Front Carbide Wear

[cannondale27]

I like to use rubber hose. Different dia hose for experimenting.

 

[1999 Fatboy]

After installing the 1/8" aluminum shims and 300 or so miles including about 30 miles on the sides of the road, the carbides are wearing evenly and the Viper carves on groomed trails like it's on rails, thanks everyone for the shim tips.

 

[Joseph Zaloker]

If you purchase a new set of Stud Boy shaper bars they send a illustration which shows where to add the shim. 1/8" is a good shim thickness. Remove the ski and place the shim under the rear of the rubber boot of the ski and re-install the ski. The shim will not make steering harder, rather it will make it easier, but lets face it, unless there is way to actually measure the force required to turn the handle bars and you can repeat the test exactly with and without the shim, its pretty hard to feel a change. Stud Boy recommends the shim to improve wear from the front of the runner.

 

[1999 Fatboy]

If you purchase a new set of Stud Boy shaper bars they send a illustration which shows where to add the shim. 1/8" is a good shim thickness. Remove the ski and place the shim under the rear of the rubber boot of the ski and re-install the ski. The shim will not make steering harder, rather it will make it easier, but lets face it, unless there is way to actually measure the force required to turn the handle bars and you can repeat the test exactly with and without the shim, its pretty hard to feel a change. Stud Boy recommends the shim to improve wear from the front of the runner.

Exactly, I didn't notice any difference in the effort to steer the sled, but, it noticeably holds better while turning with the keels and runners making more even snow contact.

 

[Joseph Zaloker]

The difference would not be really noticeable. Basically what you are doing by inserting the “shim” is pressing the back of the runner and carbide down further by the thickness of the shim. I haven’t tried this, but if you are on a flat concrete floor you MAY be able to see a little light at the front of the carbide, when looking at the ski and runner from the side. But as I said I have not looked and we all know Yamahas have a LOT of weight up front so the carbide maybe flat on the floor the entire distance of the carbide.

 

[Joseph Zaloker]

Fat boy are you saying you have the longer carbide on the outside of the skis. I have a 2016 Viper LTX factory skis and running Stud Boy shaper bars 4.5” and 6.0” respectively. Is there any documentation or recommendation to have the longer carbide on the outside of the ski?
I swear I ran my runners/carbides in the same configuration as you stated, but felt the front end was pushing and sliding through the corners. I changed the configuration to the 6.0” on the inside of the skis and it felt like I was on rails going through the corners.
It’s a simple thing to change and ride, just wondering if there is “tribal knowledge” out there that says with dual runners put more carbide on the outside of the skis. Guess I could ask the Stud Boy guys and gals.

 

[ateick]

I run Woody's 6" shaper inside, 4" round outside. I haven't seen anyone here anyone running the reverse.

 

[1999 Fatboy]

Fat boy are you saying you have the longer carbide on the outside of the skis. I have a 2016 Viper LTX factory skis and running Stud Boy shaper bars 4.5” and 6.0” respectively. Is there any documentation or recommendation to have the longer carbide on the outside of the ski?
I swear I ran my runners/carbides in the same configuration as you stated, but felt the front end was pushing and sliding through the corners. I changed the configuration to the 6.0” on the inside of the skis and it felt like I was on rails going through the corners.
It’s a simple thing to change and ride, just wondering if there is “tribal knowledge” out there that says with dual runners put more carbide on the outside of the skis. Guess I could ask the Stud Boy guys and gals.

I do have the longer runners on the outside, can't remember if the instructions recommended that or if I replaced them improperly, I'll swap them and see if there is any noticeable difference, I have seen posts on other sites where riders have used both methods or even used the same length on both.

 

[Joseph Zaloker]

I do have the longer runners on the outside, can't remember if the instructions recommended that or if I replaced them improperly, I'll swap them and see if there is any noticeable difference, I have seen posts on other sites where riders have used both methods or even used the same length on both.

Thank you. Curious on the results you get.

 

[Joseph Zaloker]

I run Woody's 6" shaper inside, 4" round outside. I haven't seen anyone here anyone running the reverse.

Thank you for clarifying. I am going to order new Stud Boy runners as this season with little snow has wreaked havoc on my runners. I will try the same configuration as you suggested. 6.0” shaper bars on the inside of the ski and ROUND 4.0” on the outside.

 

[1999 Fatboy]

Thank you. Curious on the results you get.

After a 50 mile test run on groomed trails no noticeable difference with the switch which makes sense because the shaper bar is the same length inside and out with only the carbide portion being a different length, with the carbides half wore out I might notice better turning if I did a fair amount of ice riding, not my case. I do have a set of Woody's I may try later this season, but, I can't imagine they'll be as good as the Stud Boys simply because of the shape of the runner.

 

[Joseph Zaloker]

After a 50 mile test run on groomed trails no noticeable difference with the switch which makes sense because the shaper bar is the same length inside and out with only the carbide portion being a different length, with the carbides half wore out I might notice better turning if I did a fair amount of ice riding, not my case. I do have a set of Woody's I may try later this season, but, I can't imagine they'll be as good as the Stud Boys simply because of the shape of the runner.

Thanks for sharing test test results. The length of the runner is a interesting point to bring up.

 

[1999 Fatboy]

Thanks for sharing test test results. The length of the runner is a interesting point to bring up.

Just returned home after a 3 day trip and around 400 miles in the Old Forge/Tug Hill, N.Y. area with 8 other sleds. The Viper handled awesome and the carbides still have about 1/8" left on them despite a fair amount of logging road riding and a total of about 4,000 miles on the Stud Boys since new. The key was shimming the skis as others suggested which accounts for the even wear of the carbides, no more adjustments for me, I'm very happy with my ride.

 

[Joseph Zaloker]

Thanks for posting back. I ordered new Stud Boy 6.0” shapers for the inside and 4.0” round bars for the outside of the ski. Once I receive I will shim and ride.

 

[1999 Fatboy]

Thanks for posting back. I ordered new Stud Boy 6.0” shapers for the inside and 4.0” round bars for the outside of the ski. Once I receive I will shim and ride.

Should work well.