m7 skid in mtn viper

[c-bolt]

m7 skid in mtn viper NOW W/ PICS

so there i was.....i saw a nice little lump in the snow, and i told my buddies 10 year old kid...."hey watch this"................i wanted to go big, and ended up going home....

the lump ended up launching me straigt up, and i landed off camber on the rear wheels. upon landing, i hear ratcheting....so i pull up to the trail and take a look. i figured it was just my track stretching some from all the holes i drilled in it, but i was wrong. my skid rails were bent something fierce. when i got home i checked out new rail prices....$240 a piece...ouch!! billet rails from mpi, $500( dont look nearly as strong), so i figured id check on a cat skid from rv sports. $300 for new (take off) m7 skid, $145 for 2 day ups to alaska.

i know that skid tightens the track upon compression, so i call sledjunkys. ron tells me i dont need his drop bracket, but the wheel kit i need to gain the clearance for my 16" track. $55+shipping. i didnt want to run the track too terribly loose as i will need to do a small setback for the 141 skid, and i didn't want to risk stabbing the track with the rails.

because the skid's rear wheels will be orange (GROSS), i really NEEDED to get some composite ones from Fabcraft. 3 wheels/bearings $57+shipping.

I will also make my own drop brackets etc.

should be good for at least 20 lbs savings, and more controllable transfer.(sometimes i get way too much, and i get launched straight up!!)

anybody got advice??? should be fun, if anybody wants to help, let me know.

AK RYDA, did you like your max transfer setting?

ill keep all of you posted, and add pictures as i take them.

later

Joe

 

[pro116]

Ther's alot of mtn guys putting in cat skids in there rx1's

 

[Mtnviper]

c-bolt,Cat skid's work well in Viper's. The torque sensing links will clear the 16" track (1M skid) with a little triming on the top. A stationary belt sander works good for doing this.
You may want to check out Holz bracket's for the front arm. They are suppose to help with the M7 skid geometry issue.

 

[ak ryda]

Ouch, well at least you will now be losing even more weight off your sled. Please do a semi-stock viper rear skid weight compared to the cat skid. I would be very interested.

I havent been able to try the kit in the max transfer position in any real snow this year. Down the trails it lifts the skis pretty much the same, maybe more. These snow conditions are killing me, I have more fun at Alyeska than riding trails and alders.

Good luck and sorry to hear about the crash.

 

[c-bolt]

the stock skid w/ lightweight top rear shaft, mpi transfer enhancement kit, and some bogies removed (rear center two, and the outer pair just behind the front ones) weighs 64 lbs. my cat skid should be here tomorrow, along with the fabcraft wheels, and sledjunkys wheel kit. i went with the sledjunkys kit, because it seems that most of the people on snowest say the holz kid softens the skid a bunch. i just got the sledjunky wheel kit to relocate the wheels from the torque link to the drop bracket mount, it will keep the track from tightening upon compression and allow me to run the 16 wide without grinding on the torque links . Ill weigh it before and after the wheels.

i am going to put all the skid crap back on and weigh it stock. hammer says its 74 so we will see if our scales match up

AK RYDA, when i first got my transfer kit, i had it on the second to most transfer setting, and i thought it transfered too much, i think i ended up trenching everywhere i went. after a few rides i pulled it to neutral, and it seemed to help, but still when i climb and hit a bump, it wants to come over all the time. impressive as hell, but not too functional. so i think the cat skid will be more predictable and soak up the bumps better!

later

joe

 

[ModMMax]

Cat skids

I have one in my Mm. For deep snow, works good. If you are trail riding, I'd look for a newer one. Someone said 2001 or newer. Probably true if you want weight transfer. The drop brackets on the new M7 look very trick. If I were going to do another one, I'd use them. Here's a couple of shotos of mine.

 

[c-bolt]

i would ask for some measurements, but it is obvious you dont have the stock tunnel. the skid i have is from a 05 m7, so it should be ok/lightweight. Im also guessing that down the road, lightweight arms shouldnt be nearly as expensive as the ones for the yammi pro craption.

 

[ModMMax]

All the cat skids I have installed needed 32" between the mounting holes. Heres how I do it. I block the front of the sled up about 2', then suspend the tail so the sled is sort of level. Install the axle without the track. Set the skid on blocks under the tunnel and move it into position. Run a piece of string along the track path. I use a little masking tape to keep it on the wheels and hyfax. Make sure you mark the string with the length of your track. Move the skid until you are happy with the top track path, the approach angle and the set back. While this system takes a while and may seem stupid, it saves drilling multiple holes. BTDT too many times. I have a piece of flat iron with 2 holes drilled 32" apart. Once I have made a decision on the front holes, I use the flat iron to postion the rear hangers. Hope this helps you.

 

[mtnmx]

Met a guy today who had the 06 M7 rode it for 300 miles and traded it off for a rev 800..the reason?????the lousy ride..just hated it....what he said not me.02

 

[c-bolt]

update! skid installed, rides ok, great in pow, but little rough on trails.

i did not buy this skid for the ride!

i bought it for a 20lb weight loss for $300. And i have seen a m6 141 climb, and it works!

ill update with pics soon, i promise!

so far

mtn viper 515 lbs
m7 skid -20
mtn fit hood -15
boss seat -7
mbrp can -13
ekholm skiis -2

total 458lbs (+all the crap i bought for it, but that stuff doesnt actually add to the total does it? he he he)

joe

 

[c-bolt]

pics.......

here are some pics of the install, i know it looks as if the front of the rails are off the ground, but they aren't. it looks pretty good if you ask me. sorry about the Giant mess, but its my garage, and ive got projects......

if you look close, you can see me sporting the TY stickers on my hood, and the one hanging up in the background also...

anyways, the sled feels totally different. she is very light in the rear now, except for the crap/tools i keep in my seat. now i should loose about 30 lbs off my ***, and ill be set!

i guess bigbore is next, or pipes???

later

joe

 

[c-bolt]

some more.

yes i know my riveting is shotty, but hey, if i bend a tunnel, you know what that means!

 

[c-bolt]

ttt for aussie!!

 

[yamaholic22]

wow that sled looks trick, nice install.

 

[c-bolt]

thanks, but you should see it in person......

i am a tree hunter! i got a few scratches....he he he