Odd carbide wear, and other Q's.

GD23RTF2

GD23RTF2

Member
Joined
Jan 8, 2013
Messages
229
Age
54
Location
Wisconsin
2001 SX700R, Stock track. No Studs. 6" carbide. 225lb fairly aggressive rider.

Just set up my ill-handling today. WOW was it out of whack!!! I don't know how the guy I bought it from could leave it like that.
Dropped the FRA to stiff, and cranked the rear preload to 1/8" shy of max. Left the strap alone for now, and left the center shock at factory soft minimum setting. This gave me a strong 1/8" on the upper gap on the control rods with me on the machine.
Front sag was on the short side of good, so I left the stock preload on the front shocks. Ditched the 1/2+ of toe in for 6-8mm of toe out. Was going to do the shim trick too due to wicked darting, but didn't because the front of the carbides were off the garage floor actually more than would be necessary.
Strangest thing though upon inspection of the carbides. The front and rear pads were only about 1/4 left. Maybe a touch more left on the rear, but the center 4" or so under the saddles looked just about new. Why no wear in the center where there is the most carbide? Am I looking at having to get new bumpers to drive the center of the ski into the snow?

Went out for 50+ hard hour and a half test drive and put it through it's paces. Soaked and beat when we got back. Any longer and would have had blisters!!!
Totally new machine out on the hardpack today. I actually had traction, and could pin it in the straights across fields and wouldn't have to hold on for dear life and wasn't plowing when I let off the throttle at speed. Darting wasn't bad, where before 70mph USED to be all I could stand in the straights before getting scared and getting beat to death. Now I just pin it and tell it where to go.
Otherwise, I'm quite pleased with my much more well mannered sled. Thanks to those who contributed to the tech section, and who posted helpful info!!!
I have a little more inside lift than I'd like, and have to use a lot more lean. Doesn't quite rail as it did before. It pushes a bit more than I'd like, but I'm hoping to suck up the strap a little to make up for that until I find a nice balance. Think I have a touch more front track on the ground than I should anyway. Maybe try to get just a touch closer to parallel on the toe as well.

I do have another question though. If I suck up the limiter a little, and put a bit more weight on the skis, will I get any more gap in the top of the control rod? It was just a hair above freezing today. Nice, packy snow and there was a PILE of traction, but honestly, I don't really know if I'd want anymore traction or transfer at this point. Not today with all that traction anyway.


Thanks,
~G.D.
 
on the carbides, are you sure the front and rears arent just wear pads. my 6 inch shaper bars have flat wear pads front and rear and only have the pointed carbide in the center. just a thought.
 
staggs65 said:
on the carbides, are you sure the front and rears arent just wear pads. my 6 inch shaper bars have flat wear pads front and rear and only have the pointed carbide in the center. just a thought.
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I guess they very well could be wear pads. These were on the machine when I got them. I don't have a picture of them, but this is pretty darn close to what it looks like:

http://www.bergstromskegs.com/pi/wear_ptn/wear_ptn.htm

The picture of the "Used Saber carbide" on the Ski Don't flex ski is what I'm referring to. Little worn down chunk front and rear, with the bulk of it dead center. Otherwise, Mine look virtually brand new in the middle.
 
Devilin AblueDress! said:
http://www.bergstromskegs.com/pi/wear_ptn/images/saber-bar_enlargement.jpg

This one? This late in the season I would run it. Sounds like you have already made a VAST improvement. Crazy how spending a few minutes making the sled happy returns 10 fold. PO prolly sold it cuz he didnt like the way it handled......
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Yep, that's the one. closeup doesn't really illustrate my point as well as the full sized view though. Yea, not going to change it this late in the year.

LOL, a few minutes he says.....Actually it took quite a while. Mostly due to me being stubborn and not taking the shock out. I used a punch, and gently, and patiently tapped away at the preload collars with a punch and a hammer. Took forever. Not making that mistake again. I'm taking the shock out next time.
The PO said that he only used to putt-putt through the woods because he was scared because he crashed his last machine in the woods and broke his leg. I don't see how couldn't have putted with how this thing was set up. Come in hard, and release the flipper, and the back end would swing around on it's own. You used to have to nail it on exit just to make it out alive!!! Sure stuck the front though, and rarely, if ever lifted a ski.

Went out for another 50 miles today with 2"-3" of fresh, packy snow again. Didn't adjust anything else, but probably should have. Man I am SORE today in the groin areas!!! Never felt a thing the next day when it was like it was before. All that hanging off the machine and body english now reminds me of how I always felt after a ride on my last Exciter II with 144 picks and 10" of carbide.
The front does not stay planted and inspire the confidence like before when the rear end was chasing the front. Sure does hook better under acceleration on exit though. Almost gotta work at it to break the rear end loose. Still.....it is MUCH more behaved.
I'm gonna try the strap and alignment thing like I said before to see if it helps. Gotta get that front end down maybe 3/4" or so and get the track to sit flatter. Then I think I should be good to go. :rockon:
 
I am familar with that "sore in the groin area" from back when I rode artic craps! Either the cats or my line of work produced an out of shape devil (not yet in BLUE!) I am a locator for miss dig and run around like a chicken with its head cut off marking lines. Theres days I end up walking 8-10 miles (no fun with 2-3ft of snow!) Often times that kicks my arse worse than riding the SRX's!
 
i had the issue of letting off throttle and sled would pitch forward and dart like crazy,i cut down the bottom control rod spacers,adj rear shock tighter to 50/50 gap,middle shock little preload,limiters at 10mm. fra at 2. threw on some bergstrom skegs with ski savers.handles and rides great now
 
dsc577 said:
bergstrom skegs with ski savers.handles and rides great now
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Thought about those. I like the concept. Have you noticed it carves a bit more? Because in essence, you're jamming the ski a little farther down in the snow.
 
The bergstrom set up is hands down awesome. You can turn these things on a dime, no matter if its snow, ice, or concrete. Ill never run another system.
 
Good to know.
I was concerned about shortening the strap a bit to get a touch more weight on the skis to make it bite better, but giving myself more steering effort in the process. Figured it would be easier to turn since I aligned it and it's not snowplowing, but that's not the case.
I'm gonna give them a call.
Thanks.

Any recommendations? Triple point, or Good & Ugly?
 
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Ouch, I just found their pricing guide. Triple points are downright painful. I am not studded and don't really plan on it. I was thinking 6", but $70 is a lot easier to swallow than $165. Do the Triple Points make THAT much of a difference?
 
GD23RTF2 said:
Ouch, I just found their pricing guide. Triple points are downright painful. I am not studded and don't really plan on it. I was thinking 6", but $70 is a lot easier to swallow than $165. Do the Triple Points make THAT much of a difference?
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From what I hear yes they do. Every one I have talked to LOVES them. From what I was told their prices go down a bit (more around $90-100) in the summer. Thats with the spacer/ski saver. The next set of new ones I buy will be bergstroms tripple points.
 
Oh yea! Plus I would go through 2 sets of 8" Woody's a year so figure that out. 90$ a set x2 or bergstoms x1 every 3 or so years. I got 2 seasons on 2 sets and they still look new. I have 4 sets of 8" tripple points. That's ouch but worth every penny!
 
super1c said:
Oh yea! Plus I would go through 2 sets of 8" Woody's a year so figure that out. 90$ a set x2 or bergstoms x1 every 3 or so years. I got 2 seasons on 2 sets and they still look new. I have 4 sets of 8" tripple points. That's ouch but worth every penny!
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Makes sense.
What does everyone think of the contours?
 
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