MN98VMAX
New member
My wife and I both have '98 VMAX XTC's (one 700 and one 500). We didn't ride at all last year due to a broken leg! But we're back at it this year. We were riding this weekend and noticed a lot more "weaving" on groomed trails than I recall in the past.
To make matters worse, my sister and her boyfriend were there too on their new REV's
and they kept asking why we were weaving all the trails?!?!? 
So, I'm looking for some thoughts on why the sleds might be having so many issues going straight?
Everything is stock on both sleds...
Thanks for your help!!!
Mike
To make matters worse, my sister and her boyfriend were there too on their new REV's
and they kept asking why we were weaving all the trails?!?!? So, I'm looking for some thoughts on why the sleds might be having so many issues going straight?
Everything is stock on both sleds...
Thanks for your help!!!
Mike
plastic skis will help alot, also there is a big article about "Darting" in the tech section.
http://www.totallyamaha.com/snowmobiles/aaTECH/darting.htm
http://www.totallyamaha.com/snowmobiles/aaTECH/darting.htm
Waterfoul
New member
Yup, I went to a set of USI plastic skis and most of my darting went away... not completely but most. The steel skis with the skins suck in comparison.
MN98VMAX
New member
Thanks for the responses guys! Just wondering if anyone who has tried the shim trick talked about in the article would have any pictures of where exactly I'm shimming, and if they've used any alternative shim devices as I don't have an old belt lying around?!
Thanks again!
Mike
Thanks again!
Mike
Waterfoul
New member
If I ever have a chance to get to my sled this week I will be trying the shim thing. I have already promised to take some pics. As for material, a piece of aluminum or plastic shim stock would work. I've got access to all kinds of materials here at work... lots of scrap plastic and aluminum laying around. You just need a small piece for each ski... I'll bet if you look around the house you could find something you could cut up and make work.
daman
New member
MN98VMAX said:
Go buy the ski rubber bumpers from a 2002 srx and change them out with
yours should help, it will put more pressure on the back of your ski.
reducing darting.
vmaxjohn
New member
It's not quite true that plastic skis will cure darting. A sled with properly set up ski bumpers will not dart, regardless of ski material. Usually though, when you buy aftermarket skis, they come with proprietary ski bumpers to make sure they don't dart!
Shim those babies, you'll be so glad you did! I start with a chunk of old drive belt, just wide enough to be snug inside the spindle. I tip the sled on it's side, and have a buddy push the front of the ski toward the bumper, giving you enough room to put a screw through the shim and into the bumper.
This should be close, but it might be too much. I just did a buddy's sled with stock steel skis, and wound up grinding the inner cogs off of the shims, making them flat on both sides. This was just right for his sled, set up for his weight. Yours might be a little different.
This is an almost free thing to do, don't worry about buying other parts until you are sure you can't make it work by doing what I've described.
Good luck, hope you get out again!
Shim those babies, you'll be so glad you did! I start with a chunk of old drive belt, just wide enough to be snug inside the spindle. I tip the sled on it's side, and have a buddy push the front of the ski toward the bumper, giving you enough room to put a screw through the shim and into the bumper.
This should be close, but it might be too much. I just did a buddy's sled with stock steel skis, and wound up grinding the inner cogs off of the shims, making them flat on both sides. This was just right for his sled, set up for his weight. Yours might be a little different.
This is an almost free thing to do, don't worry about buying other parts until you are sure you can't make it work by doing what I've described.
Good luck, hope you get out again!
There is a big bonus to fixin that ski dartin.
My Mrs had darting issues a few years ago, after talking to Vmaxjohn, the resident ski setup expert I was able to all but eliminate the darting issue. John was the Mrs hero! Now anyone who's married knows that when Mama's happy your happy. The Mrs was so pleased with the ride of he sled that she gave me a ride too.
John then became my hero as well.
My Mrs had darting issues a few years ago, after talking to Vmaxjohn, the resident ski setup expert I was able to all but eliminate the darting issue. John was the Mrs hero! Now anyone who's married knows that when Mama's happy your happy. The Mrs was so pleased with the ride of he sled that she gave me a ride too.
John then became my hero as well.
vmaxjohn
New member
Wow, glad to be of assistance in your love life...from a distance!
Sometimes it's hard to understand that cheap and free things can make all the difference in this high dollar sport.
Sometimes it's hard to understand that cheap and free things can make all the difference in this high dollar sport.
Darting, shims, and bumpers.
I got skegs, ski savers, and shims from Bergstrom. When I installed the shims it definitely put pressure on the back of the carbide but didn't seem to help much with the darting. I think I need to look at letting my limiter strap out a bit to take a little weight off the font.
My question is this: I have a 2001 SXR with stock S bumpers, if I have the S bumpers already, should I still be using the shims? The carbides tip up noticeably with the shims and the last pair wore pretty evenly without the shims.
Thanks!
I got skegs, ski savers, and shims from Bergstrom. When I installed the shims it definitely put pressure on the back of the carbide but didn't seem to help much with the darting. I think I need to look at letting my limiter strap out a bit to take a little weight off the font.
My question is this: I have a 2001 SXR with stock S bumpers, if I have the S bumpers already, should I still be using the shims? The carbides tip up noticeably with the shims and the last pair wore pretty evenly without the shims.
Thanks!
daman
New member
from what i understand you don't need the shims with the s bumpersRJZ101 said:
MN98VMAX
New member
Bischof said:
Wow! I gotta get this fixed then!
Can anyone point me to where I need to put the shim? I've attached a picture of where I think it needs to go...
Thanks!
Mike
The stopper is part number 25.
The shim goes between the the stopper and the ski on the back side of the stopper. This puts more downward pressure on the back of the ski.
Look at the tech pages to find Vmaxjohns write up. It is a a well thought out and written tech note.
The shim goes between the the stopper and the ski on the back side of the stopper. This puts more downward pressure on the back of the ski.
Look at the tech pages to find Vmaxjohns write up. It is a a well thought out and written tech note.