Rockmeister The Destroyer...

[Rockmeister]

WOW, sometimes good and bad luck balance out. Glad you survived your trip.

Hhahhahhaha! Me too!!! lol

So, Rock? When you travel do you have like a little trailer train going down the road? You know, one for the sleds and a second for parts? Just wondering?

Have you SEEN my trunk???

That is a great adventure Rock! Sounds like you had a blast and all the breakdowns just adds to the experience we call snowmobiling. G.B.

Don't ya love it?

Geez now I don't feel so bad
Although like an idiot I always carry at least 2 spare sleds just for that reason. I once took 3 sleds on a trip and had to rent 1 by the end of the week

Hhahhaha! Glad to make ya feel better! (I think) lol
I... ummmmm... have rented sleds... Maybe... Kinda... *kicks dirt*

Don't make me start calling you "Sloth the Sled Slayer Sr."

Don't make me sic the Grim Reaper on ya...


Glad I made you guys laugh, it was a wild week to say the least!
Made me laugh & thought you might see the same humor in it...

 

[04rxw10]

As long as your back riding and not hurt thats the bigest factor

 

[waldo1]

Ya YA - glad we (you) could help - my hands are loven you - your sled is degen us (romel) - its all good when ya come back from a trip walken upright!!! - has yamaha made you a buy out offer yet - they should and fire the guy on the phone that says no - no -no to the hand warmer fix. had to trade sleds with my daughters 97 sx during a trip so i could make it before i got my nytro fixed with cooken hands from the rock - yamaha needs to see what the rock is cooken - !!! Roost or b roosted!!

 

[spddmon]

sounds like you have a black clowd following you around also, btw you're heater is the best

 

[Rockmeister]

Glad you guys like!
Beats frostbite!

Hhahhahaha @ Black Cloud.

Don't know about the black cloud (although it feels like it sometimes, lol), I WAS able to continue riding due to the help of fellow Ty'ers!


Can't complain at all!
We had a BLAST!

 

[SLEDSTART]

And were talking about a trip in Southern MI?

hmmmm....Snowdog may think twice after reading this...LOL...
Do I need to peek in the trunk of that Pontiac? I'll get scared won't I?

J/K

Glad you had fun either way...but trips like that can be frustrating!

SD

 

[Rockmeister]

So a bunch of us decide we are riding in Muni for a few days...

Spend a day driving up, Muni is about 9 hours from my house on average.

Head out on the trail Friday am, have an awesome day riding great trails & do a good number of miles.

Later that night as we are heading back, notice I lost one of my rear wheels off my skid.
Hmmmmmmm... Greaaaat...

My riding partner says "Heck, just take it easy & it will be ok."
(Remember this quote, it will be referenced later... lol)
I agree, so no major deal.

We are flying down well groomed trails, nice & fast... Lovin' it...

We are about 15 miles outside of Muni & the groomer had taken the left turn towards Muni & to the right was well whooped up trail as far as the eye can see...

My riding partner takes the right NON-groomed trail and proceeds to do 90+ through the whoops...
(Remember that quote about my missing rear wheel? "Take it easy & it will be ok"...)

This is the worst trail I have ridden in a couple years...
Usually when I come to a trail head, I take the smoothest trail.
Or if none of them are groomed, I turn around and find one that is groomed... That or find 2-tracks & explore. lol
Not tonight...

So we proceed to pound the 15 miles back to the hotel.
(In the back of my mind, I'm hoping the rest of my wheels hold up to this... Especially after the week before, Steve lost a rear wheel & it caught the track & bent up his rails... So I'm hoping not to suffer the same fate as we pound along at 90+...)

Get back to the hotel well-tenderized and sled is ok...
Way cool!


Saturday morning get up & ask hotel where to get Ski-Doo parts.
(Have a Ski-Doo skid in my sled & the Comfort Inn in Wetmore is extremely helpful!)
They point me to Munising Snowmobile Rentals, so I head down there & the guy there is extremely helpful!
If these guys treat their renters that well, all is good!

