The Rockmeister Express

[sobfrogg]

Lookin good Rock,

I spent my Saturday Doing my skid relocate.

I might be able to start putting the thing back together in the am.

Mabey I will have some pics for ya.


How did the test ride go????

 

[Rockmeister]

I called Rock today and hes taking it out for a ride
Hope all is well after all the work he has put into it

Went GREAT!!!
The grass was a flying!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE IT!!!
Thanks guys!

Tell me about your skid Scott.

Am heading to Cadillac, MI & Baldwin, MI to sled until probably Wed.
If you live near there, or want to get a hold of me to ride, talk to Jake (04rxw10) or sobfrogg, they know how to contact me. Is best to text me.

Will fill you in when I get back, sled is loaded and I want to get on the road, have a 4-5 hour drive yet!

Until then, here is a teaser...

(Remember, I wasn't too worried about anything not required to get on the trail right now.

Mmmmmmmmmmmm...

I likes...

In case ya wonder where I went...

On the trailer, ready to go!

 

[Rockmeister]

No, no, no, no, no!!!
The guys called me a while ago and told me to hold off...

IT'S RAINING IN CADILLAC RIGHT NOW!
Can I cry now?

Jane! Stop this crazy thing!!! :exc:



Ok, hoping the rain doesn't kill everywhere in Michigan...
Looking at the forecast, the entire state has a chance of rain tomorrow, some more, and some less...
Anyone that lives in Michigan, let me know if the rain doesn't kill your snow.
That will be where I head to.

Thanks!

 

[kinger]

Looks great Rock, too bad on the rain, its going to be bitter cold tommorrow. Johndee is saying there will be a storm next week, just not sure where it will land though.

Where do you ride in MI, lower or upper? I assume lower as that is much closer to you, but some crazy dudes go way up to the top

 

[Rockmeister]

Thanks! : )

Ride mostly in the Gaylord area, also do a few UP trips every year.

Honestly, right now, would drive to Munising if rain wasn't forcasted!
I am aching to ride right now! lol

 

[4strokelover87]

Sled looks awesome, Rock!!!! You do very nice work!!!!

 

[03turbo]

looks good rock

youd have fun up here, i got the 159 stuck again in the ditches out here, thats 3 times now this year lol

sled looks really good though, i like your suspension you did, id consider the same thing if i didnt have a holz rear end already in it

 

[4strokelover87]

Rock,

I am having trouble finding your post on relocating the front idlers for longer hyfax wear....can you post the link...???? This is something I might consider while I have my skid out...is there anything you didn't like about this mod???

Thanks,
Jaron

 

[Rockmeister]

Thank you guys!

Sorry haven't had much time to post, will try tonight.

Wait 'til you see what I have been up to...
lol

Rock,
I am having trouble finding your post on relocating the front idlers for longer hyfax wear....can you post the link...???? This is something I might consider while I have my skid out...is there anything you didn't like about this mod???
Thanks, Jaron

It's in the tech section on the main page, not sure how to get to it from here, do have the direct link though.
http://www.totallyamaha.com/snowmobiles ... laceme.htm

This mod is almost FREE and will save you hundreds of dollars and lots of work!
Loved it until I changed the skid, never had an issue, only great hyfax life!
Don't even have to remove the skid to do it.

 

[BETHEVIPER]

removed

 

[Rockmeister]

The front idler wheel re-location mod worked perfectly.
Totally eliminated the wear at the front of the rails.
My objective was to reduce the wear, this basically eliminated the wear at the front.

See pics below. Took these tonight.

Wear caused by poorly located idlers.

If I remember correctly, this was after only 500 miles or so.

Wear from properly located idlers.

Note the wear indicators are still about 1/4" thick yet.
This was after an entire season last year. (About 3500 miles or so)

The ideal spot for the other wear point is directly below the snubbers.
Unfortunately, you can't put wheels right there due to the suspension components above.
The center or larger wheels may help if you can get them close enough to the snubbers.

