New to asphalt....couple of questions

[stoutner]

I'm in the process of getting started for some weekend asphalt fun. I will be running for FUN but still wanna be fast and safe. So far, I am getting 15 X 121 track, skis, and leathers.

I need help with modifying my stock rear skid to work on pavement. I have an '06 Yamaha Apex and will be running about 230HP.

I have a couple of questions...What about extra wheels for skid? How many, and where to I get? What are those "rollers" I have been reading about. Do they serve as your extra wheels? How do you mount the wheels or rollers? Do you strap down the front shocks? If so, how? What is the best starting point for skid setup?

Any advise would be much appreciated.

Thanks guys!!!

 

[hlmrx1]

 

[700Canuk]

I'll try and send you some pics of my set-up. It is an '05 RX with older ProAction skid. I can help you with the wheels etc.... however, you'll have to figure out how to tie the RTX down. Most of the time it can be pretty crude (chain & bolts).

There is someone very well known on here running the exact same sled, track & suspension as you are this year. I'm sure he'll be in touch with you at some point in time.

Either way, there are enough guys here to get you on the straight & narrow.


Jeff.

 

[NOS-PRO]

I had pro116's proaction skid lowered down, but know Srxspec was diddly-daddling with it.

 

[monker]

The 06 Apex has the mono I believe? You'll want a set of wheels on the bend of the rails, as well as anywhere you can put them without interfearing with the travel of the skid. Talk to Allen about tieing it down, I haven't done a mono, but it shouldn't be too hard. The wheels to add are just the marginal snow wheel kits. I may have some extra wheels laying around as well.

If you tie the back down, you'll also want srx front shocks or something similar. You may be able to get away with just backing off spring pressure on all of the stock shocks, but it's something you'll have to play with.

I should have my gas tank and fuel pump by this weekend so should be giving you a call soon.

 

[700Canuk]

Woke up at 4:00 am this morning thinking... sh!t, that was an '06' RTX. The mono is not really suitable for asphalt. I know Allen didn't like certain characteristics on grass (heat treated the spring and revalved the shock more times than he cares to remember). I don't want to discourage you because you 'might' be able to get away with it using a 15" track... but I dumped it in favour of the older skid because I was running the narrow track. Areas of concern:

- Wheel placement caused by the large control rod. You will only be able to mount stab wheels on the inside/outside of the rail... not all the way across.

- If the sled does not leave straight, I believe you will have issues trying to correct it. In the past I have used the 2 control rods on the Proaction skid to correct any issues. With a new track you might be OK, however, if you have a used track, they can be worn unevenly and cause the sled to move left/right off the line. With the single limiter & control rod, there is no adjustment built into this skid.

- Finally, you will probably be the first (and only one) running this skid. Therefore, there is the potential for it to turn an otherwise great time into something frustrating for a good part of the year until you either get it sorted out, or choose to replace it with an aftermarket piece.

Because the '05 RX1 I was running had the same skid, I really looked it over last year. Even called a few asphalt friends over for a beer and spoke to Allen about it. In the end it was pulled out. The fact I was running a narrow track made the decision very easy.

If you want to talk... send me a PM. Will give you a call.

 

[Srxspec]

The front shocks you don't "have" to do anything with. You have the Fox Floats in which you can let enough air out to level out the sled.

With the monoshock you should be able to get 4 extra sets of wheels on the inside of the rails, but you will have to use wheel blocks instead of the axles that go across from one side of the rail to the other. You'll want to add 1 shaft inside the rails and then take some chain, nylon strap, or a rubber strap on each side of the shock on the rear arm and strap down the rear skid. I would not try strapping it all the way down (back off spring pressure on cam-lock and also C-clip position also). I would try to leave 5-6" of suspension travel yet simply because if you lower it a whole lot further you will end up needing to modify the spring to loosen the tension (with 2-3" of travel left that spring has around 400kg of force!).

I will have our 07 Apex RTX finished up this weekend. I will post some pictures. I also think I have some of the wheel blocks that you'll need. I'll do some digging on Friday/Saturday!

