Question about Mountain Viper skid...LOOK

[Nicko]

Hey guys I started working on the new toy.....Don't know much about this skid...All I saw is that it came with the non rebuildable shocks, that suck YAMAHA I will have to get a new set eventually....

But my question is I don't have Transfer rods.....looks like he took them out...I do have those straps on the back.....What is this..? Is there any pros and cons of this set up.....I do have a set of T rods laying around if I have to add them.....?

Thanks

Nick

 

[Mysledblows]

Looks like an MPI transfer kit or a homemade version. Basically it uncouples everything so that both shock work on their own. Can make trail riding a little interesting as depending on how you set it, it will pop the skis up pretty easy. Of course it makes it get up on the snow when riding in the deep stuff.

 

[Nicko]

Hopefully I wont do a lot of trail riding with it.....Interesting as...?

Thanks Ryan, BTW that MM skid you sold me is going on my sx....Look at my other thread and see if you can point me the right way...

Thanks

Nick

 

[Super Sled]

When I bought my Mnt Viper the prior owner had done this exact thing....... That is, removing the oem transfer rods.....

But what I learned is that is a common mistake that many, many Mnt Viper owners have committed that should not be done.......

I actually procured transfer rods and installed them and I ride in NE MN powder ALOT. But it now performs WAAAAY better overall now in my estimation and won't wear down your wheels and other skid components as fast. I would reinstall those and I think you will be happier in the long run......

From what I've learned removing the transfer rods does not help as much as advertised in the deep stuff. Now I know others will adamantly disagree with this, but all removing those transfer rods does is make the sled trench like a mo fo........, NOT help it ride on top of the snow. Obviously, trenching does not help you at all in the deep stuff.......

The key is you want that think to ride up ON TOP of the snow, which requires a flat rear suspension, not one angled down 35- 40 degrees or more. Removing the transfer rods makes you trench -- bottom line, because your skid just stretches out all the way, causing a downward angle as you ride.

That is what I have learned anyways, and that is my learned opinion....... Others can, will ,and are certainly entitled to disagree.

Mike

 

[Nicko]

Not really what I want it to hear, thanks Mike....LOL.

I will follow your advice, but I will try it as is first and feel the change.

Thanks

Nick

 

[Mysledblows]

I ran one that way in my old 151 sx. I didn't have the trenching problems, but hated it when trail riding and lake racing. Lining up with the buds for a rip on the lake was funny. Thing would stand straight up in the air. Obviously there are different ways to set it up, and different strap lengths and shock/spring adjustments are going to make a difference in how it works.

In my 144 srx I went to a Polaris/holz rear skid after messing with the extended stock skid with viper rear shocks and adjustable rods. It was ok, but now the thing actually works in snow and rides like a caddi on the trail.

 

[Super Sled]

Lining up with the buds for a rip on the lake was funny. Thing would stand straight up in the air.

Ya, my sled just wanted to do wheelies without the transfer rods, which was actually really cool and fun at first........ Front end would just pop straight up into the air. It makes you feel like you have alot of power! But something was just not right.......

It actually took me a year or so to figure out why my sled was performing so "squirrelly" on the trail. It was just all over the place. Also, my skid components, like wheels, were wearing down very fast.

So I put it up right next to another Mnt. Viper and we compared them.... I missing transfer rods! I had not even thought about those. So I looked around and found some from a local guy who was parting out his '03 Mnt Viper after a two cylinder burn down. We actually just swapped out skids as he had just replaced all of his bushings and had sweet tuning fork wheels already installed, which I wanted anyways. Ever since, handles way better on and off trail.......

Hence, I've always found it curious why MPI sells a "transfer enhancement kit" which basically removes the transfer rods... But I find this counter intuitive because those rods keep the skid leveled off when you pin the throttle. Without them, your skid wants to stick straight down 35 - 40 degrees and trench. JMO, but removing them actually makes the sled worse in the powder.........

This is just my experience. Ryan B and another guy named AKMTNVIPER from Colorado probably have more to add about this, as they have run these skids without transfer rods also.

On another note, I think sellers have some responsibility to inform buyers when they remove important items like transfer rods from sleds from sleds they are selling........ JMO, and maybe it's the lawyer in me talking right now, but those are a performance item that help stabilize the rear of the sled at speed when going down trails.......... Removing them could cause a major wreck for an unsuspecting driver.

Sorry about the long thread here.

Mike