erifnus
Newbie
This has probably been covered before but seeing I am relatively new to this forum and my first season with my 40th Mountain I am looking for things to help make my sled a better trail sled.
I split my riding for half trail and half off trail and in hindsight should have bought a XTX. I find it very difficult riding this sled on hard packed or trails as it seems very unstable and I do not feel comfortable with speeds over 50 kmph. The sled seems to dart all over the place and its a struggle to keep it on track.
Is there anything I can do to make it a better trail sled?
Al suggestions would be appreciated!
Thanks,
I split my riding for half trail and half off trail and in hindsight should have bought a XTX. I find it very difficult riding this sled on hard packed or trails as it seems very unstable and I do not feel comfortable with speeds over 50 kmph. The sled seems to dart all over the place and its a struggle to keep it on track.
Is there anything I can do to make it a better trail sled?
Al suggestions would be appreciated!
Thanks,
nor'easter
VIP Member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2008
- Messages
- 156
- Reaction score
- 11
- Points
- 948
- Location
- Pennsylvania
- Country
- USA
- Snowmobile
- Nytro RTX SE
erifnus,
This is a very good question and an important one. I too have experienced some darting on my SE so I did a little exploring. The darting only happens on very hard packed groomed trails with loads of scratch marks. I rode an '09 XTX that had the Woody's Slim Jim
Doolys on and wow, what a difference. The Slim Jims will make the XTX go exactly straight (no darting at all) when on hard pack groomed trails. I purchased a pair for my SE but have not installed them yet. Steering may be a little more difficult in the corners requiring a little more muscle but you will feel like your on rails. This is my experience.
This is a very good question and an important one. I too have experienced some darting on my SE so I did a little exploring. The darting only happens on very hard packed groomed trails with loads of scratch marks. I rode an '09 XTX that had the Woody's Slim Jim
Doolys on and wow, what a difference. The Slim Jims will make the XTX go exactly straight (no darting at all) when on hard pack groomed trails. I purchased a pair for my SE but have not installed them yet. Steering may be a little more difficult in the corners requiring a little more muscle but you will feel like your on rails. This is my experience.
erifnus
Newbie
Thanks for the tip nor'easter!
I am going to take a XTX for a test run later this month and may consider trading in my machine for this if it's a better ride. Would prefer not to do this as I will take a loss on the sled but I need to ride a machine that I feel comfortable on in order to enjoy it.
I am going to take a XTX for a test run later this month and may consider trading in my machine for this if it's a better ride. Would prefer not to do this as I will take a loss on the sled but I need to ride a machine that I feel comfortable on in order to enjoy it.
bholmlate
Expert
erifnus
I had the same problem with my 08 mtx until I shimmed up the skies. It was down right scary at times.
I remember coming accros post on here somewhere that showed you how to do it. Bascially you put a shim under the rear part of the rubber ski bumper. It doesnt take a very big shim either. it changes the angle that the skies are hitting the snow and adds a little more pressure to the tails of the skies.
It all but eliminated my darting problems i was having with the stock OEM skies. There is also a post under aftermarket skies,skids and suspensions that talks ablout how to set the suspension to handle better. it is worth looking over as well.
P.S. Ah I found it Look under the technical pages at TY HOME under snowmbiles there is an article on skies and front suspension that explains how to shim the skies. I knew it was around here somewhere
[/url]
I had the same problem with my 08 mtx until I shimmed up the skies. It was down right scary at times.
I remember coming accros post on here somewhere that showed you how to do it. Bascially you put a shim under the rear part of the rubber ski bumper. It doesnt take a very big shim either. it changes the angle that the skies are hitting the snow and adds a little more pressure to the tails of the skies.
It all but eliminated my darting problems i was having with the stock OEM skies. There is also a post under aftermarket skies,skids and suspensions that talks ablout how to set the suspension to handle better. it is worth looking over as well.
P.S. Ah I found it Look under the technical pages at TY HOME under snowmbiles there is an article on skies and front suspension that explains how to shim the skies. I knew it was around here somewhere
[/url]
erifnus
Newbie
Thanks Bholmlate!
Would this be the post regarding the shims in the skis?
http://www.totallyamaha.com/snowmobiles ... r_Shim.htm
After you doen this modification was there a major difference in trail riding? and did it make any diference in deep snow?
