What to do with a 121 mono to head west

[thegrizzly1]

I figured you could get a 141" track in a 144" setup by just running your rear axle adjustment all the way forward. I wasn't (intentionally at least) suggesting you do a set back. To run a tall (2"+) lug track you are going to have to go with 7 or 8 tooth drivers depending on the track pitch. This will give you a little extra length compared to the 9 tooth stock drivers. I would think worst case scenario you could put slightly smaller wheels on the back of the ZX-2 to get the track to fit. Still cheaper than having to buy 2 tracks. Remember, you only need 1.5" forward travel to get the 141" in there. I also figured a track with ~2000 miles would have some stretch to it. If I remember, I look at how far forward I could slide my axle as I have the 144" setup with 9 tooth drivers. Gotta wait till I get my sled back, good ole exhaust doughnuts and wye pipes! At about 2500 miles to boot.

Thanks for the compliments. I really like the black and yellow myself. Not many sleds like that out there. I always liked the back draft paint scheme on the Nytro's and RTX's.

 

[tkuss]

141" track won't fit a 144" ZX-2. Over summer I extended my zx-2 to 144", I bought a used track off snowest. Turned out the track was a 141" not 14" like advertised. Didnt even know till I tried to install the suspension in it and everything was a bit tight. Probably could of made it fit if absolutly needed, but I still need another 1 1/2" or room to get the stock rear axel wheels on.

Don't try putting a 141" on a 144" zx-2.

Check out my thread in the 4stroke garage, called Apex Backcountry to read a bit more about the track dilemma.

Here are some pics of the 141" track on the ZX-2,

 

[kinger]

Yeah especially in the summer when the skid expands slightly its a fight sometimes to get that track on that thing and over those 4 large 8" wheels.

tkuss/grizz you aren't near your sled at all to measure the approach angle are you?

 

[tkuss]

no, sled is stored 300 miles away from where I am now. The approach angle is probably very close to the mono.

 

[subaru2006]

If I new how I could do it for you. Sleds at home.

Subaru2006

 

[kinger]

Here is a pict of the angle. I was going to use a protractor to get close. Best is a angle finder and set it on the inside of the track.

 

[kinger]

I think I figured out a plan. The ZX2 is the only skid that allows you to reverse the extensions and swap between a 121 and what ever extension you choose. I talked to Denis today and he said go with 151" extension and set it back 5.5 inches and run a 162 when I go out west. I wanted a 162" because they are cheap as takeoffs and maximizes my foot print for the SC to actually allow me to have fun out there.

I figured out a way to make a trick tunnel extension that is will bolt on/off with no adverse effects. The skid set back will allow plenty of clearance for my shortie rear heat exchanger

So I think I will make it swappable coversion I have a extra axle from my RX and I'll get some cheap apex drivers (7T 3" pitch) find a cheap maverick 162" track from a apex since most mtn pros hate them (it will be fine for me as a beginner)

Some searching on snowest I found drivers and a track for less $300 and the extensions from AD are like $280ish. The custom tunnel extension I'll make myself will be around $100.

Once done I'm hoping I can swap from mountain back to trail in less then 3 hours, the ZX2 will have a trail mount points and mountain mounting holes, spare axle with drivers will allow easy swap and my tunnel extension will come off in about 6 bolts.

Oh I'll also notch the 2.25" lugs on my cheap track so it doesn't hit the tunnel protectors and I will leave them installed.

Anything I'm missing here?

Pretty pumped if I can make this work, seems like a lot of guys would do this from the midwest I cant be the first to think of the idea of a quick swap trail/mount set up, so chime in if I'm off my rocker! LOL

Thanks guys most of this plan came from various suggestions on here. I apprecate it!

 

[thegrizzly1]

I see one other potential problem with your approach. When you do the setback for the long track, I believe the rear skid mount bolt is going to wind up smack dab in the middle of your heat exchanger. It has to do with the taper of the tunnel relative to the ground. I am speaking from experience with on 07 RTX, but I believe your tunnel should be very similar. Moving the skid up in the tunnel is not an option because you are already too close to the exhaust and rear exhaust crossover aluminum thingy. (See pictures.) I have attached a summary of my install I sent to Jeff when he was with A&D. It highlighted a few of the issues I had with my particular install. I have included it here so you can see some of the issues you may run into. The second to the last picture is the rear suspension mount bolt. You can see there is barely enough room between the bolt head and the running board to get a socket on it. While tough to see in the picture, the tunnel and running board taper up. To do a straight setback is going to put you at a point impossible to mount a bolt. If I can figure out how to attach a link I will, and hopefully it will show you why you don't want to move up in the tunnel any.

Last comment is if you are fairly handy, or have access to a good machine/fabrication shop, I would recommend creating your own tunnel reinforcements/ZX-2 mounting brackets. Make them one piece for each side and have both sets of holes for normal local track and for setback position. I think this will be your strongest option. If either the pics or link do not work, PM me and I can send them to you directly. The word document it big. Good luck and let us know how it works for you.

I'd love to see your idea for an interchangeable tunnel extension.

I have a word doc with written description and pictures that exceeds the maximum file size. PM me with an email address and I will send it to you directly. I have attached the picture that I referenced above. I also added a couple of pics of why you don't want to move the mount points up any higher in the tunnel. Just having the setback is going to make the track rub more severe I believe.

 

[kinger]

Thanks grizz, my e-mail is jskinger28@hotmail.com

Your bolt location is perplexing to me. I'm attaching a picture of Jiggers sled (hope he doesnt care) and its a RX1 mountain with the moutain kit. This is the picture I was using to verify if I would have any intereference issues, she sits VERY high but that is good in the powder and with a 162" I wont care about handling on the way to the hill.

I'm not sure if the angle of the RX tunnels are terribly different then the apex tunnels. Once i get my sled out I will take a bunch of measurements and see what interefernce issues I run into.

I will come up with some sort of mounting bracket with two different holes in it, that will be the cleanest solution.


The other picture is the lexan tunnel extension I found on craigslist and sparked my idea using a aluminum frame to mount to the stock tunnel with bolts and not rivets. It looks trick as well!

 

[kinger]

Just a update I bought the ZXtend, a 162" apex track and drivers and will run that out west.

Grizz how ya coming on the plates?