First ride with the ZX-2, problems, Help me fix them

[tkuss]

O.K I guess I did not really have any problems with it, however after reading through this forum, I thought it would be a much stiffer ride than the Monoshock. After this weekend I found out that mine is just as smooth as the monoshock, which is awesome, but I also bottomed it out quite a few time through out the day( 10 or so times), which I was not expecting. I bought the suspension thinking I would really be able to pound through the rough stuff and the suspension would take it. I am not saying it can't or will not do that, I am just now looking for some advice on how to set it up so that it can take the big stuff.

Here is what I know, I THINK I was riding most of the day with the preload set on 4 or 5, it was however it came from stoutner(the guy I bought it from). At the end of the day, I ran through a rough trail section and it bottomed out pretty easy on drop outs where the trail just drops about a foot or so and then 4 feet later comes back up to where it was. If the suspension had a front shock(I know it doesnt) it feels like the front shock was bottoming out. If the bumps hit the rear of the skid, things were fine and dandy(to much coupling?). After running through that section, I cranked the preload up one notch and ran through it again. I could tell it was slightly stiffer, but again it bottomed out pretty easy on the big hits and G-outs, just like it did before the adjustment. I didn't fool around with the revolver at all. I will check the manual and make some changes on what I think I should do. But do you guys think? I know this suspension can take the big stuff I just need some help tuning it.
Here are some pictures of it current setting, I believe the preload is on 6,which is what I switched it to yesterday when riding as described above.

 

[STAIN]

You bought this skid used or new? Does it have dual or strait rate springs? The ZX2 is usually very hard to bottom out---I bet I haven't bottomed mine out 10 times in 3000 miles, and it really shines in the G-outs. Makes me wonder if your shocks are spent?

 

[tkuss]

I bought it used, with about 1000 miles on it. And it is in great shape, with most the riding done on trails in Quebec.

 

[kinger]

What do you weigh? I set mine up per the manual for my weight and riding style and never bottom'ed out. Try that and report back.

 

[tkuss]

I only weigh probably 190-200 all suited up. So I belive I did the preload set for my weight. Hopefully this next weekend I can get some more riding time and try cranking up the preload as high as it can go. And if I bottom that out, than I know something is wrong, or not like it is suppose to be. Like I said before, the ride was very nice, just didnt handle the big bumps like I thought it would.
Here is a full ride report from this weekend.
http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?t=64912

 

[SnoWarrior]

I had mine on 3 and could not bottom it. I am abt 230 with gear. I have it set on 5 now and ride is great through everything.

Sounds like what STAIN said, shocks.....
If you push down on the back of the sled, the suspension should move very little. I can stand on the rear of the running boards and jump up and down, and the suspension barely moves.

What kind of sled, and did you use the correct instalation kit?

 

[Grimm]

Here is your answer: Tighten your track.

You will be amazed at the difference.

 

[tkuss]

Here is your answer: Tighten your track.

You will be amazed at the difference.

Thanks, will try that and report back on the difference, I am running it pretty loose. I also emailed AD Boivin, and will report back with what they say.

 

[stoutner]

Tom,

The shocks should be just fine....at least I never noticed any problem when I put the sled away last Spring. Was the bottoming out "harsh" or did you just hear your track hitting the tunnel protectors? I weigh 240 and it rarely bottomed out on me....but, The track does "flex" up and hit the tunnel protectors very easily because of the limited clearance that we spoke about. When your track is on the looser side, you will get that pretty often. It will be less often when the track is tighter but it will still happen.

Wayne

 

[kinger]

How much sag do you get when you lift up the sled and your track is hanging there? I didn't even have 1/2" last year.

 

[tkuss]

There was one big bump that it bottomed out on pretty easily. Next time I am up by my sled, hopefully this weekend, I will check and adjust the track tension. I know i had it pretty loose when I installed it, the temp was varying because we had a bullet heater on and off all day in the shed where I keep the sled, the outside temp was about 15-20F I believe. And I did not check the track tension at all after riding a bit so It could have changed a bit, but I was not getting any ratcheting.

 

[Grimm]

I think this track relies on track tension to keep suspension sag to a minimum. Before tightening your track, measure the sit in/suspension sag when you sit on it. Then measure the sag after you tighten the track. I bet you there will be a huge difference.

 

[tkuss]

Dennis at AD Boivin recommends lowering the front end by lowering the Fox Floats to 25-30 PSI. I don't think I want to go that low but I will defianlty lower the PSI. I am at about 60 psi right now and will lower to 50PSI and then keep lowering in increments of 5psi or so if the ride gets better. I will also tighten the track tension up to about a 1/2 inch of sag or so with at outside temperature. Hopefully these things will make a difference.

 

[Jigger]

I've bottomed my 151 skid out a bunch of times. The long track version only uses one shock so I thought this was the problem but I may try and tighten up the track a little and see if that helps.

 

[tkuss]

What limiter strap postion should the skid be in? I just used the postion that what looked stounter used, because of all the marks on it. I figure raising and lowering the front end makes a difference, than the limiter strap is probably a pretty big difference.