You can see the major wear just below the snubbers.

This is looking from the rear towards the snubbers.

Can see where the wear rapidly increases just in front of the center wheels.

You can find more info on the mod here:
http://www.totallyamaha.com/snowmobiles ... laceme.htm

 

[Rockmeister]

Wow!

Did so much on Sat and since, can hardly remember half of it!
Will do my best.

Installed skid after getting broken bolt out of front shaft.
Install went very smooth after the broken bolt thing due to prior owner.
Greased skid.

Really like how this thing is put together, every moving joint has a grease zerk.

The skid has real oil impregnated bronze bushings, thick and tough!
Don't miss the cheap flimsy plastic ones.
And it's super light!!!

Plenty of track to tunnel clearance.

Re-assembled hood, headlight, dash, etc.
Anyone that has taken this apart knows how long this takes.
Lots of little pieces and fun fasteners.

Took the headlight pod off and put back on as one assembly, man is that thing heavy.
Will have to take apart in the future and see what weighs so much in it.

Installing the bars.

Love my Apex bars! Very comfy!

Note the 6" dogbone risers.

These are off a Harley and work great.
It is awesome to be able to stand up in the rough, and not have your shoulders start burning like crazy!

They look heavy, but are actually very light. Made of polished aluminum.

Note the added locking screws.

These keep the risers from turning on the shaft independently from each other. Lots of leverage with this tall a riser and long bars.

Locking screws going into the common shaft at the bottom of the risers.

This solved a problem I had while boondocking in deep snow, would lean and pull hard to get the sled to carve into the turn and sometimes the risers would shift out of position. Not anymore.


Controls re-mounted, wiring complete, ready to Rock-N-Roll Baby!

Just the cover is left todo here.

Looks ALOT better all assembled!!! YEAH!!!

Adjusted track and checked alignment.
Took out and aerated my yard for a couple passes, re-adjusted track and loaded on trailer for Michigan!

 

[4strokelover87]

Thanks Rock!!! Definitely going to relocate the front idlers and maybe see if I can figure anything out in the back while I have the skid out anyway...your Warrior is looking awesome!!! Thanks for the update pics!!!

 

[Rockmeister]

After I wasn't able to sled due to pouring rain, started checking the things I would have normally, if I hadn't been in such a hurry to get on the snow!

Can be pretty meticulous at times... lol
Started by taking the shocks out to check clearances with skid at full travel in any direction.

Whack!
Slipped and smacked my knuckle on the nice sharp edge of the skid rail.

First Blood:

Promptly took proper medical care. (Installed a garage band-aid.)

Decide now was a good time for a drink...
lol
Besides alcohol kills germs...

Need one of those Busted Knuckle Garage signs, kinda like this one...

Hmmmmm...
Like the sign says, I have taken care of her all these years, maybe she will kiss it for me?
Just tried...
She said, and I quote: "Daaaad! Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!"
Oh well... ROFLMAO

While removing the shocks I noticed this.

Wear marks on brand new, not so virgin anymore extroverts.

And this.

Wear marks on Rail tips.
(The beasts that took my extroverts virginity! Bad beasts!)

As I didn't have the donor sled the skid was from, I collected sc10 mounting measurements from 10 different people/sleds.

They were all pretty close and used the better of the average.
As it turns out, none of the sleds I had gotten measurements from had extrovert drivers...
Rail tips would have cleared regular drivers.

Pulling skid up to check clearances.

So now I am in the process of moving the skid back an inch.
Not too bad to do, just don't like to tear my work apart! :exc:

An inch is about all I have left in track adjustment to allow for proper track tension.
Will work out ok, it's a brand new track, will get looser from here, never tighter.
(Until I add the larger wheels on the back... lol)

Skid back out.

What a sight! lol

Never, ever land your sled like this...

 

[Stu]

Never, ever land your sled like this...

what would be especially concerning would be if you also saw your track in front of your bumper like that!