New Skid installed, sled sitting LOW

N

Northwoods

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Jan 29, 2007
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45
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Chicago
You may have seen my other post where I posted the picture of my cracked rail.

http://www.totallyamaha.net/forums/showthread.php?t=77330

So Last night I installed the 03 RX1 skid I bought. The center shock spring seems to be adjusted out. The sled sits LOW. Defintely not higher than before, seems lower. If I sit on it, it about bottoms out.

Looking at my old skid, and looking at this one, the only difference I see is the center shock spring collar (not sure if thats what it is called...thing you turn with spanner wrench to compress spring)
It is adjusted so the spring is as loose, or uncompressed as possible. Does that spring control ride height? On my old skid the spring was compressed and the collar was much farther down the body of the shock.

Thanks!
 
Yes, the spring does control ride hight, but something else is going on. Did you verify the mounting locations of the RX1 Skid and transfer them to your tunnel, or did you simply bolt it in to the SX mounting points?

Any pics?
 
I just bolted it in to the existing mounting locations. According to my research, it should bolt right in, and be a simple "long travel" upgrade. Which it did. Went in just as easily as the old one came out.



Unfortunately no pics. I am at work, and forgot to snap a single pic last night while working.
 
Even with the spring set on full soft, it shouldnt set lower then the original short travel skid. The center spring will also effect the hight, but not as much.
Check to see the transfer rod gap when the sled is sitting on its own, there shouldnt be a gap on the lower side, but should be one on the upper. When set up properly, the gap should be equall on both sides when you are sitting on the seat.
 
It may not be sitting lower than the original skid when unloaded. That may just be my imagination, and me expecting more of a "lift". But it defintely, doesnt want to hold any weight or spring back up on its own very well.

I will check the transfer rods as soon as I get home tonight. Could I have installed anything else wrong to create this problem?
 
read below for suspension setup and did you replace bushings in end of shocks and replace the side arms with yours from the sx skid? rx skids use a cheap rear shock with all plastic busings in the shock and side arms. they wear out badly when the collar rusts. This takes away ride height but more importantly, makes your suspension not work correctly on compression and rebound.
 
No I did not do a thing to the RX1 skid. Supposedly it was completely overhauled 200 miles ago. Everything looks GREAT. I assume your speaking of the bushings used at the shock mounting locations? All bushings seem tight and look to have no play in them.

I will defintely take your advice and replace the side arms on the RX with the SX side arms. I will also check/replace bushings in the shock. I am planning on waiting until this summer...I really just want to ride and not wrench right now, so I am only doing the essential repairs. No optional upgrades until later when the snow has dissappeared.

Do I need to remove the shock to adjust the collar? Dealer says I will pull the threads off the alum. body shok if I try to adjust on the sled and fight the spring. Is it worth trying to compress the spring using a spring compressor and then adjust the collar?
 
What If I were to take the rear shock from my original SX skid, and swap it into the RX1 skid? I believe i would be loosing the "long travel" and be back at the travel of the SX skid, is this correct? Is there any other negative impacts to doing this? Would it be OK to do this temporarily?

Also...
Ok I think I have been calling things by the wrong name. The center shock is the one in the front of the skid by the drivers, right? If thats the case, its my REAR shock that is adjusted all the way out(the one that sits horizontal)

Since my first post, I have gotten ahold of the seller of the skid, and he confirmed he had the preload backed way off , as he was experimenting with the setup for ice drags. Says that once adjusted it shoudl sit just how I wanted.

Thanks for any help and suggestions! BETHEVIPER read what I could understand of your setup guide. Appreciate the information.
 
There is like 20 bushings in that skid. They are at the top and bottoms of the arm. Any wear and the skid doesn't work like it should.

The rear shock is the one in the center of the skid that is just about parallel to the ground and is what attaches to the center (of the 3) mounting locations between the skid and the tunnel (has the big plastic wheels on the shaft) Confusing Aye?

BTV's setup technique works great.
 
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Id suggest taking that rear shock and just tossing it in the trash, i dont know how yami got away using those pos things on a machine that costed that much. Swap in one out of an sxr or viper the alum. body shock is way better. Pics would help to be sure nothing is folded up the wrong way, ive seen that a few times too.
 
If the rear shock spring is loose, some do this for weight transfer and it also allows the rear of the suspension to compress very easy. Sound to m like you need to tighten the spring on the rear shock and adjust suspension accordingly
 
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