They have a wheel for me & the bolt, washer, etc.
Head back to the hotel & put all this back on.
Replace a small idler wheel while I am at it also.
(Have spares in my trunk... lol)
Get on the computer & order new wheels for the rear so they are there when I get home.

By this time everyone has headed out, so I wander a bit & explore 2 tracks. (The trails are beat.)
It is a beautiful sunny day, and the 2-tracks I am on have had no-one on them. Virgin snow...
At one point I'm laying back on my sled, enjoying the woods, totally relaxed, it is sooo quiet, & all of a sudden...

SCREEEEETCH!!!

A Friggin' owl screetches so loud, it's unreal!
Scares the Krap outta me...
I fall off my sled... lmao

Wander some more & get adventurous...
End up get stuck pretty good.
Spend 45 minutes or so digging out.
Take my time as I'm by myself.
Get out and take 2-tracks back to where the regular trails aren't so bad...

Take trail 7 south... Hmmmmmm... This is pretty nice!
Dial it up a bit... Even better...
Fly 40 miles in less than 30 minutes....
Not bad...
Not even pushing it, just fast...

Stop for a quick break & kinda look over my sled.
Rats! Another idler wheel missing...
At least I have spares of these in the trunk of my car...

I'm noticing a pattern here...
Spitting out idlers like a patient spits teeth at a denture clinic...

Usually replace all bearings in my skid at the beginning of the season, this year it snowed early & I wanted to go right away & never did it, now I'm paying for it... lol

Decide not to do the loop, just in case I loose more parts. Laffin
Head back, end up doing 80 miles in an hour on the trail. not all bad...
Overall, did a little over 100 miles for the day, had a Fantastic day!
Something about just sitting in the woods & enjoying it on a sunny day that is soul filling...

When I get back to the hotel, I check out my sled closer to replace the idler(s).
Hmmmmm...
What's this hole in the rail?
Turns out, it is the lower bolt hole for the front shock mount that is missing both mounting bolts!
Is just about dark, definitely waiting until morning...
Head to the rental place & get bolts for in the morning.

Oh well, had an incredible day! This is pretty darn minor.
Met up with the guys at the bar & had a blast!


Sunday morning...
Head out to my sled to replace the bolts on the front shock.
Have to loosen the track, raise the front of my sled way off the ground to let the skid down so the bolt holes will line up.
Got pretty ingenious with tie-downs and a sidewalk railing... lol
Dig a bunch of ice out of the skid & the bolt holes.
Wrestle the shock into alignment.
Go to put the bolt in...
Falls into the hole...
Grrrrrrrrrrrrr... 10mm bolt in a 12mm hole...

Am parts hunting again... lol
Load all my tools & stuff back into my car...
Head to rental place.
Rental place doesn't have these bolts...

Head into Munising, check a bunch of stores, all closed. It's Sunday...
Hmmmmmm... Thinking may have to head to Marquette almost an hour away.
Finally find an open Hardware store. YEAH!!!
They have everything I need.
Buy extras just in case & head back to hotel.

Un-load all my tools & stuff out of my car again...
Get working on it.
Slather Blue locktight all over the bolts, lol.

Do a quick check of idler wheels, replace 2 that are sloppy.
Let sled down, re-adjust track, check alignment.
Looking good...

We suit up & Snowdog, Superman, Scott, Nick1945, & Myself head to Big Bay.
Awesome ride!
I blow another belt on the ride, am running out of belts...
Nothing but lots of dust, fuzz, and some strings left...
Thank God for Kevin @ Port Yamaha, my belt supplier... lol
The groomers are catching up as it is getting later on Sunday & the trails are great!
We end up eating at Big Bay & run into TY member Trlguy.
Had a great dinner with him before he headed back to Houghton & we headed back to Muni.

