Skid install tips

[cannondale27]

Puts springs are easy just drop back of skid and borrow a wheel puller from cat dealer or use a chisel just carefully hitting inner bearing race. Wheels are lightly pressed on.

 

[TestMaster]

Thanks for the info. I was thinking about getting lighter springs late in the riding season, but then decided to get new shocks first and then see. I weigh 230 fully dressed. When I sat on the sled after installing my new shocks, I still only got two inches of sag. I'm thinking lighter springs would certainly help and probably something I should have put on in the off-season.

How difficult is it to remove the springs? Any special tools needed?

Now I wish I would have done this when I had my skid out. Damn!

Please reread my words, I was just trying to give you some advice if you are disappointed with the ride. Please ride this setup long enough to give the new shocks time to break in.

I broke in two Vipers last year. The LTX took about 125-175 miles to break in. It was near perfect, maybe a little on the stiff side when new. When broke in the front was a little soft for my tastes, if I had to break in a rough corner I could bottom the front shocks on occasion. My wife loves them the way they are, my brother who weighs about 35 LBS more than my wife also thinks they are a little soft. So I'll probably have the stock shocks reworked by Hygear over the next year and try and get them calibrated to make both happy.

Of course my brother is a Retired Army Vet, Special Forces Instructor, 5th Special Forces first gulf war, and retired as 1st Sgt. HQ Company 18 Airborne, and, Oh Yea, he's a Jump Master with over 200 jumps. So he doesn't count because he's just not normal! He actually liked the suspension on the LTX SE, Nuff said!

The LTX SE with the Fox Float 3's took longer to break in, approximately 300 miles. No matter what I did they just beat me up, so their gone, but not before they took me out near the end of the season. My AXIS PRO front shocks arrived the day after my injury, I knew the Floats were hurting me, temporary numbness and cold baby and ring finger on my left hand, but I just love the Vipers so much I couldn't not ride. Of course subsequent to my injury I found out my cervical spine is a mess, so I've been directed to act my age. Of course you don't get 1 fused disk and 4 herniated disks by doing smart things or listening to good advice. So for now I can only lift, push or pull 5 pounds but I WILL ride next season. Gee maybe I'm not normal either! SHIST!!!

 

[putz21]

I'll wait and ride and break the new shocks in and determine then how the ride is. Man, your brother has quite the resume....that's awesome! No doubt he likes the stiff ride! . Good luck on the recovery in the off-season. Man, that sounds painful. Glad you have some great shocks on it now!

Thanks Canondale for the tips on the spring removal. Hopefully I won't need to change them out, but if I do, sounds like it shouldn't be as bad as I thought.

 

[TestMaster]

I'll wait and ride and break the new shocks in and determine then how the ride is. Man, your brother has quite the resume....that's awesome! No doubt he likes the stiff ride! . Good luck on the recovery in the off-season. Man, that sounds painful. Glad you have some great shocks on it now!

Thanks Canondale for the tips on the spring removal. Hopefully I won't need to change them out, but if I do, sounds like it shouldn't be as bad as I thought.

Very fortunate that I have very little/no pain at this point so that is not an issue but what I've found is now that my hand and fingers are getting better I've realized that my pectoral and trapezius muscles were also affected. They are also reconnecting and starting to recover. Dr. said at 63 I should not be lifting 5-6 hundred pounds, it's not something I plan but when stuff happens, well, it happens, and I won't stand around and let someone else get hurt, or hurt themselves because of my inaction. That won't change.

 

[yamadoo]

Test master remember you had the surgery so you could live YOUR LIFE not the Drs plan to protect the surgical repair ! At 12 weeks your tissues will only be at 60 - 70 % of 1 year strength .
Eventually (>1yr) you will be strong but not invincible. So next season ride have fun just take out the "oh what the .... You only live once moments " and you will be fine. A lot easier to do now than when I was younger, suspect the same is true for you. I never would have been dumb enough to say I was invincible just acted that way (dumb I know in retrospect).

 

[TestMaster]

I agree, next year will be a smooth one for me, I've already told many at the Snowmobile club I won't be riding weekends or rough trails for the year. The clubs that groom the 150+ miles around our house do a tremendous job grooming. Weather and snow permitting all the trail get groomed 5 days a week as a minimum. We use great groomer drags and can cut down multiple foot moguls in one pass so although my travels may be curtailed from time to time I feel certain that 150 mile days are a sure thing on any given day! I love this team, many of the drivers are 65+ years young and may not ride any longer but they love getting out on the groomer and challenge themselves to provide a great trail. I no longer believe I am invincible, but I can say that gently pushing yourself as often as possible is good for you. At 65 my father ran 10 miles with my younger brother who was in the 5th Special Forces Group at an 8 minute mile rate. He could do 50+ push-ups until he was into his 70's. And could do the New York Times Crossword puzzle as well or better than anyone I have ever seen or heard of. I also had three great uncles who farmed 300 acres with a horse and a mule. They were 78-86 years old at the time, lived on a farm house built in 1862.

Our drivers are not paid so their not zooming the trail to earn miles for pay. We have a new President and at 59 he has provided the energy of a 30 something. He is a quiet inspiration and I am confident he will take our club to over 400 members this year.

 

[putz21]

Well, just got my front Elka Stage 5's and put them on. Now I have the front matching the rear. Really like the look with the black and red. Hope they ride as well as they look!

 

[TestMaster]

Now you can tell people that the 5 on your front shocks is really an S! S for Super..., you can fill in the blanks!

I'm sure that you will have a great ride this coming season, enjoy!

By the way, Great pictures!