lost with suspension set-up

[black knight]

need some help here. Second year for the 07 Apex Gt for me and love it. My setup is basic stock. Was out the past couple of days on groomed trails and am finding in the tight turns its exremely heave. ( to the piont where i thought i was going to brake the handle bars trying to turn it.)
I have shimed the stock skis with 3/8 in. shim and have 5" carbides. No studes. Also ajusted the transfer rod 3/4 way to max. Limiter strap still in position that it was at new. I'm about 200lb with equiptment and breakfast in belly LOL. I ride aggressive and usually stay in the forward position.
Dose anyone have a couple of quick suggestions on where to start or some add ons that would help with my set up.
Also am I pushing it with stock spring on rear shock?

Wish everyone a safe and snow filled holiday.

 

[vmaxcrazy]

I don't have a GT but what your complaining about sounds like a problem I had with my attak. Mine steered hard and was really working my arms when in tight turns. I proped the front up and turned the skis and found that they were binding. I greesed every thing in the steering, and when I got to to bushing behind the reverse lever, that cured the problem. Check your steering by propping frt up and make sure you don't have a binding problem before you change your rear suspension settings.

 

[guardrail]

I put Simmons Flexi Ski's on mine. It felt like i took 50 pounds off the ski's.

 

[dave_dj1]

adjust your front shock springs so that the a-arms are paralell with the ground too. Not sure on the gt but is that the monoskid? if so, what clip posistion is your spring clip?
the first time i drove mine last year i was ready to junk it until i tweaked the suspention. i had to move my spring clip setting for my weight. Now i LOVE this thing!!

 

[black knight]

Thanks guys i will check my steering for binding. Never would have thought of that.
adjusting front spring. Dave do i want the a arm parallel adjustment with me on the machine or off?
Its a mono with olinis. Ya for sure i am planning on adjusting the sit in for my weight.
Is it possible that the shims i put in under the rubber bumpers may have done something?
I will check your suggestions and make some ajustments asap and let u's know.
Thanks for your time and replies

Do the snow dance

 

[KevinS]

You might want to set your transfer rod more to the middle as well. Mine was very hard to steer in the corners until I did the following.

- Tightened up limiter strap 1 hole
- loosed front shock springs all the way until the spring was almost falling off then 1 turn tighter.
- Transfer rod set to middle.

I already had aftermarket skis with triple point carbides that I put on before I had even rode the sled.

 

[nate007]

Try not to adjust your transfer rod just from what others have theirs set to. You may sit further forward or back than the next guy.
I suggest trying to set your transfer rod so you get about 6 -8 inches of ski lift upon hard accelleration with you sitting normally. Not enough ski lift just pushes the skis into the ground harder under normal riding, causing heavy steering. Too much ski lift makes it hard to keep the front on the ground!
You can set your a-arms level and get much better cornering, but you have to adjust your limiter strap and transfer rod to compensate for the lowered rake. Also, I don't think alot of guys notice this, but on the coil spring GT's, if you level your arms, you will have approximatey 3/4 inch of free play in your springs when you jump your sled. You can easilly loose the lower spring retainer and cause the front to colapse. Be sure to do one of the following:
1. Take a small ammount of epoxy /JB weld or other suitable adhesive, and secure the lower spring perch to the lower shock eye so it cant come loose. Just dont put too much on so you cant get the spring off if you need to!
2. Have your shocks revalved (which may help given your riding style) and have them add shim packs inside your shocks to compensate for the lower stance. Bruce @ Pioneer recommended this to me, but I opted for the epoxy method incase I wanted to return my sled to stock ride height.

 

[black knight]

It turns out it was binding in the steering. once i got the front end off the ground and turned the bars it was obvious. penitrating oil to every possible ball joint and steering bushing and i think it was the one behind the oil tank. lossend my front springs and set my sit in. This is a totally different feel from last year and i highly recommend some of these ajustments if you want to start somewhere with playing with your set up.

I will have to add up the money this site has saved me over the past to season some day soon. thanks for all your suggestions.

 

[**sj**]

It turns out it was binding in the steering. once i got the front end off the ground and turned the bars it was obvious. penitrating oil to every possible ball joint and steering bushing and i think it was the one behind the oil tank. lossend my front springs and set my sit in. This is a totally different feel from last year and i highly recommend some of these ajustments if you want to start somewhere with playing with your set up.

I will have to add up the money this site has saved me over the past to season some day soon. thanks for all your suggestions.

yes it does save money...this is why I and others contribute to it in the form of lifetime memberships!