TreewellDweller
Veteran
Finally got around to finishing my RX-1 "Kachess" conversion. I did the steering post conversion, headlight removal, and gauge cluster relocation. I swapped out the rear suspension for a 2004 Summit 151" and have a 159" track. I installed an undertunnel exhaust with a 6" baffle in the muffler. I installed a M7 seat and threw on a pair of SLP powder-pro skis. I changed the oil and filter and even installed the Shock-wave secondary clutch kit. I figured, this thing should really be set up to go, now.
Put about 50 miles on yesterday with about 30 of them boondocking in spring snow. My riding partners were on an 09 xp 800 summit 154" and a 01 rmk 700 151". I have to say I was disappointed. My RX1 was trenching excessively compared to them and I could only pull about 8000rmp no matter what I adusted the secondary. Ski pressure seemed to be excessive and I could barley turn going slow throught the trees on crusty snow conditions. When it got soft I just seemed to plow. Chutes the others were going up with ease I would have to turn out on and sometimes got stuck. To make matters worse, within a mile of the parking lot on the way out it started to lose power and would hardly idle with out back firing.
If I drop the front of the skid about an inch and raise the rear of the skid(up into the tunnel) about an inch, will this decrease the ski pressure enough to make a difference? This thing seemed way heavy on the ski pressure. Also, will this in any way keep it from trenching?
Why can't I get this thing to rev up to 10,000rpm or even close? Everytime I checked it was barely above 8000rpm, climbing or going down the trail.
Lastly, any ideas on why it seems that I have lost a cylinder or whatever? It just seemed to steadily get worse on the trail back to the parking lot. Any and all ideas would be appreciated. I know it is gong to be heavy compared to other sleds, but I rode an Apex for half the season last year and this RX1 doesn't come close. I think I am just in need of some serious fine tuning. Hopefully the pictures work so you can see what I have.
Put about 50 miles on yesterday with about 30 of them boondocking in spring snow. My riding partners were on an 09 xp 800 summit 154" and a 01 rmk 700 151". I have to say I was disappointed. My RX1 was trenching excessively compared to them and I could only pull about 8000rmp no matter what I adusted the secondary. Ski pressure seemed to be excessive and I could barley turn going slow throught the trees on crusty snow conditions. When it got soft I just seemed to plow. Chutes the others were going up with ease I would have to turn out on and sometimes got stuck. To make matters worse, within a mile of the parking lot on the way out it started to lose power and would hardly idle with out back firing.
If I drop the front of the skid about an inch and raise the rear of the skid(up into the tunnel) about an inch, will this decrease the ski pressure enough to make a difference? This thing seemed way heavy on the ski pressure. Also, will this in any way keep it from trenching?
Why can't I get this thing to rev up to 10,000rpm or even close? Everytime I checked it was barely above 8000rpm, climbing or going down the trail.
Lastly, any ideas on why it seems that I have lost a cylinder or whatever? It just seemed to steadily get worse on the trail back to the parking lot. Any and all ideas would be appreciated. I know it is gong to be heavy compared to other sleds, but I rode an Apex for half the season last year and this RX1 doesn't come close. I think I am just in need of some serious fine tuning. Hopefully the pictures work so you can see what I have.
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yamahamaniac
Expert
Power problems could be due to jets. They might need to be changed out with the undertunnel. For ski pressure it has to do with tuning that skid. It will take a while playing around with the skid to get the pressure down. Also I would go so far as to say those rider forward kits would increase pressure because you are standing further forward on the sled which would mean more weight up there and more pressure. I hear tell of a lot of guys on here having plowing problems with their tons, I don't really have this problem with mine. It's completely stock except for the riser and all I have to do is stand back as far as I can and punch the throttle and the front rises out of the pow and stays there. Only way to turn is to lean. I do find my sled pretty hard to turn but I don't think it has the ski pressure some guys talk about on here for whatever reason. I have the skid dropped to the bottom hole in the rear bracket and the weight transfer turned all the way up, that along with the 5 inch rise makes the sled a whole different animal this year, I'd like to do some weight loss treatments and some simple HP treatments though, any ideas??
bdm
Expert
For for your engine issues, especially in the spring season, make sure that you have a valve to shut the coolant off to the carbs, I learned that the hard way this season.
Second, sounds like you might need a good carb cleaning. Once you are sure that they are good and clean make sure that you are jetted properly, again, as the season gets warmer issues may arise that you didn't notice during cold weather.
After you are sure that you have no fuel issues start looking at clutching. You want to clutch such that you peg at 10,400 and settle in to 10,200 on a climb.
I don't have much advice on your suspension setup but I know that you should be able to iron it out. I have a Holz rear skid and a 159" and I don't trench one bit.
