MTX to XTX conversion ?

[NyTrOMaNIaC]

I've been thinking about converting my 2010 MTX SE 153 into a 144, mainly because I feel I would get better use of the sled as a crossover. Last season, I often had to ride hard packed groomed trails for many miles before finding suitable terrain for this sled at higher elevation, and I was always concerned about overheating, slide wear, and of course, wear and tear on the track. I know there's not a whole lot more track sticking out the back on my 153 compared to a 144, but I still wonder if I'd like it better if it was a little bit shorter. Has anyone done this mod already ? I'm thinking a 1.75" lug would probably hook up better than the stock Mav too. What do you guys think, and how difficult would it be to do this ?

 

[Dimebag]

Im sure you will be happy with a 144".. I run a extended RTX with a backcountry 1.75" track and I couldn't be more happy with it !

 

[radianguy]

Hey Maniac!

How does the MTX handle on the trail? Does it take the bumps good, similar to your RTX?

Maybe you'd be better off just cutting your track down to 1.75, and maybe setting it up more like an XTX with gearing and clutching. Have you thought about that? Would be a lot cheaper route to take. Unless you can find a used XTX skid for cheap. Sounds like a nice project though, keep us posted!

 

[NyTrOMaNIaC]

Hey Maniac!

How does the MTX handle on the trail? Does it take the bumps good, similar to your RTX?

Maybe you'd be better off just cutting your track down to 1.75, and maybe setting it up more like an XTX with gearing and clutching. Have you thought about that? Would be a lot cheaper route to take. Unless you can find a used XTX skid for cheap. Sounds like a nice project though, keep us posted!

The MTX handles really good on the trails, but I try to stay off them as much as possible. Rear and front suspension are excellent. I also thought about just trimming the track to 1.75" lugs. Can't see me swapping skids with an XTX unless my shocks would mount up and the rails as well without too much drilling. The MTX SE has those floats in the rear too, and I'm betting that Float XV is one expensive shock, so I couldn't give them up. Perhaps a little trim is what's best.

 

[Nikolai]

I wonder if the suspension would still work mounted on 144 rails? You could see if Ice Age can make you a set.

 

[KINS]

If you're happy with the handling and the only reason to convert is,
Over Heating, Hyfax Wear, and Track Wear and Tear I'd say not to convert.

I have the same issues with an 08 MTX. I likely would have bought an XTX if they were available in 2008, however now that I have the MTX, I am glad the XTX wasn't available. I really like the 153.

I cut the track lugs down to 1.75 inches. I found it hooked up a lot better on the trails and didn't notice any negative affects in the powder. I'm very happy with this change. Track is holding up well.

I'm averaging 400 miles on a set of hyfax. Next to the peice of crap 2008 factory front shocks that I turfed in the scrapped parts bin, hyfax wear has been my bigest concern.

I just received the excell wheels in the mail and am hoping this will address the hyfax issue. My buddy has a Summit and hasn't changed his hyfax once, which tells me there is a design flaw causing the problem. There should be a fix for this, I'm hoping the wheels are the answer.

As far as over heating why not install a temperature guage for a bit of peace of mind. I am on the fence as to if I need one or not.

I'm just thinking if you are happy with the handling it would be cheaper to address the specific concerns you have. Good luck.

 

[NyTrOMaNIaC]

If you're happy with the handling and the only reason to convert is,
Over Heating, Hyfax Wear, and Track Wear and Tear I'd say not to convert.

I have the same issues with an 08 MTX. I likely would have bought an XTX if they were available in 2008, however now that I have the MTX, I am glad the XTX wasn't available. I really like the 153.

I cut the track lugs down to 1.75 inches. I found it hooked up a lot better on the trails and didn't notice any negative affects in the powder. I'm very happy with this change. Track is holding up well.

I'm averaging 400 miles on a set of hyfax. Next to the peice of crap 2008 factory front shocks that I turfed in the scrapped parts bin, hyfax wear has been my bigest concern.

I just received the excell wheels in the mail and am hoping this will address the hyfax issue. My buddy has a Summit and hasn't changed his hyfax once, which tells me there is a design flaw causing the problem. There should be a fix for this, I'm hoping the wheels are the answer.

As far as over heating why not install a temperature guage for a bit of peace of mind. I am on the fence as to if I need one or not.

I'm just thinking if you are happy with the handling it would be cheaper to address the specific concerns you have. Good luck.

I agree with you KINS. And although I haven't actually overheated the sled or worn the sliders completely, I was just thinking about doing something now before I run into problems. I'm used to riding a 121, so that's why I figured a 144 would be the perfect length for our area, but Yamaha hasn't released an XTX SE, and I really wanted to benefit from the SE shocks, so I chose the MTX SE. I'll look into trimming the track first and possibly some other track choices before doing anything drastic.

Thanks for the advice and suggestions guys Probably saved me a TON of money

 

[poleclimber]

I sold my xtx over the summer and was in the market for a new xtx but after i figured out how much i was going to have to spend to get it the way i wanted it...ie new track, front shocks, mtx skis, riser, and handlebar strap i decided to just buy the mtx that already had all of that on it and the air shocks in the back. I cut my track down to 1 3/4 also and i don't notice much of a difference between my 144 and 153 on the trails. I was worried at first till i rode it now im glad i went with it.

 

[revster]

If you're happy with the handling and the only reason to convert is,
Over Heating, Hyfax Wear, and Track Wear and Tear I'd say not to convert.

I have the same issues with an 08 MTX. I likely would have bought an XTX if they were available in 2008, however now that I have the MTX, I am glad the XTX wasn't available. I really like the 153.

I cut the track lugs down to 1.75 inches. I found it hooked up a lot better on the trails and didn't notice any negative affects in the powder. I'm very happy with this change. Track is holding up well.