The riding around Big Bay was awesome! Will do that again!
Overall we did 200+ miles on well-groomed trails.


Monday morning...
Most of the guys are heading back home today.
However, a few friends from home are here & I hook up with them.
We have a blast riding.
The trails are mostly great & well groomed.

We ride our buns off, having a blast!
Stop at Lakenland & ride the tour through, pretty cool.
Thanks to Kurt for showing it to me.
Tom Laken is really great, stop by & see him!

As we pass through Harvey, we see a Trail Nazi crouched behind a pine tree with a radar gun. (Speed limit is 35mph there)
He is hoping to vacuum out our wallets, no luck today, we are doing 30 or so.
(Had warned the guys before we got there, as I had been warned.)

Head up Marquette mountain, is an awesome ride.
Turn down towards Gwinn, trails just keep getting better as we go, can't ask for more.


Have dinner at Full Throttle Bar.
What a blast! This place is fun! Will do that again.
We leave, just keep riding incredibly groomed trails.
Spit out a couple more idler wheels like bad teeth...

Until...
My sled comes to a screeching halt...
Greaaaaaat...

Something in the drivetrain is bad for sure.
Engine is ok.

2 of the guys were down the trail & Dave was still with me.
We do some quick checks and it's obvious we aren't going to fix it there, will need the trailer to pick it up.
We figure out exactly where we are & I give Dave my keys to bring the trailer back.

Tell him, I will probably just be sleeping on my sled.
It's pretty warm, nothing major, just wake me when you get back. lol

Just settling in & Reed comes pulling up. (One of the guys)
He says, looked like you could use some company!
Hhahahhahaa!
We end up talking & enjoying until the guys get there.
Was cool of ya Dude!

A couple hours later the guys show up, we load the sleds up, & head back to the hotel.
By this time it is pretty late & we crash.


Drive back home Tuesday & start working on my sled.
To be continued...

 

[Rockmeister]

Get my sled back in the shop & it acts like nothing is wrong.

Took the clutches off & inspected them.
(Hadn't had a chance to tune the clutches since I replaced the secondary I had broken prior. Couldn't ride much above 90 or it would blow the belt.)
Hmmmm... Primary spring looks like it has been binding...
Missing paint on the outer edge & can see it on the clutch.
Why would the factory sell a spring for the clutch that won't work in that clutch? I don't get it...
Well, explains the belts blowing & the belt lines I can see on the clutches.

I throw the clutches in the dishwasher & run it multiple times with dishsoap to start cleaning them. (FIVE drops, VERY important! lol)

Call Kevin @ Port to re-supply my belts...
Call Ulmer & he sends me the spring I need for the primary & the parts I need to fix my Roller Rooster secondary.
THANKS GUYS!

Figure I tear apart the chaincase & go from there.
As i take it apart, don't find anything until I pull the lower gear.
Ball bearings fall out...

Hmmmmmm.. found it! lol

Not all bad actually, the lower chaincase drive bearing lasted about 14,000 miles of hard riding, that is MUCH more than any bearing I have ever had on a sled.

All the bearings on the chaincase end are easy to get industry standard bearings.
Get them all and try to find a lower seal, as it was killed in the bearing failure.
No bearing place has Metric seals, they have metric bearings, but not metric seals.... go figure...

Not one factory dealer in an hour radius has one...
(Wish I had thought of that the day before, would have gotten them from Ulmer or Port.)

Ok, go 2 hour radius...
WoooHooo!!! M&M Motorsports in Kalamazoo, MI has all the seals I need!
Thanks Loren!!!


The Great Kalamazoo Seal Trip of 2010:

Can do this... In about 3 hours, I can have the seals and be assembling tomorrow (Sat).
Jump in the car & head north...
It starts snowing...
Snowing HARD...
REAL HARD!...

