Inside the QS3 Shock

[cannondale27]

I was around Erie. They groom with a snowmobile and little drag only on weekends. Mostly night riding since we rode NY most of the days. Few of the guys didnt have insurance or registration so they only ride/race at night and they all rode Polaris except one. Was some crazy late night! Great guys.

 

[Yamadog]

Kinda reminds me of Street outlaws, Hey maybe we get History Channel to follow us around and we make a fake unsanctioned snow machine racing show!!!!!

 

[cannondale27]

There 2 good crashes of leader right in front of me and my sled ripped that front shaft right out so probably not a good idea! Hey going through some of the little towns you go right down where I assume sidewalk is but there was honest to goodness 3-4ft whoops spaced no more than 3 ft apart for blocks! Its no wonder everyone runs quiet exhaust around there! Cant wait to go back if they get snow like last year. Chataqua or something like that was area we rode in NY. Was 10 mi by sled to NY trails from buddies place I stayed at. Right across road from Gamelands. Beautiful part of country. More scenic than UP even.

 

[Wannaviper]

Please forgive my lack of experience with shocks, but looking at the Arctic Cat Fox shocks on a dealer's site, it appears that they sell the same model that Cannondale examined, and they also have the kashima coated version that says it has "adjustable velocity sensitive damping with Hi flow damping piston" for an extra $350. Do the shocks that Cannondale examined have the "adjustable velocity sensitive damping with Hi flow damping piston", or is that an added "feature" that is worth the extra money? I know the kashima coating is supposed to be good, but it doesn't seem like it would be worth all that extra money.

 

[Yamadog]

Cannon come on ! you really ride for the scenery? LOL just kidding I know I had a place 60 ish miles east of there more in the Mountains and even went to college up there I miss it. But am heading home for Thanksgiving. will be driving a car through all of that.

 

[cannondale27]

Please forgive my lack of experience with shocks, but looking at the Arctic Cat Fox shocks on a dealer's site, it appears that they sell the same model that Cannondale examined, and they also have the kashima coated version that says it has "adjustable velocity sensitive damping with Hi flow damping piston" for an extra $350. Do the shocks that Cannondale examined have the "adjustable velocity sensitive damping with Hi flow damping piston", or is that an added "feature" that is worth the extra money? I know the kashima coating is supposed to be good, but it doesn't seem like it would be worth all that extra money.

Back on topic. Save your $ on Kashima not needed and they still stick after sitting. I believe the valve is the one posted. I know for sure the main piston is high flow.

 

[Wannaviper]

Back on topic. Save your $ on Kashima not needed and they still stick after sitting. I believe the valve is the one posted. I know for sure the main piston is high flow.

Thanks for the information. It seems like there are a few posts about faulty QS-3's, but your analysis of them is very encouraging, and they sound like they would be a big step up from the stock coil-overs that came on my sled.

 

[cannondale27]

Thanks for the information. It seems like there are a few posts about faulty QS-3's, but your analysis of them is very encouraging, and they sound like they would be a big step up from the stock coil-overs that came on my sled.

Yes its easy enough that I think people will actually use the clicker. Cripes if buddy was kicking my but in some big whoops the minute he turned his back even just to pee I would have all 3 clicked to three before he got his fly up. Then go kick his butt!

 

[Wannaviper]

Yes its easy enough that I think people will actually use the clicker. Cripes if buddy was kicking my but in some big whoops the minute he turned his back even just to pee I would have all 3 clicked to three before he got his fly up. Then go kick his butt!

I am seriously thinking about buying these shocks, but I am having last minute doubts about my "do-it-yourself" capabilities. I have never taken off or installed front or rear shocks on a sled. It seems like it would be easy to do the fronts, but perhaps not so easy to do the rear shock? The other concern is that buying them online, I don't know how they will come in terms of "set up", "pre-load", etc, and I have zero experience in knowing how to set them up. Are there any good videos, or other resources to help me through, or should I plan on spending some extra money and taking them to my dealer and asking them to install and set up?

 

[cannondale27]

You could just buy Oem once available or Fox,Hygear or Carver sets them up for you when you buy. So only concern is install and we can walk you through that no problem. No worries.

 

[Wannaviper]

You could just buy Oem once available or Fox,Hygear or Carver sets them up for you when you buy. So only concern is install and we can walk you through that no problem. No worries.

Thanks Cannondale! The only place I have seen them so far is a big on-line Cat dealer; hopefully they will become more widely available before snow flies!

 

[Team Arctic]

I am seriously thinking about buying these shocks, but I am having last minute doubts about my "do-it-yourself" capabilities. I have never taken off or installed front or rear shocks on a sled. It seems like it would be easy to do the fronts, but perhaps not so easy to do the rear shock? The other concern is that buying them online, I don't know how they will come in terms of "set up", "pre-load", etc, and I have zero experience in knowing how to set them up. Are there any good videos, or other resources to help me through, or should I plan on spending some extra money and taking them to my dealer and asking them to install and set up?

You can buy the shocks from a performance shop and have them valved according to your riding style before they are shipped out to you, I use Goodwin Performance for revalving and rebuilding my shocks.

Just an FYI, Arctic has the valving set on the QS 3's as the #1 position being slightly stiffer than an LXR, #2 like a Sno Pro, and #3 like a RR sled, Yamaha may or may not have the same valving specs as the Cat, I'll bet the guys at Pat's Yamaha in the UP will know

 

[cannondale27]

I also revalve and rebuild shocks. Thats why I did these QS3's to get the specs. Will find out if cat valving is same which I have no reason to believe otherwise per respective model as soon as they release specs or I do a set of the Cat version.

 

[Team Arctic]

I also revalve and rebuild shocks. Thats why I did these QS3's to get the specs. Will find out if cat valving is same which I have no reason to believe otherwise per respective model as soon as they release specs or I do a set of the Cat version.

It's too bad there was a build issue with some shocks but you delivered good news that overall it's a quality shock! I was reading your post where you stated that you thought that the valving was pretty good besides the #3 position and that is good to hear as I know a dealer who did a spring ride with Cat and he thought that the all three positions were to stiff so that tells me that valving was changed from the early release units to the full build units Did Yamaha do any ER units last spring? If so you may see the valving differences.

 

[Byam]

I am seriously thinking about buying these shocks, but I am having last minute doubts about my "do-it-yourself" capabilities. I have never taken off or installed front or rear shocks on a sled. It seems like it would be easy to do the fronts, but perhaps not so easy to do the rear shock? The other concern is that buying them online, I don't know how they will come in terms of "set up", "pre-load", etc, and I have zero experience in knowing how to set them up. Are there any good videos, or other resources to help me through, or should I plan on spending some extra money and taking them to my dealer and asking them to install and set up?

Whit the exchange can/us you can get the ELKA stage 3 for a good price...