To gear down, or not to gear down

[Sask Attak]

I just installed a 1.75" Backcountry track on my XTX. I ride on the prairies here in Saskatchewan, but I go to the rockies 2-3 times a year. Before I fill the chaincase with oil my question is, Should I put a 20T top gear in? Please post all of your opinions.

 

[Turk]

drop at least 1 tooth on top.

 

[Sask Attak]

Thanks Turk!! Do you have any experience with this? What gains/losses will I have?

 

[Turk]

Your kidding right?
You gain low end & lose top end.

 

[sleddingfarmer]

Considering the extra weight of the bigger lugged track, dropping 1 tooth will probably not lose much more, if any, top end vs running the stock gearing with the 1.75 track. But it will be better low to mid range power.

So I would consider it a win win situation. I would drop 1 gear.

This is my theory at least

 

[rxwhopper]

wow turk your getting cranky in you old age!!

 

[Zakre]

wow turk your getting cranky in you old age!!

amen every post is like this now, knowledge is nothing if you don't share it.

 

[Sask Attak]

Considering the extra weight of the bigger lugged track, dropping 1 tooth will probably not lose much more, if any, top end vs running the stock gearing with the 1.75 track. But it will be better low to mid range power.

So I would consider it a win win situation. I would drop 1 gear.

This is my theory at least

This is what I was getting at. Some people told me that by going to 20/39 I should actually gain top end. They claim that the clutches shift better with 20/39 gearing.

 

[Turk]

Your clutches will run way more efficient especially in deep snow. You will not be anywhere near a stock track sled for top end but the lower gearing will help ya get the most out of that track. I would probably go down to a 19 tooth for mountain riding unlesss your using 8 tooth drivers.

 

[sleddingfarmer]

Considering the extra weight of the bigger lugged track, dropping 1 tooth will probably not lose much more, if any, top end vs running the stock gearing with the 1.75 track. But it will be better low to mid range power.

So I would consider it a win win situation. I would drop 1 gear.

This is my theory at least

This is what I was getting at. Some people told me that by going to 20/39 I should actually gain top end. They claim that the clutches shift better with 20/39 gearing.

With a 19 tooth top gear, 2 inch paddle track 136" long, at 10,000 feet, I still saw 90 mph on my RTX, and still climbing. If I kept the sled I was going to buy a 20 tooth top gear and just run it all the time.

 

[AARIDER]

I am from Tisdale and ride mostly cross county. I have 1.75 backcountry on 09 xtx. I geared down 2 teeth on top but it still would not pull worth a dam off hard pack, so this year I have added a clutch kit from ULLMERS and it is suppose to solve most of the backshift problem that was killing this thing in deep snow.

 

[Sask Attak]

I do all of my riding in the Tisdale/ Nipawin Area. I grew up at Codette and worked in Tisdale for 5 years.

I have inquired about Ulmer's kit, but I was going to try it this winter before dropping $400 on the kit.

 

[Mountaintech]

You may not lose as much top end as you think. My stock 09 MTX sees 90MPH with 20/40 gears. That is at 6000 ft with the stock deep lug 153" track.

 

[AARIDER]

I will allmost promise you that it will not backshit for you. If it does it will bee the only one that I have heard that would. That is a hudge flaw in their clutching. Ihave not tryed my clutch kit yet but,Ulmer said it should fix it up and not affect the upshift, witch works great.

 

[Turk]

You gotta clutch these sleds for hardpack or powder & there is really no compromise. If I am gonna be playing in deep snow I have 1 set up & if I will be on groomed trails I have another set up.
My deep snow set up will way overrev on trails & my hard snow set up will massively underrev in real deep snow.
You gotta pick one set up for conditions your in that day if you want satisfactory performance.....no matter who or what clutching your using!!!