Handling funny! Is their ski camber???

[AaronBND]

Guys I have a question. Hit a rock a month ago, changed out the bulkhead and left a-arms. Got all new bolts, etc.. Been riding ever since. My question is....I am running the simmons skis and it use to be rock solid on trails. Now I notice it does some darting around. I have checked my toe-out twice and it is right at zero. Could I have bent my steering knuckle a little and it be riding weird because the camber on the skis is off. Not sitting totally flat I mean. On the garage floor it looks ok, but it just handles different than it use too. Also, I was noticing on my simmons carbides that the first inch or two is almost totally flat! Are they wore out or do they come like that? I don't think that is what's making it handle weird because obviously it wasn't doing that a month ago with these same carbides. Any ideas??? Thanks.

Aaron

 

[Red2003]

They are made like that. If the ski bottoms are flat while steering is strait, your camber is fine. Caster may be messed up though. If it was it would pull to one side of the trail. Not necessarily dart, just pull one way. Does it steer mean? Usually if you have a bent spindle or other steering parts the steering will feel real heavy. Man, the way this winter is going if you have enough snow to be upset with the way it handles, you got the rest of us beat!

 

[AaronBND]

Plenty of snow!

Oh...........we have plenty of snow. All the road signs are completely covered! Don't get me wrong. The snows excellent, just seems to handle a little different!

 

[Red2003]

If you specifically explain what "different" means, we can probably help you.

 

[AaronBND]

It's doing more pulling back and forth on the trail. It just rode more stable going down the trail. I was just wondering if their is a way to check the caster? My left steering knuckle might be bent.

Aaron

 

[Red2003]

Take an angle finder and measure the caster on the right side spindle. Should be the same as the left. If not, you got a spindle problem.

 

[wesleeja]

did you change the rear suspension at all. I have the same ski's on my 03. I have an m-10 and when I shortened the limiter strap it put a lot more weight on the front end. With the added weight on the front it would dart on hard packed trails with very little snow. As soon as I hit any kind of soft snow the darting goes away.

 

[AaronBND]

I didn't do anything to the limiter strap, but I did stiffen up the front shock two clicks on the skid to try and get more front end lift and transfer. Didn't think about that! Wonder if thats it? We have tons of snow, so I know it's not that.

Aaron

 

[MSRX-ERNIE]

Last year I hit a rock with the left side ski and steering knuckle and did´nt notice the steering knuckle and the A-arms was bent a little when I checked. I could feel that it was a little harder to turn the skis after hitting the rock so I put the sled on a flat surface and checked a-arms and steering knuckle. They were slightly bent, but enough to make it harder to steer. Luckily nothing happen´t to the bulkhead and I managed to straighten out the a-arms and knuckle on a press with out damaging them.

But I did´nt notice any change in the handling while the a-arms and knuckle was bent only a little heavyer to turn the ski´s.

Probably your steering knuckle that is bent.

Ernie

 

[AaronBND]

Checkin' it out!

I'm gonna get it in my shop this morning and check it out. I got all my parts to reclutch, regear and raise the bars. Should keep me busy most the day! Thanks for the reply Ernie!

Aaron