Pilot 6.9 ski's installed

[ROCKERDAN]

View attachment 135162 I use a two part epoxy to fill the void and install Bergson shim.

Did this several yrs back, and over time the epoxy just pops off when it loses its grip in the hollow pockets, not really needed but wont hurt either way.

Are those Bergstrom shims(was that a typo)?

Ones I have always seen from Scott are black.

How thick are they?

Dan

 

[ROCKERDAN]

Right. And I believe the 14 Turbocat and 14RR would also work. I just never tried them.

I will add that I ran pilot 5.7s on my 12 cat turbo for 2 seasons, and never shimmed them. I dont recall them needing it.

These darn YAM rubbers are ultra soft.

 

[PigeonLake]

Out today with Dan’s shim fix. Thinking 3/8 inch shim too much. Steering effort similar to Tuners but 0 darting and superb handling. A lot of pressure on the back of the ski making steering more work than before. It comes up in the powder on the lakes nicely. Looking forward to reports on 1/4 inch shim. Thinking a better place to start.

 

[ROCKERDAN]

Out today with Dan’s shim fix. Thinking 3/8 inch shim too much. Steering effort similar to Tuners but 0 darting and superb handling. A lot of pressure on the back of the ski making steering more work than before. It comes up in the powder on the lakes nicely. Looking forward to reports on 1/4 inch shim. Thinking a better place to start.

Ran mine on lake all over today, I like how the ski sits with my 3/8" Sits up a tad in front.

IMO the 1/4'' shim OVER TIME will end up sagging too much and eventually will not be enough. After all, i JUST installed my 3/8" and its minus 36 up here, so these rubbers are firmer now, so normal temps these will be softer.

My effort was LIGHT today. Much less then my doo.


1/4 is likely fine too, but I think after a season you will need more, or at least pop skis off over summer and let the rubbers come back up, before next season.

Ill be watching mine.
Dan

 

[PigeonLake]

All good points Dan. I won’t be changing anything soon.

 

[ROCKERDAN]

All good points Dan. I won’t be changing anything soon.

I think you may see her settle in with the 3/8" after a few hundred miles, steering should come round. Does well to deal will darting with more shim as you said.

 

[silverram323]

I just did the shim mod, im not going to lie, there was a few cuss words used. I used a left over piece of slides.

They were 7/16" thick. The skis now are pitched ski tips up now.

I had to strap the handle bars so they quit moving.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[aquaticlaker]

Dan

Your right on, on this issue as I rode my sled for 225 mile and noticed the the steering became harder and the darting started to show up when letting off the gas on hard pack. I came up with the same program as you did. I had some Bergstrom shims laying around to try. I had both 1/4 and 3/8 but, went with 1/4 shim to start. I plan on trying this setup Thursday thru Sunday. Can provide feedback latter.

Mike

Results from 200 mile ride are:

Rode on same trails with same snow amount for the most part and less darting when letting off. Not perfect but close.

Sterling was lighter as I let the limiter strap out to the last hole and tightened the center shock some.

The Yamaha rubbers were hard as the weather was cold (below zero) seena arctic cat and those rubbers were hard also but again it was cold out. So hard to tell the hardness of each.

I will have it in the shop tomorrow and look more at it.

Might be good enough for me!

I still think the steering is a little heavy or i have no muscles.

 

[Doc Harley]

I have a couple rides in now. Several different trail conditions in U.P. and Wisconsin Northwoods. Pilot 5.7's have really brought more control and confidence to piloting my Sidewinder.
For those on the fence, I would totally embrace this mod.

With that said, thanks Rockerdan!

 

[Sidewinder Bob]

Just did 160 mile ride today up to Tug Hill. The 5.7 pilots work great.
Thanks Dan

 

[ROCKERDAN]

Got my first miles on a trail today....not the best conditions yet but some were decent....near 100 mile day overall. I am just blown away by how great this sled handles. Shocks are best Ive ever owned to date by far. Pilots working awesome for me.

Amazing how many more rpms Ive gained now since the first ride....All bone stock, super quiet and I would have no problem just leaving this stock, its that nice and tons of jam.

Dan

 

[XP123]

I think you may see her settle in with the 3/8" after a few hundred miles, steering should come round. Does well to deal will darting with more shim as you said.

I have some 3/8 material and I'm thinking of adding it to the back of my Pilots. My only concern and I've had this happen a few times is when you over shim these skis you can and will increase steering effort and not by just a little. Too much shim results in very heavy steering and not enough results in darting and uneven carbide wear. I think it's a fine line to get it to where your happy.

Another thing that effects steering effort is the pre load on the ski shock springs. Did you do anything to your ski springs Dan? How many inches of thread do you have above your springs?

 

[ROCKERDAN]

I have some 3/8 material and I'm thinking of adding it to the back of my Pilots. My only concern and I've had this happen a few times is when you over shim these skis you can and will increase steering effort and not by just a little. Too much shim results in very heavy steering and not enough results in darting and uneven carbide wear. I think it's a fine line to get it to where your happy.

Another thing that effects steering effort is the pre load on the ski shock springs. Did you do anything to your ski springs Dan? How many inches of thread do you have above your springs?

100% correct Brother...

If I was real picky Id stick with 1/4" which is likely about perfect, but I just know these soft rubbers well set it. So I went 3/8" and I see them setting it already. I will keep eye on it. Preferably a firmer rubber would help this issue, and I may use the BRP rubbers in the end, maybe make them in summer when they are abit easier to get in there...LOL I know DON went with BRP rubbers. Much much harder, but need more modding.

I have NOT TOUCHED my suspension. Full soft all the way around so far. I did notice my ancient carbides I am running early season are so bad I need to slap in the new ones now. But these seem to be laying pretty good on concrete now, I will do a check today closer.

I want to lengthen my strap to last hole too before Mondays ride. I meant to do that from get go but forgot. With the light effort, I may add some front spring to the threads, I have to do some measurements on those and document, since I dont think these have the numbers on threads like the DOO had, which I ran on 2 always.

I know for sure I like the 129 a ton better then 137 though. It eats moguls and ride plush just the same, yet transfers much better(hooks better too) and seems to corner in a much more precise manner, And we have same ski and similar stud setups from Toms to my 129.

Dan

 

[ryama]

Got my first miles on a trail today....not the best conditions yet but some were decent....near 100 mile day overall. I am just blown away by how great this sled handles. Shocks are best Ive ever owned to date by far. Pilots working awesome for me.

Amazing how many more rpms Ive gained now since the first ride....All bone stock, super quiet and I would have no problem just leaving this stock, its that nice and tons of jam.

Dan

Dan quick question. Does your stocker have the little hesitation you spoke about this fall.Or is this a mod machine issue?

 

[ROCKERDAN]

Dan quick question. Does your stocker have the little hesitation you spoke about this fall.Or is this a mod machine issue?

Id still like to directly compare the two, but Tom never seems to be able to ride so far.

But I dont feel that at all with stocker, its a very seemless pull from bottom to top.