Installing the skid back into an XTX

[Beenba]

Hey,

So I've had my skid out for the past month working on a bunch of stuff, and tonight I finally finished it up and started installing it.

It took two people, a floor jack, and some wood to pry with to get it back in. We bolted the front 2 bolts in first by jacking up the front of the skid into place. The rears would not line up, since the suspension was not compressed. We ended up unbolting the transfer rod cross shaft (at the bottom that bolts across the rails with 2 bolts). By doing this we were then able to bolt the back two bolts for the skid to the tunnel.

But then we had to use some manpower and wood to pry that transfer rod shaft cross piece (and thus, compressing the springs) to bolt it back into both the rails. On my Vmax 700 we can just adjust the transfer so far back that the springs drop down and skid goes in easy..

There's gotta be a easier way for the nytro XTX! Give me some tips and tricks so next time it wont be so bad? Maybe its casue im sick, and not thinking straight....

 

[bitchnblue09]

skid

Hahaha... it was a B%$#^ just put mine in last nite... took 2 of us ,and yes we worked at it... Had the front on blocks, and the back pulled up with come-a-long, then we got the skid inside the track..(front in first, then back) and my son laid under the track and pushed up on it ( with skid in it) and I bolted the front up... put a ratchet strap on rear shock to compress a bit, and then one on each side and lifted it straight up and it bolted right up, was easy getting the back up and in... Im sure it will be much easier the next time.. good learning experience, first time I had mine out... Not sure if this helps, but im sure wont take as long next time... SNOW!!!

 

[wantsnow]

This is why I don't even want to take mine out of my 2010. I'll deal with this headache next summer not weeks before the start of the season. One of the hardest skids I ever reinstalled was the Extra-12 in a Polaris RXL I once owned. It can't be that bad in our XTX's I hope!

 

[canoehead]

Put it in by myself 2 days ago. The trick is a floor jack and to compress the springs after it's hung. No grunting or soiled pants. Although with the new Hygear spacers it was a little more challenging to pry the springs up and feed the bolt through the loop. But certainly not that bad, Took about 30 minutes.

 

[yox185]

The trick is a floor jack and to compress the springs after it's hung.

X2

 

[upei93]

Just take the pressure off the rear springs by swinging them around...you can now move the upper mounts into place with one hand and swing the rear springs back into place once the bolts are in place. The front mounts can be a pain, I usually use a strap here and having a buddy around helps.

 

[mach9]

I do it myself, the best trick is to use a ratchet strap.
Wrap it around the top shaft and hook the lower to compress the skid.
As you drop the tunnel, a click and click there, before you know it the rear bolt holes line up perfect.
Cheers

 

[dilligaf]

I do it myself, the best trick is to use a ratchet strap.
Wrap it around the top shaft and hook the lower to compress the skid.
As you drop the tunnel, a click and click there, before you know it the rear bolt holes line up perfect.
Cheers

X2, no sweat involved or 4 letter words.

 

[revster]

I attach the rear bumper of the sled to the roof via chain hoist or a strap works fine. I also have the skis up off the ground on milk crates.

1)First I put the back of the skid in putting the wheels in the line they run in

2) THen walk the front in. Sometimes the front gets caught on the internal drive nubs I have a skinny pry bar handy to pop it past them if need be.

3) Now I lie on my back grab the front swing arm and push it up into the tunnel and shove a block under the front of the skid.

4) Then lower the sled slightly, then lift the front arm till it is lined up....this is easier with the short tracks because they have a nut/bolt instead of a threaded rod like on the XTX.

5) Now I lift the back of the skid and slid the block to about the middle of the skid and lower the rear. It will usually be very close to line up. If it needs to go forward I use a ratchet strap to compress the skid, if it needs to go back I use a bar to pry it back, or usually just my hands. (It usually only needs to move 1/2" at the most.

Two hands are better then one for sure, but I've done it many times by myself on several different sleds and it's very doable. 10 mins with 2 and 15 solo I'd say.

 

[Sask Attak]

All I did was tip my sled on its side and it went in without any trouble

 

[Beenba]

Well seems like everyone has their own technique! I know next time I put it in, in will will be nice and easy. And canoehead, I have the hygear like spacers too, so I'm sure that doesn't help!

 

[Off Trail Mike]

Single handed on my 09 MTX. Used a single ratchet strap between the upper rear axle and the lower front. The strap compresses rear spring and brings the back axle forward relative to the front....painless.....but man was that ratchet strap tight!

Now to try it on the '11...hopefully the same.

OTM

 

[NFLD-Nytro]

Put it in by myself 2 days ago. The trick is a floor jack and to compress the springs after it's hung. No grunting or soiled pants. Although with the new Hygear spacers it was a little more challenging to pry the springs up and feed the bolt through the loop. But certainly not that bad, Took about 30 minutes.

That's been one of my techniques as well. Using a floor jack along with a hoist it's pretty easy to install the skid by myself.

Other tips that come in handy; I remove one of the rear idler wheels until the skid is in place. Makes it much easier to get the skid in the track. Also, use the brake and a pry bar through a track window, pushing on the upper cross shaft to help line up the shaft with the holes in the tunnel.

 

[radianguy]

easiest way is to let the rear springs go

 

[sorenson1610]

easiest way is to let the rear springs go

X2 so much easier then