Interstate starts to show snow drifts...
People are sliding off the road all over...
Interstate comes to a stand-still, I find an exit and start taking secondary roads.
They have BIG drifts!
Am drift busting most of the way to Kalamazoo...
Chuck is nervous... Holding onto the oh-shiit handle... lol

Takes 3 hours instead of 1-1/2 hours.
(In the back of my mind, swear I hear the tune from Gilligans Island...)
Find my parts, he left them right where he said he would. : )
Head back home, another 3 hours...
6 hours to pick up seals for the chaincase...

Today am tearing out the skid & replacing every bearing in it.
Making a 4th wheel kit for the back.
(In case I ever lose a rear wheel again, it isn't a major issue. Great idea Steve!)
Finish cleaning up the parts & re-assembling the chaincase.

Changing engine oil etc.

Am trusting today is going to go much smoother than the Great Kalamazoo Seal Trip... lol

 

[Eagle1]

Oh dude my sides hurt after reading all that,lmao. Always an adventure hey Rock.

Just think most guys would be on here how their sled let them down and they're switching brands. Wish more people had your outlook, of course maybe they just need a few more "rockmeister's". LOL

 

[rrxx-1]

Get off the puter and back in the shop, lol. Must be nice to have snow. 38 out and the trails are just about junk. To top it off last Sunday I hit my leg, real hard, about half way between my ankle and knee. Hurt all week but was getting better. Yesterday while out riding it got worse. Now my leg is swollen, ankle, and foot. I about a half hour I am headed to the walk in clinic, if I can walk in, lol. I really wanted one last ride this am around here, cause the trail I am sure will close for the season as they are talking warm here for a week and no snow. Well have fun, get out and ride as the fat lady is warming up..................Brian

 

[Nick1945]

Get off the puter and back in the shop, lol. Must be nice to have snow. 38 out and the trails are just about junk. To top it off last Sunday I hit my leg, real hard, about half way between my ankle and knee. Hurt all week but was getting better. Yesterday while out riding it got worse. Now my leg is swollen, ankle, and foot. I about a half hour I am headed to the walk in clinic, if I can walk in, lol. I really wanted one last ride this am around here, cause the trail I am sure will close for the season as they are talking warm here for a week and no snow. Well have fun, get out and ride as the fat lady is warming up..................Brian

Brian, don't throw in the towel yet, see what the Dr. says, winter isn't over yet, at least not in Michigan. You can always run up to the UP, and get a ride or 2 in before the season ends.

 

[rrxx-1]

Get off the puter and back in the shop, lol. Must be nice to have snow. 38 out and the trails are just about junk. To top it off last Sunday I hit my leg, real hard, about half way between my ankle and knee. Hurt all week but was getting better. Yesterday while out riding it got worse. Now my leg is swollen, ankle, and foot. I about a half hour I am headed to the walk in clinic, if I can walk in, lol. I really wanted one last ride this am around here, cause the trail I am sure will close for the season as they are talking warm here for a week and no snow. Well have fun, get out and ride as the fat lady is warming up..................Brian

Brian, don't throw in the towel yet, see what the Dr. says, winter isn't over yet, at least not in Michigan. You can always run up to the UP, and get a ride or 2 in before the season ends.

I don't give in. If I gave in, I would not have rode yesterday, lol. Even this morning I went and got my sled out of the trailer and tore the clutches apart. I love this sport even if mother nature and old man winter can't figure out winter, lol. Thanks for the Pep post.............Brian

 

[buddah]

....... maybe they just need a few more "rockmeister's". LOL

No.......No...........NO!!!! ANYTHING but THAT!!!

 

[hossZ28]

Glad you can put these tales into a positive spin Rock for those of us who cant ride this season I am just waiting for the DVD version lol

 

[rrxx-1]

After spending the afternoon in ER I am free to go, lol. Doc says 98 percent chance that there is no blood clotting. Good to here. Few days with the leg up and hopefully I will be better. On thing scaring me is almost a week later and it is hurting more.

No back to Rocks fun times........Did you get er runnin yet????