How much rear suspension travel should I have in a 91 exciter 2. When I sit on my sled it drops 3 inches or so and only has another inch or 2 of give left. It also doesn't want to come back up on it's own. I have tried another used shock, and everything seems to be moving freely (I got brave and pulled the whole suspension out). Is this the usual amount of movement for these sleds? This is my first sled so i don't know what to expect from the suspension.
I'm not sure exactly how much travel the Exciter had but I know they were very similar to the Phazer which only had 6" of rear travel. Yours may have a little more but not much. Replace the torsion spings with brand new ones, front and back. Its a cheap fix and it will make pretty big difference.
motofishsled
New member
Exciter rear suspension travel
Exciter !! only had 6 inches of travel . They didn't have torsion springs they have coil over shocks . Fox made good shocks for them . This skid had great action , it had shock linkage on both shocks . They got a bad rep in vmax4s ,becauce vmax4s were too powerfull and heavy for it . It worked great in exciter !! .
Exciter !! only had 6 inches of travel . They didn't have torsion springs they have coil over shocks . Fox made good shocks for them . This skid had great action , it had shock linkage on both shocks . They got a bad rep in vmax4s ,becauce vmax4s were too powerfull and heavy for it . It worked great in exciter !! .
I only noticed linkage on the rear shock. I did find out all the bushings on both shocks and the rear linkage arms are toast. I'm kinda hoping this extra movement before my shocks start to work is my problem. I'm going to order the bushings i think i need off of yamahaparts.com to replace them. Any other ideas on why my machine is dropping so much and bottoming out would be helpfull. I don't dare to take the old lady for a ride with the suspension dropping like it is. Also if anyone knows where to get a whole kit for these bushings other than ordering them one by one would help.
Vmax540
VIP Member
The Exciter II had a version of the Original Pro-action which in it's day was considered by most in the industry to be the best and was somewhere around 7.5-8" of travel.
horkn
New member
I bet your torsion springs are toast. They sag and take a "set" after a while.
Sagging rear ends on sleds is one sign of hard use.
I know I need to replace mine on my 00 polaris. My 240lbs and riding habits on that sled did not help the springs. LOL
For comparison, the 96 xcr600 we had had the same xtra 10 as my xcsp, and it sat up much higher than my sled after a few years use. My Dad rode the xcr generally, so there is a lower level of "abuse" and he weighs less than me as well.
I think if the spings are cranked up higher on the preload, that they take a set quicker as well.
Sagging rear ends on sleds is one sign of hard use.
I know I need to replace mine on my 00 polaris. My 240lbs and riding habits on that sled did not help the springs. LOL
For comparison, the 96 xcr600 we had had the same xtra 10 as my xcsp, and it sat up much higher than my sled after a few years use. My Dad rode the xcr generally, so there is a lower level of "abuse" and he weighs less than me as well.
I think if the spings are cranked up higher on the preload, that they take a set quicker as well.
I think i will replace the spring as well seeing as the coil over sprong for the rear is around $20 or so. I bet replacing the bushings is a good idea as well seeing as i plan to abuse it like theres no tomarrow. I would still like to find the bushings in a kit to get them all in one shot though. My after market parts catalog says the springs they offer "works well in combination with our rear Kimpex pro-gold shocks". Does any one know if these will or will not work with an oem shock. The spring is 11" in length and 1.9"top and bottom. Also do i need to compress this spring before taking it off or can i just take off the spanner nuts without worry of losing body parts?
ace16a
New member
My SX does the same thing. Where are you getting parts from? I would get a heavy length of wire and wrap it from one end of the spring to the other and tie it tight before removing it just to be safe, unless you can get a spring compressor.
motofishsled
New member
exciter!! suspension travel
I have been in hospital for the last week getting the second stomach operation this year , so i couldn't reply . The rear shock does have linkage , The two round rods next two back shock , are the linkage . When shock is compressed , the rods twist the back arm up at a rising rate . It has 6" of travel . Check the front a arm for cracks, or broken . It cracks at shock lower mount . Very common , just replaced mine . I will search garage for original shocks for you .
I have been in hospital for the last week getting the second stomach operation this year , so i couldn't reply . The rear shock does have linkage , The two round rods next two back shock , are the linkage . When shock is compressed , the rods twist the back arm up at a rising rate . It has 6" of travel . Check the front a arm for cracks, or broken . It cracks at shock lower mount . Very common , just replaced mine . I will search garage for original shocks for you .
motofishsled
New member
exciter!! suspension travel
I am trying to load pictures for you .
I am trying to load pictures for you .
I did have a broken mount in the lower mount area. It broke where the shaft goes through my runner just to the outside of the bolt plate and inside of the runner. I have already had this welded and reinstalled it. I had prety much no bushings left in the linkage arms and the bushings in both front and rear shocks were C shaped from wear. I'm hoping the extra movement from the wore out bushings is my major culprit. I have to lift the rear bumper to get my sled back up to where it should be and it will stay there until i sit on it, then it will drop without any real resistance. Once I'm on it and it has settled I can feel some bounce from the shcock but not much room left for give (maybe an inch or 2). Any pics would be nice. For ace I am gonna order the parts from yamahapart.com and the spring from automatic distributors. $19 and change for the spring and the buhings should run me $41 or so for both shocks and the stabi rods. Let me know if anything else could cause this as I won't be doing anything for a few weeks due to getting laid off and all.
motofishsled
New member
exciter!! suspension travel
Troy1 , I am still trying to load pictures . They are too big and when i resize them the manage attachments can't find them . I have great pictures i just took for you ,of the skid on workbench , all rebuilt . If you put your email here ,i will email . It is hard to imagine with the spring preloads cranked up the sled is using almost all it's travel . Something has to be wrong . These were great sleds , i have over 30,000 miles riding time on exciter!!s in the early 1990s . I don't own one now , the skid i have is adapted into a 89 phazer . I am going back downstairs to look and see what would cause this .A few years ago before i knew about TY or ebay I through in garbage tons of 80s and 90s phazer and exciter stuff .
Troy1 , I am still trying to load pictures . They are too big and when i resize them the manage attachments can't find them . I have great pictures i just took for you ,of the skid on workbench , all rebuilt . If you put your email here ,i will email . It is hard to imagine with the spring preloads cranked up the sled is using almost all it's travel . Something has to be wrong . These were great sleds , i have over 30,000 miles riding time on exciter!!s in the early 1990s . I don't own one now , the skid i have is adapted into a 89 phazer . I am going back downstairs to look and see what would cause this .A few years ago before i knew about TY or ebay I through in garbage tons of 80s and 90s phazer and exciter stuff .
My email is Troy@mainestream.us. I really want to thank you for all the effort you are giving me in fixing this problem. With 3 weeks of layoff coming and snow sure to be here me and my son are most gratefull for any and all help from every body. I just hope i can swing the few bucks needed to enjoy some of this winter (oh i will find a way, just don't tell my wife). If all else fails I will just go the way it is after replacing the bushings, If it blows it blows. The way I see it is if I don't ride it like i stole it somebody else will for sure. 
