Yamaha Tuner Skis still Darting

[MX Dad 70]

Amso make sure your adjusting your floats with the ski in the air, not loaded. If air pressure is set on the ground there is no where near enough pressure in them and the sled will act insane, deadly darting. Yeah I learned that from experience, just forgot to lift it up before checking...Just put Tuners on my 2011 SE a couple of weeks ago, had Snowtrackers on since new. Not quite as stable as the Snowtrackers but very little darting and only in very firm conditions. So far I like the Tuners wit 6" inside & out...462kms on Sat. and almost NO darting.

Thanks Frank. Yes the sled was lifted when Floats were adjusted. Next seasons carbides might be that option... Hoping the transfer rod fixes it, a little creepy when you're cranking through the woods and your ski taps a tree from an unexpected "dart"

 

[ShootToThrill]

Dont forget to check the bulkhead bushings. jack the front off the ground grab the ski bottom near the spindle and pull out sideways. Have seen almost an inch of ski movement doing this on a friends apex.

 

[steiner]

You mean like this?

 

[MX Dad 70]

Thanks guys checked that too before I ask the gang on here. Update, I heated up the jamb nut gave it a good whack and it backed off. So now I have it set at the mid point of the marks on the tool. Will take it out soon and report back on how it is now and hopefully close this thread.

 

[MX Dad 70]

Update. After moving up to 75psi in the Floats and mid point of the max/min on transfer rod, it was better but not good. I will say, the trails were hard packed/frozen after a day of sun that thawed the trails. On that surface anything will dart so it's not a fair analysis of the changes I did.

I'll let you all know more after this weekend's ride on better snow.

 

[MX Dad 70]

Update #2 - I jacked up the front end again and noticed the left side upper bushing on the Fox Float had a fair amount of play vertically; I'm wondering if this played into my darting. Since our season is winding down and I can grab my daughters Firecat if we get more snow , I decided to tear down my Apex and change the oil, all of the front shock, a-arm, spindle and bulkhead bushing since the previous owner left me with Ulmer's Oilite bushings . Now that I have it all torn down and have read into the "right" way to install bushings, I do have one clarification question.

When installing the "engine" side bushings, I've read that you can install these from the front (since doing it from the back side looks impossible). I just want to be sure this is right since there is a subtle recess in the bulkhead to accept the bushings flange. I don't want to press these in and the a-arm not fit.

Any other suggestions on the install will be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[tffd27]

Yes you can install them from the front without any problem, I just did it on mine 3 days ago.

 

[Sasquatch]

Plan on checking toe. From previous research, I thought the toe should be set in 1/8" max. on each ski for 1/4" total?

If your running 1/4 inch toe in your going to kill yourself. 1/8 to 1/4 inch toe out total both skis maybe but never in!

 

[kviper]

Just go back to the stock ski's and SnowTracker's with toe set at 0! Than you can use all the rest of your suspendtion settings for what they were designed for and have positive straight line tracking. Been through all of this with suspendtion adjustment, ski's, wear bar's blah blah blah! Nothing will match the bite and straight line performance of the Tracker's.

 

[Stubbs]

I agree. I ran Tuner Skis for two seasons and couldn't get the perfoance I was looking for over a broad range of conditions. Snow trackers on original skis fixed all that this year. They respond the same regardless of conditions. Very, very consistent.

 

[thor452]

x 10

 

[snowbeast]

This weekend we went on a 165 mile trip and all day the sled would dart to the point where I almost hit a tree in tighter woods trails. In an open field, it would also dart upwards of what it felt like a foot each way! I thought these skis were to stop this type of uneasiness.

Sled Info:
Bought mid Jan. 2015
06 Apex RTX with Floats - 65psi
Tuner skis with 6" and 4" no shims
1.25 Ice ripper
Transfer rod at max - from previous owner. Tried backing it off but jam nut seized.
Don't recall limit strap position
Slight left/right play in steering linkage

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Your limiter straps will effect darting the most,relax them if they are to tight.

 

[superb]

Tuners will dart in certain conditions, no way around it. Sno-trackers on stock skis do not dart.