Make sure that you ditch the front swar bar - without mine in I can carve and sidehill like I actually know what I am doing! We were out yesterday and I couldn't be happier.
I think that crusty snow will always cause you problems even after you get your machine set up.
Love your Cat seat... I have my Doo seat in hand ready to go on once this season is over (more snow this week)
good luck - these things are a blast so don't give up!
www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?t=64680&highlight=
Second, sounds like you might need a good carb cleaning. Once you are sure that they are good and clean make sure that you are jetted properly, again, as the season gets warmer issues may arise that you didn't notice during cold weather.
After you are sure that you have no fuel issues start looking at clutching. You want to clutch such that you peg at 10,400 and settle in to 10,200 on a climb.
I don't have much advice on your suspension setup but I know that you should be able to iron it out. I have a Holz rear skid and a 159" and I don't trench one bit.
Make sure that you ditch the front swar bar - without mine in I can carve and sidehill like I actually know what I am doing! We were out yesterday and I couldn't be happier.
I think that crusty snow will always cause you problems even after you get your machine set up.
Love your Cat seat... I have my Doo seat in hand ready to go on once this season is over (more snow this week)
good luck - these things are a blast so don't give up!
www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?t=64680&highlight=
kinger
VIP Member
I think your clutching is screwed up and you have a exhaust leak/bad donut.
check the clutches for proper movement, replace springs if they may be bad and check the buttons.
For exhaust start it up (when you get it to idle) and put your hand over the exhaust (with a glove on of course) and it should kill the sled instantly. If not listen for a noise that is your exhaust leak and that is causing your backfiring.
Never seen a cat seat before. Any other pictures of the install, brackets, etc?
check the clutches for proper movement, replace springs if they may be bad and check the buttons.
For exhaust start it up (when you get it to idle) and put your hand over the exhaust (with a glove on of course) and it should kill the sled instantly. If not listen for a noise that is your exhaust leak and that is causing your backfiring.
Never seen a cat seat before. Any other pictures of the install, brackets, etc?
The simplest and most devistating thing is the carbs. I have 5 RX's and have pulled the carbs at the beginning of the season on all and half way through the season been sidelined by low revs and backfiring or just rev breakdown aroud 8000 rpms by the smallest pieces of dirt. This yr I added clear plastic fuel filters on my primary sled just before the fuel pump and low and behold 230 miles from the shack brrrp brrp and had to ride all the way back at 45 miles per hour. Pulled the rack and cleaned the jets and back in business.
TreewellDweller
Veteran
All right, sounds like a carb cleaning is definately in order and then tear into the primary clutch. The main spring is surely a bit tired. I think maintenance was a little amiss on this poor thing. To get the suspension sucked up into the tunnel will be the next thing. I think that will lighten the ski pressure. The problem is I will need to suck up the under tunnel exhaust. For the suspension to go up, it will need to go up too.
Where do most folks put the front limiter strap? I have mine extended out to the limit.
I'll let you know how it turns out.
Where do most folks put the front limiter strap? I have mine extended out to the limit.
I'll let you know how it turns out.
MOUNTAIN VMAX4
Pro
16 in
16 inch wide tracks help with trenching and is a night and day improvement I dont think Kachess has do any 16 wide tracks but they make a huge difference I dont think you will climb or float as good as the Rev 800 XP until you get a 16 wide track, if you do it you will never look back. My old RX1 would climb everything and XP 800 would but it had a 162x16x2.3 track and undertunnel with Heelclicker clutching and 85 lbs off. I also used the skidoo skid. Good luck, everything these guys mentioned I would check from the carbs to clutching to the exhaust. You will get it figured out also if you get a bunch of snow in the front of your hood it will plug up your airbox or melt and turn to steam then go into your airbox and freeze that would cause what you are describing!!
16 inch wide tracks help with trenching and is a night and day improvement I dont think Kachess has do any 16 wide tracks but they make a huge difference I dont think you will climb or float as good as the Rev 800 XP until you get a 16 wide track, if you do it you will never look back. My old RX1 would climb everything and XP 800 would but it had a 162x16x2.3 track and undertunnel with Heelclicker clutching and 85 lbs off. I also used the skidoo skid. Good luck, everything these guys mentioned I would check from the carbs to clutching to the exhaust. You will get it figured out also if you get a bunch of snow in the front of your hood it will plug up your airbox or melt and turn to steam then go into your airbox and freeze that would cause what you are describing!!
powder muncher
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
Once the carbs are cleaned and all is well make sure you get Max RPM on the trail 10300 to 10400 it should drop to just above 10000 in the soft stuff any more and you know your under tunnel exhaust is chocking your engine.
That is very common some guys put a exhaust pipe right through the snow flap to get away from it.
That is very common some guys put a exhaust pipe right through the snow flap to get away from it.
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