M7 Skid Installed w/162" track

[Trxster]

Skid looks great Doo man!!! I took my first ride last night on baker in about 3' of untouched snow and it definitely is a new sled. Didn't trench down at all. Recently upgraded to 05 clutching 10.3 inner/outer and put 20/42 gears in. Feels great. I could stop in waist deep snow and give it a little and it didn't dig down in!!!!!

A few notes....I had read a lot about the excess transfer these skids have so ran in my middle hole on the drop brackets, center shock loose, and rear springs on hard. I did not feel that I had enough transfer (probably because our fronts are so heavy compared to cats) so today I am trying the top holes in the drop brackets, tighter on the center shock and running soft on the springs. I am sure that will make a difference.


Todd

 

[Jonny Rocket]

A few notes....I had read a lot about the excess transfer these skids have so ran in my middle hole on the drop brackets, center shock loose, and rear springs on hard. I did not feel that I had enough transfer (probably because our fronts are so heavy compared to cats) so today I am trying the top holes in the drop brackets, tighter on the center shock and running soft on the springs. I am sure that will make a difference.


Todd

Thanks for this info. This will give me a better place to start on the suspension set-up.

 

[Jonny Rocket]

One other note, one of the local AC guys told me the AC skid tends to walk from side to side when you get on it. One way to fix this is to set the rear springs to different settings.

 

[Frostbite]

Looks good Dooman! Now I am starting to really wonder if I should be holding out for a 1M skid vs. the M7 skid I passed up?

TRXster, am I correct to assume you are using a 1M skid? How do you think the trail manner will be with an AC skid installed? I ride about 50/50 trails and off so going to something that rides like a buckboard wagon on the trail just doesn't make sense for me.

Frosty

 

[doo_man]

I rode with 2 (M6/M7) guys last year with 141", they were both very happy with these on trail and really were impressed in the deep stuff. We were in 2' of fresh and they were climbing everything.

 

[Trxster]

skid

Ok, spent the last 2 days in 3-4' of untracked snow (although it was road riding). Remember, I reclutched to 05' specs but threw the silver secondary on at 80'. Also, I geared to 20/42 and of course have the M7 153" skid with 162" track and holz brackets.

THE SLED IS AMAZING!!!!

Last year I hated it and it just burried itself like a ostrich. Not anymore! It was so easy to ride in the deep deep poder. Easy to control when going slow too. Stayed right on top. Pulled a few long steep sections of the road with no tracks and at least 3' of fresh and the tach stayed right at about 10,000 rpm's at 4000 feet. Absolutely ran perfect.

A side note.....this might seem rash but a guy showed up today with a new Apex Mtn. Naturally I begged him to ride it and he let me. I took it a few miles up the trail and got in some of the deep stuff I had been riding. Although it is a very nice sled and the EFI is awesome, I preferred the way my sled rode. The suspension on the bumps felt a bit better, the deep snow characteristics felt a bit better and more predictable, and it my sled doesnt just stop hard when you let off the like the apex did. I almost got it stuck but saved it.

Here are some pix from Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday

http://www.snowest.com/fusetalk/message ... did=216892

 

[Frostbite]

TRXster, thanks for the info. Do you have a 1M skid or a M7 skid?

 

[Trxster]

M7

 

[Jonny Rocket]

Re: skid

Ok, spent the last 2 days in 3-4' of untracked snow (although it was road riding). Remember, I reclutched to 05' specs but threw the silver secondary on at 80'. Also, I geared to 20/42 and of course have the M7 153" skid with 162" track and holz brackets.

THE SLED IS AMAZING!!!!

Last year I hated it and it just burried itself like a ostrich. Not anymore! It was so easy to ride in the deep deep poder. Easy to control when going slow too. Stayed right on top. Pulled a few long steep sections of the road with no tracks and at least 3' of fresh and the tach stayed right at about 10,000 rpm's at 4000 feet. Absolutely ran perfect.

A side note.....this might seem rash but a guy showed up today with a new Apex Mtn. Naturally I begged him to ride it and he let me. I took it a few miles up the trail and got in some of the deep stuff I had been riding. Although it is a very nice sled and the EFI is awesome, I preferred the way my sled rode. The suspension on the bumps felt a bit better, the deep snow characteristics felt a bit better and more predictable, and it my sled doesnt just stop hard when you let off the like the apex did. I almost got it stuck but saved it.

Here are some pix from Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday

http://www.snowest.com/fusetalk/message ... did=216892

Trxster,

Was this 2nd ride after you made the changes to the rear suspension? You mentioned you were going to set the rear spings to soft, change the rear drop bracket and tighten up the center shock. How did this work out? Also, where are you front limiter staps set to?

Thanks,

J.

 

[doo_man]

Yes inquiring minds want to know!

 

[Trxster]

I was out again today for ride #6 for this season. Heading back up tomorrow, I am getting some vibration or rubbing and am going to try a few things. Todays conditions were spring like....sunny, 55', soft snow. Hooks up well, a lot more transfer than I thought I had but not too much (I think I wasn't feeling the transfer before because the prior snow conditions were so deep and baseless.....now that its firm I am getting transfer). However, I am trying to hunt downt he vibration noise and cant see any signs of wear...checked front coolers, H-arm, under tunnel, track, etc. The only place I can see abnormal wear is the front round plastic piece on the rail...it is getting rubbed a little. I am going to drop it down 1 hole again in back and see if it decreases the angle a bit. Also am thinking of pulling the limiter in (I have been running full out). Setting the front shock to medium and back to soft did work well.

Rode today with 2 AC 1m's (151" and 162"), MMax 159", and 2 Skidoo REV 151's and everyone commented that my sled was really doing well. Just trying to get it right.

Rt

 

[Jonny Rocket]

Trxster, Thanks for the feedback. I finally got everything installed and will go out for my 1st ride today. (no pics yet) Probably staying mostly on trail, but I should get a good feel for the new suspension. I did find out why the sled was sitting so low. The rear Shock is not in the correct position. The bottom portion of the shock is on the bottom of the center idler wheels. After looking at several pics, I realized the rear shock should be located on the upper portion of the center idler wheels. I will fix this before going out today. Have a great ride and let us know how the new set up works.

J.

 

[Trxster]

pic

It was a nice day yesterday!!

 

[Jonny Rocket]

Well I finally have the time to post some pics. I would have to agree with Trxster that this AC skid is night an day difference from the pro-action. I only rode trail but this thing rides like a couch. Very nice in the bumps. The rear of the skid is set 2" from the tunnel which seems to be about right for transfer. I set the front limiter strap all the way out and the front shock about 1/3 to 1/2. I set the rear springs to stiff. I will keep it set this way until I get a chance to ride in some real snow. All in all I really like this new skid. Here are a couple pics.

 

[Mtnviper]

Todd
I have a fix for the clip vibration at the front of the rail. Basicly I cut,and re-angled the rail tips up approx 5/16" the welded the cut. You have to becarefull not to angle them up to high or the tips can rub on the underside of the track when the front is fully compressed. Some time if we connect up I can show you on my sled.