Venture 600 hunts left to right on snow??

T

tripplec

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Nov 15, 2007
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Belleville, ON. CA
I had my 97 Venture 600 out first time since I got it last weekend. Finally, got enough snow on some trails. Some gromed and others not but it seems to be hunting (taking little leaps left & right) and I seem to be fighting a bit more than I should. Maybe because of the deep carbides on the stock skis or the play in the front. There is a bit more play (left right on the right ski than left) likely the end joint worn a bit. I don't know if the outer ones are the same as under the hood. I cannot see them or access them for inspection. This is not going to keep me grounded only slow me down. I don't travel that fast on the trails anyway. But the lurching takes away from an enjoyable ride.

Any feedback on the cause.

PS: On the side of the road with little snow (by that the carbides are hitten the gravel or road here and there) were it's not deep or soft it goes normally.
 
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read the articles below on front end and rear skid setup and repair, this may help you out as i think you just have some common problems.
 
Check out the tech section on lining up the front suspension. Bethviper also had a great section called "Line Up Yours". Do a quick search, it is well worth the effort and time.
 
Tripplec, you have the stock steel skis with plastic skins, correct?

We had the stock skis on ours and I did ride it, but not on trails. I did notice the stock skis pushed quite a bit, even with near new 4" carbides and the stock track with no studs.

Since then, we put a .92" track on, that I studded with 108 1.175" studs, and put 98 SRX plastic skis on with 4" of carbide.

How it handles on the trails now is a mystery,due to so many new variables, but I expect it to be much better handling than how it was stock. the darting issue I have no clue yet, but it shouldnt be bad because the srx skis are very different from the stock ones. If I need to shim the skis I will, but I have been told the srx rubber saddles are better designed to have a shim built in per say compared to the stock venture/ sx rubber ski saddle.

Maybe I can dial the shocks up a little to put more bite in the front end, since they are on the softest spring setting now, or adjust the limiter strap in the skid.

I will be trying our venture out on the trails next weekend, and my dad will try it out this weekend.

did you try to adjust front spring settings, or adjustment of the limiter strap on the front of the skid?
 
Hunting Venture

horkn said:
Tripplec, you have the stock steel skis with plastic skins, correct?

We had the stock skis on ours and I did ride it, but not on trails. I did notice the stock skis pushed quite a bit, even with near new 4" carbides and the stock track with no studs.

Since then, we put a .92" track on, that I studded with 108 1.175" studs, and put 98 SRX plastic skis on with 4" of carbide.

How it handles on the trails now is a mystery,due to so many new variables, but I expect it to be much better handling than how it was stock. the darting issue I have no clue yet, but it shouldnt be bad because the srx skis are very different from the stock ones. If I need to shim the skis I will, but I have been told the srx rubber saddles are better designed to have a shim built in per say compared to the stock venture/ sx rubber ski saddle.

Maybe I can dial the shocks up a little to put more bite in the front end, since they are on the softest spring setting now, or adjust the limiter strap in the skid.

I will be trying our venture out on the trails next weekend, and my dad will try it out this weekend.

did you try to adjust front spring settings, or adjustment of the limiter strap on the front of the skid?
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As in original post. Venture is already studded w/original track and steel skis & skins.

As for adjustments they were either done by the dealer or as it was by the previous own. (PS was my first ride and quite happy otherwise)

I can look at the shock settings (but from what I saw at Royal Distributing, a special wrench is required). I believe one of the end knuckles on the steering rod is a bit worn with play. OEM cost is $34, seems steep for that little sucker!! But my older machines also have some play and don't hunt that bad but don't have carbides either. I got a Formula a few years ago for my son and it doesn't do that. Time will fix this but I am just happy to get out there and cruise around on it.
:letitsnow
 
Set of Duely's

I put a set of duely runners with 4 inches of carbides on the skis of my 2000 Venture and that cured my hunting problem. I fought witht hat sucker for years until my dealer said he had the cure. Took the old runners off, drilled extra holes and installed the double runners on each ski. I have NO STUDS in my track also.
 
you will need to shim the skis, i have not seen a yamaha yet that didnt need a shimming, a loose front end is just that, darting is caused by too much toe out/in and or carbide balance.
 
Ok, just back from a weekend of Joy on the snow an trailers. A local tech adjusted the track to put more pressure on the skis. A bit better but cannot turn on the road or ice surface (road etc) no bite in the ski carbide. The steering feels like its powered, no effort to turn the skis left or right. It appears to pivot or make contact right in the middle only. My other machine a Formua right beside me had bite on the same surface. It can turn in half my radius. Carbides look ok, not worn to the bar but no knife edge either. It appears as if their should be more pressure at the back of the ski to force the turn. But I don't see any way to do this since the ski will pivot in the bolt regardless of how the back is (higher or lower). The coil spring is in the softest position. I don't have a wrench to turn that collar up a couple of knotches.
 
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try adjusting the pre load on the ski shocks.

I am assuming that the tech tightened the front limiter strap, putting more pressure on the skis.

FWIW, even with SRX skis, our venture does still dart on some trail conditions. Granted, it was my dad riding the sled, and I was not around to adjust the sled for him, but day 1 had no darting, and day 2 did when it got a little warmer. I am going up this weekend to sort it out.

Also, I never have heard anything good about the stock steel/ plastic skis. They are notorious for darting, which is why I never trail rode with them and changed to SRX skis.
 
Preload

horkn said:
try adjusting the pre load on the ski shocks.

I am assuming that the tech tightened the front limiter strap, putting more pressure on the skis.

FWIW, even with SRX skis, our venture does still dart on some trail conditions. Granted, it was my dad riding the sled, and I was not around to adjust the sled for him, but day 1 had no darting, and day 2 did when it got a little warmer. I am going up this weekend to sort it out.

Also, I never have heard anything good about the stock steel/ plastic skis. They are notorious for darting, which is why I never trail rode with them and changed to SRX skis.
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Yes, I want to but I did not have a tool to turn it on those coil springs. I will change the skis for next year. Still sorting out some stuff on it. Rear hand heaters not working (front heater are phenominal, even on low it's warm, any higher and I would have a hand full of breakfast sausages!!!). Head light could be brigher (not sure what bulb they use but I don't ride much in the dark but you never no.).
 
trailblazer295 said:
Hi,
Anyone? will Viper 2003 skis w/mounts fit a 1997 Venture 600?
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yeah they will, but you will lower the front end a good inch or so.

to keep the sled at its normalheight, get the thick aluminum shoed SRX style skis.

I used a pair from a 98 SRX on my 97 venture 600. They work great.
 
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