Help with some baseline suspension settings?

[thesnowgod]

Help me out guys. I swear I searched and I've read.... a lot.

Here's the basics. I'm riding (and considering buying) an 08 Nytro FX 40th Anniversary edition sled with the Fox Floats up front.

I weigh about 250-260# and before this sled, I always wished for a stiffer ride. Be careful what you wish for! This thing is a pogo-stick brick from hell.

I rode it about 125 miles and just HATED every minute of it. I've been on a lot of sleds over the years and could always "adapt" to a different sled but this thing was like riding a machine that didn't want to be ridden. Stiff, tippy and darty. I won't get into the non-existent hand warmers and the windshield that directed all the cold air into my chest. Brrrrrrrr. It was a cold ride!

The previous owner installed USI Triple Threat X2 skis. First thing I noticed was that they're bolted on to the spindle one hole BACK from the center position. Is this good? In other words, the skis stick out forward a little further. First thing I thought to do would be to put them in the center hole (unless this is where they should be). Hope my crude pic below helps.

I don't have the tool to pump up or air down the floats. Is it OK to use a regular pressure gauge? I'm guessing at this point that the front shocks on the skis are just way too stiff. On the roughest trails I was on, I could see on the bottom how far they had traveled and I was only pushing them down 2-3" max.

I have a Yamaha sportbike and so I'm familiar with the suspension settings and what they DO. However, when reading through the posts, I see different ways for people to address how theirs are set. Some mention 3 clicks out from "stock", others mention how many clicks from all the way in, etc.

I'd like someone to give me basically a good baseline to start from. In other words, "Set the front shock X number of clicks out from all the way in for compression." And then similar for rebound.

My biggest complaints are:

It's extremely stiff (and I've never made a complaint like that before). It's like it's set up for snowcross or something.

It's hard to turn the bars. I dont know the length of carbide on the skis but I think this might also have to do with how the skis are bolted on.

The rear is equally stiff. Even at 250# and the rear preload set to the middle, it's like a ROCK.

I don't know what the limiter straps are set to at the moment but I'll check later.

I'm simply hoping someone can get me pointed in the right direction. Right now, I can only equate riding this sled to riding a bull that doesn't want to be ridden all the while it's trying to tip me off at a hint of turning, unless I hang off like I'm on my motorcycle.

Thanks guys. I'd ask these questions elsewhere online but I know I'd simply be bashed for pages and pages.

 

[livewire_101proof]

i agree, ive just recently picked up an 06 nytro with the fox floats on it and have the exact same thoughts and im a very light person at 140 #. and i do have the pressure pump and have them set low, the pumps are only $30 from parts unlimited. my owners manual says anywhere from 50 to 150 psi with the sled in the air. standard is 70 psi, it was at 80 psi when i got it, i have em at 65 psi thinking it would be a little soft and it still only moves a few inches just like yours, it says when making changes to go in 5 psi increments. i have played with it a little but dont seem to make much diffrence except for ride height, wondering if the add on expansion chambers will help. I have even thought of selling the floats and getting a set of ohlins, ive run them on lots of other sleds and love em. I also see that the new yamahas have a new style fox float 2, and there are 2 aftermarket ones with external resevuars on them but dont know how diffrent or better/worse they are. im lost cause just like you i have some experience in suspensions also(alot of snomobiling and ama quad racing). hope you figure it out and i will also pay attention to this post to see if there is something i am missing also. maybee we will get a little more snow and time for me to play with it and i will be able to give some info. good luck.

 

[ahicks]

The Floats can be safely run with anything that will keep the sled from bottoming too often. There's no minimum from the shock's standpoint. They don't care.

I've run them as low as 35 and 40 psi without incident. If you aren't getting any/enough movement, don't be shy about dropping the pressure - and forget the 5 psi at a time bit. Make some BIG changes so it's really easy to see what you're doing, letting you quickly zero in on what you're looking for. Walmart and Amazon.com have pumps that will work fine for 20.00

 

[Grimm]

Here's a link to a thread that has some settings from different riders: http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?t=62502 In the first post is an exel spreadsheet that you can download and see what settings each person uses for their particular sled. Find one that has an 08 Nytro and use their settings as a baseline. I know that the 08 Nytro had a stiffer torsion spring than the 09, so softening your suspension to "S" wouldn't be out of the question in this instance, as long as you're not bottoming out all the time.

Don't know if a regular pressure gage would work, but you could try. Just remember to measure the pressure with the skis off the ground for an accurate reading...start with 65psi and go from there.

The skis you have are pretty aggressive which isn't exactly what the Nytro needs (yet better than the stockers) and I think you have them mounted in the position that will provide the easiest steering of the 3 choices you have. You could also try shimming the ski rubbers to reduce the ski pressure as well. link: http://www.totallyamaha.com/snowmobiles ... r_Shim.htm

To ease the steering a bit, you could increase the spring tension on the front shock in the rear suspension, as well as shorten the rear limiter strap one hole from stock.

If your sled is pogo-ing or bouncing too much in the bumps, then increase your compression on your shocks and reduce the rebound.

It takes a while, but you can soften things up to make your ride a comfortable one.

Good luck...and in the FX Nytro forum, there is a "sticky" FAQ thread near the top and in that thread is a link to download the Service manual for your sled, which is extremely helpful.

 

[Grimm]

Here's another link to some more info on adjusting your 08: http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php? ... highlight=

 

[thesnowgod]

Thanks a million for the replies. I can't believe I missed those links Grimm. Hopefully will be adjusting it a bit this weekend.

I was certain that putting the skis in the middle hole would make turning them easier but I may be wrong. Might try to experiment around a bit.

I printed off the excel sheets and I'm hoping I can use my regular air pressure gauge to determine how much is in those front floats. They sure seem STIFF!

Thanks again!