I'm averaging 400 miles on a set of hyfax. Next to the peice of crap 2008 factory front shocks that I turfed in the scrapped parts bin, hyfax wear has been my bigest concern.

I just received the excell wheels in the mail and am hoping this will address the hyfax issue. My buddy has a Summit and hasn't changed his hyfax once, which tells me there is a design flaw causing the problem. There should be a fix for this, I'm hoping the wheels are the answer.

As far as over heating why not install a temperature guage for a bit of peace of mind. I am on the fence as to if I need one or not.

I'm just thinking if you are happy with the handling it would be cheaper to address the specific concerns you have. Good luck.

I agree with you KINS. And although I haven't actually overheated the sled or worn the sliders completely, I was just thinking about doing something now before I run into problems. I'm used to riding a 121, so that's why I figured a 144 would be the perfect length for our area, but Yamaha hasn't released an XTX SE, and I really wanted to benefit from the SE shocks, so I chose the MTX SE. I'll look into trimming the track first and possibly some other track choices before doing anything drastic.

Thanks for the advice and suggestions guys Probably saved me a TON of money

I'm in a simular situation or the opposite I guess. An XTX would have been the best choice for me as I do a lot of off trail riding and a trip out west every year. But I went with a RTX SE for the better shocks and extended it to 136" (I thought 144" would be too far off for the geometry)

Have you looked into the shock length difference between the sleds? I'm wondering what the length differences are between the RTX/XTX/MTX??

 

[NyTrOMaNIaC]

If you're happy with the handling and the only reason to convert is,
Over Heating, Hyfax Wear, and Track Wear and Tear I'd say not to convert.

I have the same issues with an 08 MTX. I likely would have bought an XTX if they were available in 2008, however now that I have the MTX, I am glad the XTX wasn't available. I really like the 153.

I cut the track lugs down to 1.75 inches. I found it hooked up a lot better on the trails and didn't notice any negative affects in the powder. I'm very happy with this change. Track is holding up well.

I'm averaging 400 miles on a set of hyfax. Next to the peice of crap 2008 factory front shocks that I turfed in the scrapped parts bin, hyfax wear has been my bigest concern.

I just received the excell wheels in the mail and am hoping this will address the hyfax issue. My buddy has a Summit and hasn't changed his hyfax once, which tells me there is a design flaw causing the problem. There should be a fix for this, I'm hoping the wheels are the answer.

As far as over heating why not install a temperature guage for a bit of peace of mind. I am on the fence as to if I need one or not.

I'm just thinking if you are happy with the handling it would be cheaper to address the specific concerns you have. Good luck.

I agree with you KINS. And although I haven't actually overheated the sled or worn the sliders completely, I was just thinking about doing something now before I run into problems. I'm used to riding a 121, so that's why I figured a 144 would be the perfect length for our area, but Yamaha hasn't released an XTX SE, and I really wanted to benefit from the SE shocks, so I chose the MTX SE. I'll look into trimming the track first and possibly some other track choices before doing anything drastic.

Thanks for the advice and suggestions guys Probably saved me a TON of money

I'm in a simular situation or the opposite I guess. An XTX would have been the best choice for me as I do a lot of off trail riding and a trip out west every year. But I went with a RTX SE for the better shocks and extended it to 136" (I thought 144" would be too far off for the geometry)

Have you looked into the shock length difference between the sleds? I'm wondering what the length differences are between the RTX/XTX/MTX??

I don't have the shock specs in front of me, but I did ask the dealer to check into it because I was considering buying some floats, particularly the same XV as in the pro mountain air rear suspension for the rear on my RTX so I could remove all the springs, improve the ride, and save some weight, and he said they wouldn't work. Anyone with access care to double check and see what the difference in shock lengths are ?

 

[KINS]

I don't have the shock specs in front of me, but I did ask the dealer to check into it because I was considering buying some floats, particularly the same XV as in the pro mountain air rear suspension for the rear on my RTX so I could remove all the springs, improve the ride, and save some weight, and he said they wouldn't work.

Just today i was talking with a guy that rebuilds shocks, has over twenty years in the snowmobile business and who I would consider is in the know when it comes to shocks. I mentioned that I might look at getting a fox float rear shock and potentially get rid of my springs as well. His comment was he didn't think there would be a float available that would work with my 2008 mtx suspension that would allow me to remove the springs.

 

[NyTrOMaNIaC]

I don't have the shock specs in front of me, but I did ask the dealer to check into it because I was considering buying some floats, particularly the same XV as in the pro mountain air rear suspension for the rear on my RTX so I could remove all the springs, improve the ride, and save some weight, and he said they wouldn't work.

Just today i was talking with a guy that rebuilds shocks, has over twenty years in the snowmobile business and who I would consider is in the know when it comes to shocks. I mentioned that I might look at getting a fox float rear shock and potentially get rid of my springs as well. His comment was he didn't think there would be a float available that would work with my 2008 mtx suspension that would allow me to remove the springs.

You should check into the MTX SE rear shocks and see if they'll mount up. No springs attached

 

[ult680]

I cut my mav down last year to 1.75". It works great on the trail, I was in your shoes last year and am very glad I bought my 10 mtx. I would cut the track, add scratchers and run it!

680

 

[bjowett]

The specs I have from Ohlins show the XTX and MTX shocks to have the same mounting eyes. Lengths within a few mm. Given nothing has changed over the model years, they should work. The suspensions look the same, with MTX having longer rails. The RTX has different mounting eye widths.

If it was me, I would pick up one of those Arctic cat hillclimb kits they are blowing out on certain websites. They convert the M8 to 150". They come with rails, a beefy 3.0 pitch 1.7" paddle snocross track. A little work for sure, but it sounds like it might be perfect for what you are looking to do.