the polaris gripper skis with good results, I do have my old skis off my 06 IQ that I wonder if I could make fit. Same chassis had the grippers so Im sure it would be fairly simple. Not for a permanent solution, but to see how it steers with them.

 

[murdered141]

On the stock spring or with a heavier replacement spring? And on an XTX OR LTX/RTX?

Ltx, heavier dual rate, stock spring does nothing when you go past half way up on threads.

 

[JAZZ04RX1]

Ltx, heavier dual rate, stock spring does nothing when you go past half way up on threads.

I have the same issue with C&A RZ skis with 6inch carbide on a 16 LTX. I thought I read in past threads to loosen the front shock spring to reduce ski pressure.

 

[Grimm]

Yup, those skis definitely would increase steering effort immensely. Great for off trail I'm sure.

 

[TPAY243]

Best thing to do is get rid off those skis and carbide that's way to aggressive unless you are going to be cross country racing. Find a set of 2014 viper skis or any artic cat pro cross standard ski and put a set of the the 4 inch off set artic cat duel runners, easy steering and little to no darting they may push a little when the snow gets warm and packy but just adjust your driving style. This is the cheapest route unless you want to drop a bunch of money on aftermarket skis and end up having the same effect. You can mess around changing springs and such but I just don't think you will be able to get all that carbide and those aggressive skis to work. These rider forward 4 stroke machines have a lot more weight up front and don't need all that carbide for your average trail rider.

 

[Turtle]

I run C&A razors on my Viper. Yes they are aggressive and with a single runner carbide they will turn like driving a bulldozer. But here’s the magic trick. You don’t need different spring. You just need to swap out the single runner carbide with Woody’s Slim Jim Dually carbides. It will LITERALLY be night and day. The skis will still handle exactly how you like them, but they will steer with the ease of tuners. They are THAT GOOD! Been running the slim Jim combination on my C&As for a couple years now. They are great.

 

[Eric4440]

Someone 5 miles from me has a set of tuners off a 15 LTX for $160 with dual skegs on each ski, so I've been thinking on that, but I have read a lot of negative feedback on the stock tuners, my other option is get a new set of POO grippers, I can get them for $120 each, but have to get mounts, and runners for them, heard LOTS of postives on these Also interested in turtles suggestion on changing out the carbides for a dual on the C&As, but im wondering if I would get the same effect on the aggressive XTXs compared the the razors?