 

[stoutner]

Thanks for the input. I really don't want to invest in a new skid yet. I'll try to dial in what I have for now. I'll be meeting up with Monker in the next couple of weeks hopefully. That should help a lot. I'm building my cooling cart right now....should be pretty sweet. Only spent about $100 on new stuff for the cart. The rest, I "borrowed" from my business I should have track and skis next week...Also sponsered from my business

Allen, I thought the air shocks would be pretty easy to set up. Please let me know about the wheel blocks. That would be great. Just let me know what you want for them. I'll probably take my skid out and track off next weekend (May 5th). Hopefully I can get my skid set up that weekend and ready for testing the weekend of the 12th.

If you guys get bored, head out my way on Jun 3rd. They are having a "Big" Bike/Sled shootout (Bikes and sleds only) at the local strip. I'm hoping to be fully tuned in by then.

http://www.nyirp.com/sat_sun_schedule.htm

 

[700Canuk]

Glad you are going to hook up with Corey. If we don't get get down to your track, will be at ESTA again this year... so hope to see you there.

 

[stoutner]

Yea,

ESTA is actually a little closer to me also. I probably will be racing there mostly.

I see ESTA has the pro sled shootout on July 14th and 15th combined with the quick 8's class. That should be a blast.

I ran into a buddy of mine that races in the Quick 8's. He said his car should be running 5.9's at about 200 MPH. That's sick !!!! He should be there.

http://www.estadrags.com/

 

[Srxspec]

Wayne, I'm pretty sure I have a set of 3 complete blocks (would be 6 wheels total), I've just gotta see if I have enough wheels for them. You're welcome to use them for the summer if you like. I'll look for sure on Saturday when I get back to the shop.

I'm making a new cool down cart as well. For grass drags I have a simple tig welded aluminum tank that will hold 40 gallons of water and ice. It simply dumps the hot water back into a bucket until it cools down or you can dump it right into the water tank as well.

For this season on the asphalt I bought a cheap tool cart off of Ebay ($31) and a aluminum radiator also off of Ebay ($31). I'm mounting the radiator to the outside of the tool cart and have a regular Coleman cooler for water holding. The hot water will run from the sled, through the radiator (radiator has 2 fans on it as well) and then into the cooler. In the cooler is a bilge pump that will pump the water back through the sled. I'll take some pictures when I finish it up as well!

If it wasn't such a dang long drive I'd make it to a few of those races!

 

[stoutner]

Allen,

The wheels and blocks would be awesome! Thanks so much.

My cooling cart is almost done. I'll post a pic when done. It is similar to what you are doing. I'm using a welding cart I had laying around. I mounted a 24" X 24" refrigeration condensor to it complete with shroud. I installed a 12V fan and blade that moves about 800 CFM of air. Installed a 12V marine pump and wired it all into a single switch. I will probably route the hosing the same as you described.

Where is the easiest place to hook the quick disconnects up to the sled? I was thinking that piping that runs behind the snow flap??? Kinda where you would install a rear heat exchanger. Is that right?

 

[monker]

across the back seems to work best. just eliminate the rear heat exchanger and run lines along the back bumper. Mine just sits on the tunnel since I have a 136. Use a rag or some small caps to cover the ends of the heat exchanger that's not being used so nothing gets in there.

 

[NOS-PRO]

I did the same thing, got 2 reducers from 1 inch down to 3/4, the rubber hose to the quick disconnects at the rear.

 

[Srxspec]

Here is a few pictures of my setup! The cooling cart is pretty simple. This weekend I just ran it with the radiator and no extra cooler with ice or cold water. By the time I got back to the trailer I was around 190-200* water temps and it took 20 minutes to cool down to 100-110* water temps. This was on a 87* day at the track.

Cool Down Setup:

Extra set of wheels up at the bend in the rail:

2 extra sets of wheels in the mid section of the rails (going to add a set or two more as well yet):

Track adjuster blocks from the front side for easy access: