Help suspension bottoming out on transfer blocks

[race24x]

I need some help I have a big trip coming up and need to figure this out.

My sled when the suspension hits the transfer blocks, bottoms out and wont go down any further. I took everything out and worked the suspension with no shocks no spring and it couples correctly, works correctly. I put one part at a time back in the skid while in the sled and checked it and it works correctly until I put the rear springs on the perches even with the settings at one. I have the 4 position adjuster and the heavier springs from a 129 viper I think. It was riding decent the last ride and then seemed to lose its ride and bottom out. Please help.

 

[race24x]

Some pics to maybe help. This is a problem when it should couple the suspension and like I said everything works correctly without the rear springs being in position.

 

[acpantera]

When was the shocks serviced last?
Did you try increasing the spring preload on the torsion springs?

 

[maim]

i was going to say it might be time for a shock service. how many miles on the torsion springs?

 

[race24x]

The torsion springs are 2 years old maybe 800 1000 miles because last year was bad. The shocks are the stock ones I took off with about 2500 miles on them. I am only using them while my Elkas are being rebuilt. I cant figure out why the suspension couples and works but when I put the torsion springs back in the rear goes down hits the transfer blocks and stops. It doesnt do that if you take the torsion springs out and juat let them hang

 

[1nc 2000]

It becomes coupled at the time it hits the transfer blocks.
At that time you are trying to compress center shock and rear. It gives you more resistance with both shocks and springs as compared to just rocking and compressing the rear only.
I think you have two different issues here.
Shock needs service to get your smooth ride back is one issue. They do leak nitrogen.
The other is nothing wrong with suspension stopping when coupling action takes place when sitting in garage.

 

[race24x]

When i push down on my buddies it couples and then keeps moving down. You can feel the blocks touch and then both shocks move. Mine it seems like it hits the coupler and stops completely. I could really feel it the last ride on the trail as well

 

[1nc 2000]

Different tension on center spring or different center spring?

 

[race24x]

It was acting up before I changed anything. Thats why I went back to my old shocks and old center spring

 

[sxr70001]

You don't have wheels under the sled when testing do you. Not trying to offend but they act different if you push down on a sled thats on the the dolly's.

 

[fatchance]

Did you lose ride height that last ride out? The shock will start packing in the colder weather more and let you know it's time for servicing.

 

[Arc21981]

I had exactly same issue ! I figured rear shock finally gave out and bought new one. Installed new shock and same exact thing. I wasted a day trying ro figure out what was going on then all of a sudden for no reason nothing changed it started working again. I have no idea what happened but I dont feel to confident its fine. Kinda nice nice to hear im not going crazy though lol

 

[race24x]

First Travis at Barn of Parts saved my trip. He is a great guy and I cant say enough good things. He overnighted me a Fox QS3 for my sled. My Elka was blown and my stock shock was just not up to the task I guess even though it didnt have a lot of miles on it. He didnt even hesitate sent it to me right away.

Now we put 500 miles on in Canada the trails to be fair are pretty good in Quebec. We did hit some bumps and the suspension seemed to work good. I have to do some adjusting, but I am a big guy at 295 pounds and 6 foot 4. I may find a QS3 center shock and then I could have a spare set. Rebuild the Elkas now have the QS3s for the remainder of the year and then swap in the Elkas and have the QS3's rebuilt for my weight. I have the stiffer Viper springs, but I think I am going to reach out to Accelerated Technologies to get a set of their stiffer springs. I am currently running the Viper springs on 4 (I replaced the blocks with 4 position blocks) I can always run the other springs on a softer setting if I have to.

All this to say it appears the suspension works differently when you are sitting in the middle of the seat than pushing down on the rear bumper. Pushing on the rear bumper when the transfer blocks hit the suspension locks. However riding it on the trail sitting on the set it uses both shocks and springs coupled. This is the only thing I can come up with as a reason that it seemed off. I am not sure why it works without the springs. I am no suspension expert for sure. My friends Ski Doo if you push on the bumper it hits the transfer blocks and keeps going. In the end it worked on the trail nicely.