First and (Hopefully Not) Last Ride of the season

[Ricketts]

Finally got out for a ride!! Lifes been getting in the way. 120 mile ride, Phazer is running perfectly. On the ride home, coming around the last point on the lake in front of our house, someone put up a new ice fishing shack. I'm checking out the shack as I'm drifting by, forgetting the reef immediately adjacent to it.

Granted, it turned cloudy on the way home and the reef was completely ice covered but...BAM!! Up in the air long enough to think "I should probably push myself away from the sled so it doesn't land on me". I come down, skid for 100 feet, laying in the snow with a dislocated right shoulder. I manage to pop my shoulder back into place (remembering the technique from the ER the last time I did it 16 years ago).

I finally get up, after doing my self assessment (no blood, no broken bones, etc). My left hand is cold, and I notice my mitt is gone. The phazer is patiently idling in the distance. There is no mark in the snow from myself or the phazer for 30 feet.

I walk up and shut it off, retrieving my mitt that is still holding the left handlebar, and finish my assessment. My 2 buddies finally come back, they had been sitting a mile down the lake waiting for me, thinking I had just stopped to take a long look at the ice shack.

So - get this - there does not appear to be any damage to the phazer. Skis and handlebars are straight, still aligned, no visible damage to the suspension, sliderails OK, control arms OK, no dents or plastic damage anywhere that I can see. Its in better shape than I am (just got out of my sling this week).

I drive it home (slowly of course because of my shoulder) and it is tracking perfectly, does not pull to one side or anything, nothing binding when I turn the handlebars, not leaking coolant, nothing. Amazing.

So, given my little story - are there any places I should look for hidden signs of damage? I had the upgraded rear suspension upgrade done 2 winters ago, everything looks good inside the skid, but any spots anywhere on the machine I should inspect for hairline cracks, metal fatigue, etc?

Moral of the story -

1) Don't get sidetracked - even for a second
2) Most accidents do happen within 3 miles of your home
3) Count your blessing if you can drive out under your own power

One last thing - is there anything I can do to get some float on this thing? My last phazer was a 1990, which was amazing in the snow...this thing plows through the snow like a rock. It is awesome on a semihard packed trail, but I think the current generation of sleds forgot the purpose of a belly pan.

Rick

 

[Ruckus]

Glad to hear your mostly ok! Skis and a float plate went a long way for me. Also standing further back on the running boards and steering with the rear seems to work well for this machine as well. The front/lower section of this thing is a cube though...needs some help not to plow and the float plate did that for me. However, it easily fills with snow and turns to ice, deforming it and causing it sit a few extra inches away than normal.

 

[Cubby]

I had a similar experience with my Phazer last year. Same thing - she landed perfectly in the middle of the trail (without me) and just sat there idling waiting for me. No damage. I have since installed a tether.

For floatation you should look into the Skinz float plate. I have the OEM Yamaha skid plate but will switch to the Skinz for next season.

http://www.skinzprotectivegear.com/snow ... lates.html

 

[ATV PRO #11]

Glad to hear your alright!!

I've been riding sleds for only a couple months SO i hear ya with regards to keeping an eye on the terrain. I had a close call last nite after about 200 miles of riding. Seems you become complacent cruising but don't realize that your humming along at 65-70 at night.

One thing i'll say FOR SURE. Phazers are like cats....they always seem to land on their feet!!

 

[Weapon X]

I found my skis were under the snow alot until I installed C&A skis on mine.Now there on top and they were only an inch wider.

 

[cannondale27]

Scary!Glad you are alright.Depending on how high it went 30ft shouldnt hurt anything.Lots do that for fun just have to be ready for it.

 

[MikeWalters]

Skinz float plate got me up on top the snow a bit for sure.

The 1.5" track was night and day difference in the deep stuff too.

 

[Ricketts]

Thanks for the replies and the ideas for flotation. I had been standing up alot during that trip mainly because the snow would float right over the front of the machine into my visor if I sat down, but I will have to try the moving to the rear trick some more. Goes to show how little I break trail - I have had the sled for 3 years and this really was the first time. I have been reading most of the threads here and I can see why the phazer tends to overheat in deep snow, that rad sure plugs up fast!

Those wing things that mount on the lower control arms (I can't remember what they are called) do they help for flotation?

It still freaks me out that the machine looks completely undamaged. As I was laying there, thinking, I was sort of scared to think what was left of the machine when I went to look at it.

Also thankful that it didn't happen at the 60 mile halfway point in the trip - that would have been a loooong ride home, or worse if I had broke something on me or the machine. Still makes me shudder to think about it. My wife is pretty glad I'm OK. She didn't believe me at first when I walked through the door and told her. She said I was grinning ear to ear. I was just still amazed at how incredibly lucky I was. I would rather keep my arm in a sling for 3 weeks anytime over laying out on the ice, alone, slowly bleeding to death...cripes.

Will definitely look into the Skinz skid plate.

Rick

 

[marpolsdofer]

Take a look at the bolts holding the a-arms off. I thought mine were fine after I pulled the sled put of a ditch. Few days later I found out the bolt broke and then my a-arm bent, mount ovaled .