Have not had the sled in much deep snow yet this year as the snow is not plentiful yet, but on the trails it is downright bad to ride and i have trouble getting any speed at all because of the way the sled handles.
What else have you done to adjust for this issue?...Did you change the carbides or adjust the suspension.
I love the sled and would like to keep it but I need to get this issue resolved or its a waste of time to drive a sled I do not feel comfortable on.
Would this be the post regarding the shims in the skis?
http://www.totallyamaha.com/snowmobiles ... r_Shim.htm
After you doen this modification was there a major difference in trail riding? and did it make any diference in deep snow?
Have not had the sled in much deep snow yet this year as the snow is not plentiful yet, but on the trails it is downright bad to ride and i have trouble getting any speed at all because of the way the sled handles.
What else have you done to adjust for this issue?...Did you change the carbides or adjust the suspension.
I love the sled and would like to keep it but I need to get this issue resolved or its a waste of time to drive a sled I do not feel comfortable on.
bholmlate
Expert
erifnus
That is the one.
It made a huge differece on my sled on hard packed trails with regard to darting all over the place and the sled became much more comfortable and perdictible in deeper snow. I also lowered the air pressure to 45psi in the front shocks from the recommended 75 psi for Fox Floats in the manual. Then i began to add a little air to find the sweet spot for me. You can do the same thing with the OEM shocks by adjusting the preload on the front springs. That seemed to quiet down the tippyness of the sled greatly on trails. I never chnaged the carbides but have read that some people have had good succes doing that as well.
The MTX will never be a top notch trail sled because it wasnt designed for that type of riding. However from what i have come to know from reading this furom and making little tweaks here and there to my suspension you can make the MTX into a decent trail sled and a VERY good and responsive Boondocking sled. For some reason the stock setting on this sled have not worked for a lot of people and this forum is just full of post reflecting that sentiment. I just started making little adjustments to my suspension that people suggested on here and kept the ones that worked for me and threw out the ones that didnt.
Here is a link to someone else that has some good ideas abouyt makeing a sled hanlde better.
http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?t=48657. The more i ride the sled the more i learn how to ride it. I have found that body position can make a big difference in how this sled feels. I have also found that being more aggressive with it make it work better for me as well. Although like you have said getting caught out of position can be a little scary at times =) I agree that you need to be commfortable on the thing or its not worth the effort. I am not quite there yet but the sled is a lot closer then it was.
This furom has a wealth of information on this sled. I am sure you can find the information you need to help you dial it in to your liking. Good luck with it.
That is the one.
It made a huge differece on my sled on hard packed trails with regard to darting all over the place and the sled became much more comfortable and perdictible in deeper snow. I also lowered the air pressure to 45psi in the front shocks from the recommended 75 psi for Fox Floats in the manual. Then i began to add a little air to find the sweet spot for me. You can do the same thing with the OEM shocks by adjusting the preload on the front springs. That seemed to quiet down the tippyness of the sled greatly on trails. I never chnaged the carbides but have read that some people have had good succes doing that as well.The MTX will never be a top notch trail sled because it wasnt designed for that type of riding. However from what i have come to know from reading this furom and making little tweaks here and there to my suspension you can make the MTX into a decent trail sled and a VERY good and responsive Boondocking sled. For some reason the stock setting on this sled have not worked for a lot of people and this forum is just full of post reflecting that sentiment. I just started making little adjustments to my suspension that people suggested on here and kept the ones that worked for me and threw out the ones that didnt.
Here is a link to someone else that has some good ideas abouyt makeing a sled hanlde better.
http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?t=48657. The more i ride the sled the more i learn how to ride it. I have found that body position can make a big difference in how this sled feels. I have also found that being more aggressive with it make it work better for me as well. Although like you have said getting caught out of position can be a little scary at times =) I agree that you need to be commfortable on the thing or its not worth the effort. I am not quite there yet but the sled is a lot closer then it was.
This furom has a wealth of information on this sled. I am sure you can find the information you need to help you dial it in to your liking. Good luck with it.
erifnus
Newbie
Thanks again bholmlate....some great info!
bholmlate
Expert
A couple of more links that you might find interesting. You may have found them already but here you go
http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?t=58910
http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?t=50435
You can find to the second link using the first link and going under the suspension sub-heading
http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?t=58910
http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php?t=50435
You can find to the second link using the first link and going under the suspension sub-heading
