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Conference asd::snowmobiles

Title:snowmobiles
Notice:DECride96-552, Ads-4, Comm-257, Trailers-159, DECride97-589
Moderator:TROOA::SCHABEL
Created:Thu Sep 27 1990
Last Modified:Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:635
Total number of notes:13711

611.0. "Official Polaris Xlt note." by TROOA::SCHABEL (Klatter-motor-pilot) Thu Dec 05 1996 14:03

T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
611.1Where do we start?BRAT::DAVIS_KThu Dec 05 1996 14:519
611.2XLT 600ASDG::ELLISThu Dec 05 1996 15:428
611.3indy tipsDABEAN::KLOZAThu Dec 05 1996 17:267
611.4Here we go...TROOA::SCHABELKlatter-motor-pilotThu Dec 05 1996 17:3214
611.5Well, since you asked.. I'll reply.. It's my .02 centsPTOSS1::MATSCHERZThu Dec 05 1996 18:5821
611.6My 6 cents on XLT'sBRAT::DAVIS_KThu Dec 05 1996 20:1747
611.7Pipe TalkBRAT::DAVIS_KThu Dec 12 1996 12:0913
611.8SOLVIT::SNORAT::OLOUGHLINThe fun begins at 80!Thu Dec 12 1996 13:0513
611.9Questions for Gary or other XLT'ersBRAT::DAVIS_KMon Jan 20 1997 19:299
611.10Hi Kurt!TROOA::SCHABELKlatter-motor-pilotTue Jan 21 1997 10:1017
611.11Suspension tuning...TROOA::SCHABELKlatter-motor-pilotMon Jan 27 1997 19:4225
    After finally getting some miles on my sled(enough to loosen it up),
    I then finally bottomed it out all the way. The owners manual list
    mega things to adjust. Both of the front shocks have a small screw
    on them to change the pressure in the shock valving. There is also
    the front skid frame shock with the same adjustment. Along with the
    spring tension adjustments, you can also adjust the rear spring
    blocks from 'low' setting to 'high' by turning the cams with your spark
    plug wrench.
      I tried to increase the ski re-bound stiffness by adding in about
    1/2 a turn on the front shocks. That seems to be good and should get
    better when the E-Z-steer carbides get removed and a full set of bars
    installed. 
     I then increased the skid frame shock about one full turn and cranked
    the spring pre-load to 'high'. That seems to be too much for just a
    rider without any bags or trailers attached. I think that next I'll
    reduce the skid frame shock to about 1/2 from one full turn and see how
    things go from their. 
      Weight transfer has reduced somewhat but I still get great traction
    due to 96 one-inch carbide tipped push through studs. A little more
    playing around and I think I will get the best of both worlds. That is
     a sled that handles great and still gives a plush ride.
    
    
    More later,
      Snowman
611.12X-tra Twelve and no CoG...POLAR::KFICZEREFri Feb 14 1997 07:376
    	My roommate just bought a '97 Limited and is quite disappointed.
    We went for a blast the other night and he summed up his delema like
    this..."I know what XLT stands for now...X-tra Light and really
    Tippiy!" I thought it was quite funny. 
    
    -kev_
611.13SOLVIT::SNORAT::OLOUGHLINThe fun begins at 80!Mon Feb 17 1997 18:2621
    
    
        It takes some time in the saddle, I'll agree with that.
        My pal and I trade off alot, he's got the XLT Special. 
        The first two miles I feel like I can't toss it into a 
        corner without first looking to see where I'll land 
        when I roll it.  
    
        The third mile I'm okay only because I have to try to 
        catch up with my sled.  The fifth mile I kinda figure 
        it out and start having fun.  The sixth mile I figure 
        out I want my sled back.  Funny thing is, he wants his 
        sled back too.  
    
        I guess the moral of the story is; Have your roommate
        do two hundred miles more and rethink it.  Might, maybe,
        he'll like it then.  Loads of people swear by'em.   
    
       -Rick. 
    
    
611.14frt shocks...POLAR::KFICZERETue Feb 18 1997 04:098
    	Fwiw, my roommate just got his LTD back from the dealer. While it
    was in for it's first scheduled maintenance he thought he'd talk his
    handleing problem over with the mechanic. He ended up taking all of the
    preload off of the frt shocks (lowering the sled dramatically!) and it
    seems to have made quite a difference. While the sled came with EZ
    steer carbides, a move to a set of 6 inchers helped out as well.
    
    -kev_ 
611.15SOLVIT::SNORAT::OLOUGHLINThe fun begins at 80!Tue Feb 18 1997 12:168
    
    
        That's great.  Sometimes it's tough to find the 
        right set up that gives the performance the rider 
        wants. 
    
       -Rick.
    
611.16XLT Limited SetupABACUS::DAVIS_KMon Mar 31 1997 16:2616
    Gary,
                 How the heck are you??
    
      I have a question for you regarding how you setup your XLT Limited....
    Did you move the FRSS block to the optional forward hole or position??  
    How did you finalize your suspension setup?
      I did move my FRSS to the forward position,  moved the limiter strap
    up a notch and the setup seems to work well for me.  I have plenty of
    ski pressure,  bites well in the corners and handles well in the bumps.
    I have 96 studs/nylon backers, and 5" of easy steer carbide up front.
    The combination works well for me...What have you found out??
    Does this keep you out of the rhubarb??
    
    Later,
    Kurt
    
611.17TROOA::SCHABELKlatter-motor-pilotMon Mar 31 1997 22:5319
    Kurt,
      Yes I did a lot of playing with that suspension. Hard to say what
    the best setup was as the rear shock seems to be hosed. I ended up
    leaving the limiter straps where they were but had to put several
    turns of coil adjustment(pre-load) on the main shock in the skid
    frame to keep from bottoming out. The shock valve also had more
    than two twists in it. 
      The fronts got about two twists of shock valve adjustment. The
    front coil pressure usually ran more or less backed right off for
    plush running/deep snow to several turns for more aggressive cornering/
    tree bashing. 
    
     I am still playing with it(probably will till its gone). I need at
    least one, or maybe both shocks in the skid frame. They seem to
    collapse after only some mild riding. Anyone know if there is a Fox(tm)
    coil-over shock available for the rear of a '97 Xlt Ltd? Maybe even
    who to call to find out?
    
    snowman
611.18Fox'sABACUS::DAVIS_KTue Apr 01 1997 18:1921
    Hi again,
    
      Regarding your shock questions,  they do make Fox shocks for that
    sled.  I would call Carl's Cycle Sale and order thru them if that ends
    up being your decision.
      The advantage in ordering thru Carls is that they build/valve the 
    shocks according to you.  They will ask a few questions and then build 
    the unit.  The questions are something like:
    - Make, Model and year of sled...
    - Suspension Type ... If Polaris X-12, X-10, XC101, XC100 or whatever
    - Do you ride aggressive?  Passive?  Lakes or Trail?
    - Rider Weight...
    
      Anyway, I have not had any shock issues yet.  I will keep you
    informed..
    
      Have Fun, stay out of the puckker brush!
    
    Kurt                        
     
    
611.19TROOA::SCHABELKlatter-motor-pilotTue Apr 01 1997 18:396
    Kurt,
     Do you have a number for Carl's Cycle?
    
    
    
       snowman
611.20And the answer IS...........PENANT::NELSONWed Apr 02 1997 10:0211
    Gary,
    
    The number is 208-345-6811.  I talked to a guy nicknamed Stitch
    who was able to get ours out to us in a week.  Good service and
    valved to our specs.  Let me know if there's any problem with 
    the shipping.
    
    See ya!
    
    Dana