viper 136 141 or 144 options like some input

skidooboy

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May 4, 2003
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central, michigan
Gang, going out west need some help. my viper is set up 136 with pipes and heads and runs strong. would like some deep powder help and info. for suspsnsions and tracks.

i am debating on staying 136 and adding 8 tooth drivers and a 2" track or, stretching her to 141 or 144 and adding the drivers and track.

the 141 is not the highest priority on my list as there are a very limited amount of track styles available.

the 144 is probably what i should do to get more track and flotation but, i cant seem to find full hyfax rail extensions that arnt tipped up on the end.

the 136 would be the easiest as i slap on drivers and a track and i am rockin!

if i thought i could relocate the skid back further in the tunnel and use the current 136 rail extensions from track usa i have and get away with the 144 i would look at that option.

when i installed the rail extensions i believe either the extensions were long or the track was short (or alittle of both) as the axle is all the way forward in the adjuster slot. allowing me to have alittle leaway for lengths.

i am worried about the relocation as i am not good with measurements (but my buddy grapeape is) and hear there is a chance for suspension binding if done improperly. will i need to move the scissor arms or stiffen shocks and springs?

any help from those that have done this or ride at altitude is more than appreaciated. ski
 

I had an 02 viper which I did the mountain perf 136" kit with relocated skid, It worked good in the powder but not on the trail, if you do alot of trail riding dont relocate the skid but I would go with a 144"x2" 8 tooth drivers 136 is to short in the west I also have an 05 viper mtn 144 and love it but it does have the newer skid
 
how about a 136" x 16" x 1.75" ski doo track? more surface area than a 144" x 15" and you can use your current tunnel and suspension!
 
I'll 2'nd the 136" 16" 1.75". I have one on my 02, perform's like a 144" 15", but still handles like a 136"! Best of both worlds! I like to stick my back foot at the tail end of the running board, blip the throttle and kick the back end around in tight turns. It's a lot easier to do it with a 136" compared to a 144".
This track hook's up and has much better floation then the 136" 15" 1.5" that I use to run. You can still use 9 tooth driver's for good top end. There is approx 5/16" clearance between the lug and the front exchanger at the closest point. No clogging problems at all, even riding in our famous wet heavy " Cascade Concrete" here in the Cascade mountains.
Only drawback's are cost ( I had to by a new one, couldn't find a used one for sale anywhere), some minor tunnel mods (grinding chain case nuts/bolts to fit the 16" wide), and installing the axle in past the drive lugs is a little bit of a PIA.
Pretty much all I do is mountain ride/boondock, if something was to happen to this track. I wouldn't even think twice about getting another one! ;)!
 
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16 wide tracks are hard to find and SUPER EXPENSIVE. anyone have any more to add on the possibility of using the current 136 set up and relocating the skid to get the 144" track to fit? ski
 
Why not use the money you will spend to convert your sled on renting a mountain sled out there clutched, jetted, and tracked? Not sure when your going, but the sun really starts to settle the snow in March out there, your 136 might have some trouble on the steeper slopes climbing, but would work elsewhere. Just some thoughts and have a GREAT time.
 
let me tell you,
oh heck I dont know, but I do know I want more than the 136 x 1-1/2
really thought I want to do 144 and relocate the skid ( I also have the tracks usa ext.)
been out there 5 times and change something everytime, but would really like to do something for next year going again March 11-? this year
thought the relocate would be cool and then switch back to the 136 for flat land ridding?
 
I helped my brother do a skid relocation kit and a 136 X 2" kit, I have read allot of good stuff about them, but we couldn't get that thing to transfer weight for nothing, we changed the rear shock spring to a softer one out of a mnt max, we let the limiter straps out all the way, it was a great sno plow, he ended up taking it out and selling it. I have a 03 mnt viper 2x144 seems to do good. I just got a set of slp tripples hope that wakes it up a little.
 
skidooboy said:
16 wide tracks are hard to find and SUPER EXPENSIVE. anyone have any more to add on the possibility of using the current 136 set up and relocating the skid to get the 144" track to fit? ski
Ski
Yeah, I hear ya about the expensive part. I tried finding a Renagade take-off, Since they are a spring order only thing, there's not to many around used. Best I could do was around $460 from Tracks USA. Sold my 136" 1.5" for a couple hundred, so that made it a little easier to swallow.

You can get around pretty good in the mountians with a 136" 1.5",( sometimes even a short track with good lugs) I did it for year's. You just have to ride more aggresive then the guy's with the longer stuff. (most of the time they'll still high mark ya though) IE hit the hills with more approach speed! As it gets deeper, you'll find yourself cutting into other's track's to build speed before cutting your own path, and picking your stopping points wisely, such as pointing down hill.

About the only time your going to have problems, is when it's really DEEP and fresh. In those conditions even lesser experenced rider's on 151"s can have problems. Usually it only takes a couple days after a big storm, for the snow to settle down a bit, and make things easier.
 
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i put a 141 extention kit from hartman on a short track 02 viper......i would never recomend the relocation of a 121 skid to anything longer than a 136.......after one season, took the short track skid out and sold it.....bought a 141 mt. max skid and bolted that in .........wow what a difference...

DO NOT RELOCATE YOUR SKID FOR A 144.....you will be very unhappy with the results.........sell the 121, buy a takeoff skid 141, 144, or whatever and go to townn.......just my experience....
~brock
 


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