Noob question: Front spring preload - increases or decrease ski pressure?

[4strokeluvr111]

I know it will never have razor sharp handling as that isn't the point. Just want it to be easy to ride either by myself or with a passenger and for it to go where I point it as long as I'm not pushing it too hard. With a passenger I never go over 40 mph and we usually cruise around 25 mph. Yup, I never have a health insurance claim....

So the higher the front skid preload, the faster the hyfax wears? Just want to make sure I'm getting that. I'm at a firmness of 2 out of 5 on that spring preload and running about 1.5" of track sag in the middle using gravity (no weight) since that's what everyone on here seemed to agree on.

IMO - hyfax wear on Yam 4s sleds is all about how tight or loose you run your track. The stock Yam setting is MUCH too tight. Unless you are studded, run it as loose as you can without the track ratcheting (no extrovert drivers on the sled). Don't worry about front track shock spring pressure when it comes to hyfax wear.

More - IMO = no way in heck are you really feeling one click on your front shocks. No effin way....sorry! Clickers on shocks are really meant to be "clicked" when running on rough terrain after a while and the shock has "heated up". I call BS on all this "I turn it up (or down) two clicks b4 I go riding" I read on any site. On stock valving, if you are crusing, set them on 2 clicks from the softest and turn them up if the trails are getting bumpy.

More more IMO = when you switch from one rider to two, try turning that big block up first.....don't turn the triangle.

EDIT - you would be much happier if you had a gas clicker shock in the back. Your springs are doing too much (having too great of an effect) and the shock, not enough.

 

[NaughtyPines]

EDIT - you would be much happier if you had a gas clicker shock in the back. Your springs are doing too much (having too great of an effect) and the shock, not enough.

I think I will buy and install one before next season from what you've said and everything I've read about the rear suspension setup on these. Though I don't bottom out anymore, it does feel like "too much spring" and not enough dampening on the rear. We might have another month of riding if we're lucky here in mid-Maine so I'm going to ride it out as it is, which is good enough.

All of the info you have given is spectacular so thank you very much.

 

[4strokeluvr111]

I think I will buy and install one before next season from what you've said and everything I've read about the rear suspension setup on these. Though I don't bottom out anymore, it does feel like "too much spring" and not enough dampening on the rear. We might have another month of riding if we're lucky here in mid-Maine so I'm going to ride it out as it is, which is good enough.

All of the info you have given is spectacular so thank you very much.

Happy to help. Is your area one of ones getting snow in "feet" this year?

 

[NaughtyPines]

Happy to help. Is your area one of ones getting snow in "feet" this year?

In a nutshell, sort of. We got over 60 inches in under four weeks and I think we're around 90 inches total now, which is about average. We'll usually get a another foot-plus storm or two in March and the lakes tend to open up at the end of April or first week of May. The speed at which we got the snow was pretty amazing since Xmas to the 3rd week of January we hardly got anything. Can't complain though since there is a lot of snowmobile club groom budget(s) for a shorter period of time so everything is getting groomed very well for this part of the season.

 

[4strokeluvr111]

In a nutshell, sort of. We got over 60 inches in under four weeks and I think we're around 90 inches total now, which is about average. We'll usually get a another foot-plus storm or two in March and the lakes tend to open up at the end of April or first week of May. The speed at which we got the snow was pretty amazing since Xmas to the 3rd week of January we hardly got anything. Can't complain though since there is a lot of snowmobile club groom budget(s) for a shorter period of time so everything is getting groomed very well for this part of the season.

Well get out there and enjoy it while you can!