1990 Phazer Rear suspension transplant?

Daring

Daring

Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2006
Messages
99
Age
57
Location
Idaho
I have a 90 Phazer which has the short track. A couple years back I purchased a 136 track, M10 and a M10 install kit. Once everything arrived I soon found out that the M10 was a one off from Polaris. FAST at the time said they never made it and Polaris must have been dong R & D. Now I have this suspension and track I need to install.

Has anyone ever done a suspension transplant from one sled to a different model without a kit or directions? I have a bunch of question. Do I remove the 116 track and install the 136 track. Then slip the suspension in and raise the rear to the height I want and start drilling holes? Should I adjust the rear wheels all the way forward before ding this? Should the front and rear of the suspension be on the ground or should the front be up just a little? The rear swingarm has two positions (this moves the top pivot point about an inch), how should I set this before marking the tunnel? What about tunnel reinforcements?

I have a lot of experience with modifying cars, trucks, bike and boats but not sleds. Any help would be great.
 
I cannot help you with specifics of that swap but swapping suspensions is commonly done and you could try a search here or other forums for info. I would not have the rear wheels all the way forward because if you have to change the track in the future, the replacement track may be slightly shorter. If the track you are using is used, it will be stretched out some and you have to take that into account. Set both suspensions side by side on the ground and note how the replacement matches up with the original to get an idea where to mount the front bolts.
If it is a 1990 Phazer it would have a 121" track. 1989 was the last year for the 116. The suspension is apparently just a plain Polaris suspension and not related to the M10 at all. Maybe an Xtra 10.
 
I've tried to find this install on three different forums. No luck. I have a new track from Tracks USA. I figure if I put the adjustment in the middle, which will leave me some room. My sled is from Japan. It was made in the end of the 89 run of sleds. It is a mix of both 89 and 90. The track is a 116. From all the research I have done and what I have been told Polaris started making their own M10 in a 136 and this is one of the R & D test suspensions. The measurements are very similar to the FAST M10. I have searched all the parts places and looked at all the sleds and this one looks different than the OEM. It looks just like the M10 with Fox shocks.
I thought about using the M10 template (even though it is for a shorter track). I figure the front arm top pivot point should be correct.
 
If the suspension is a one-off there will be no one that can help you with dimensions. If it was a regular Polaris suspension, you could take measurements from a Polaris tunnel, they may be the same for the suspension you have, but there is no way of knowing.

You will have to have reinforcing plates or drop plates for the rear of the tunnel, make them big enough so that you can relocate the holes if necessary. Make your best guess as to the location in the tunnel and if it it does not work right it is easy enough to redrill different holes. The front has a large enough area that is thicker that you may not have to add anything.

Have you talked to Tracks USA about it? They deal in long track conversions and since you bought your track there, they may be able to give you some general information. You might also ask in the technical question section here, it may get the view of people that do not look here.

All Yamaha snowmobiles are made in Japan. What is it on your sled that is the same as a 1990? I do not think there was an in-between model. The Phazer was the same from 1984 through 1989. In 1990 it was changed to the Phazer II. It has the Phazer II name on it and is either red and white or dark blue. I cannot remember the colors in 1989 now.
 
Last edited:
I bought the suspension from Tracks USA. They said FAST and Polaris had a deal some time back where Polaris would supply FAST with motors for the blade and FAST provide M10 suspensions. Then the fell through and Polaris used FAST M10 and copied it to make a 136. This is one of the first R & D versions. My concerns are that I get the suspension in at the correct angle for weight transfer and such. That I am not binding the suspension.

I imported the sled from Japan myself. In Japan their model years are different than the ones here. In the US it is a run all the same for that model year. Over there they make changes and then sell them with the changes. When I would have to get parts, I would have to know the month/year the sled was made. The rear suspension is from a 89 but the front is a 90. I have a Japanese parts book that shows the part #s. When I compare them to the US models, some are for the 89 and others for the 90.
 
I would say put the track in, slide in the new susp. and bolt the front part of the suspension to the tunnel. Or dont even put the track in until you have the holes figured out. See if the rear holes are close to the originals, and just mark where they need to be and drill. I dont know if you'll need to add drop brackets or not but if so they are pretty easy to find or even to make. I would think that as long as you have it in there straight it should work fine. Good luck.
 
Would there be something in the archives to fully explain the work/procedures required in doing a track/skid swap?? I have a 92 exciter and I can only seem to find bits & peices in a few different topics...
 
In the Tech section there is an article about replacing a pro action with a M10 136. They used an installation kit. The kit has a template for where to drill the holes. Each suspension has a different kit for each model of sled. I have not found a M10 136 kit for a Phazer yet. A copy of the template and reinforcement place is all I would need. I should be able to make the reinforcement plate. This would be a great start for me.
 
Through the help of JB shocks, I have found out this is a skid from a 2006 FST tour with the M-10 136 skid.

I need some help. I need is the measurements from the drive shaft to the pivot point of both arms and from the pivot points to the tunnel top. If you need template, I can send one.
 
You will probably have better luck asking on a Polaris site. Or Snowmobile Fanatics has a lot of Polaris guys.
 
I have asked on about ten sites so far. It looks like a couple guys on Polarisfiles might be able to help. Thanks.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.


Back
Top