Hi guys, rode new 2011 Z1 Lxr 1st time feb 22nd, stiff ride, thought it just had to loosen up.. 1000 miles on it, rode with a bud, and he said rear was sagging, he lifted it up, and there was a binding metalic noise. took it to Heinens in msp on a sat, they had rear shocks rebulit by monday! ride is worse tho, were there defective parts put back in rebuilds? and shocks not covered under warrenty, but crappy ride since day 1. Also have a 2011 f5 lxr, I rode f5 behind z1 and when bud would have to stand up, I could sit down thru the same medium bumps. z1 rear very harsh stacatto or choppy over even small bumps, where I barely feel them on F5. Z1 acts like riding in a little red wagon with solid axels. Something's wrong. not sure if new shocks will fix suspension. everyone on here says Z1 and twin spar has a great ride.. Thanks in advance for any help.. Love the rest of the sled, but if If I cant fix the suspension, I'll be forced to trade it in. I don't want to , but its miserable to ride as is..
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Real bad ride on 2011 Cat Z1 LXR
- Thread starter dickmsp
- Start date
I'm gonna replace the shocks with the stock ones, hopefully that will fix the problem. crossing my fingers I'll be able to test ride the new shocks with the snow coming on the north shore!! Otherwise, it's trade in time on a 2012 Ski-doo GSX SE with the air suspension.. I'm sure I'll have no problems with that shock system!! LOL!!!
Firecatguy
New member
one of your problems is the dealer you are working with, the like to sell sleds cheap but have not been known as a good service dealership.
i also learned the hard way with them
good luck
wow...i rode with service manger last year...great guy dont know the work but great guy
one of your problems is the dealer you are working with, the like to sell sleds cheap but have not been known as a good service dealership.
i also learned the hard way with them
good luck
I have always had great service at Heinen's. John the service manager will go out of his way to make things right for you. I have been dealing with them for 15 plus years and have always had good service, everything has been fixed right the first time.
booondocker
New member
Well before you go trashin the sled, it is clear that from your own description that something is either put together wrong, or bent or broken, or mismatched. No offense, but maybe the dealer just fixed something and didn't address something else that was a problem.
How many other blogs have complained about the suspension of the Cats?
What does that tell you?
The Cat suspension is one of the best in the business. So unless you weigh 300 pounds, you should KNOW that there is an issue with the suspension. Jumping on the f5 and seeing that it is fine, should also tell you something....you have a problem and you haven't gotten it fixed yet.
Maybe you just want to buy a new sled...and need a good excuse. Otherwise, pull the sled up to another sled just like it and begin to do your own research to see what is wrong...there should be no metal grinding or bottoming out on that skid.
Not trying to be harsh, here....but once you get that skid set up correctly, and fix whatever else is wrong with the suspension, it is every bit as good as the proposed sled you are thinking of replacing it with...and some would say better.
Good luck, and hope you find the problem.....not a great feeling to have laid out the bread for an expensive sled and then being disappointed with it....but one ride on another sled like it should tell you that there is something wrong with yours and you need to figure it out, if for no other reason that to understand what went wrong, or to make sure you aren't passing on a sled that someone else will be disappointed in when they get it.
How many other blogs have complained about the suspension of the Cats?
What does that tell you?
The Cat suspension is one of the best in the business. So unless you weigh 300 pounds, you should KNOW that there is an issue with the suspension. Jumping on the f5 and seeing that it is fine, should also tell you something....you have a problem and you haven't gotten it fixed yet.
Maybe you just want to buy a new sled...and need a good excuse. Otherwise, pull the sled up to another sled just like it and begin to do your own research to see what is wrong...there should be no metal grinding or bottoming out on that skid.
Not trying to be harsh, here....but once you get that skid set up correctly, and fix whatever else is wrong with the suspension, it is every bit as good as the proposed sled you are thinking of replacing it with...and some would say better.
Good luck, and hope you find the problem.....not a great feeling to have laid out the bread for an expensive sled and then being disappointed with it....but one ride on another sled like it should tell you that there is something wrong with yours and you need to figure it out, if for no other reason that to understand what went wrong, or to make sure you aren't passing on a sled that someone else will be disappointed in when they get it.
The guys at Heinens were great, I brought the sled in sat 3-26 on my way home from the n. shore about an hour before they closed. they rebuilt the shocks and had my sled ready by noon on monday the 28th! I think what happened is the shocks were valved wrong from the factory, and they were rebuilt to the same stiffness. Also, when I brought the Z1 in for it's 1st oil change and check up, they did it while I waited!! I really like the Z1, I'm 6'4", 219 lbs, and it has a great seating position for me, steers great, the engine is great, it's a little heavier than Ski-doos, but it's built strong. I want to keep this sled for a few years till I'm forced to sell it and buy x country skis and a dog sled and apologize to the MRR ( minnesotans for responsible recreation ) for using motorized recreation...
booondocker
New member
****
Someone has stolen your identity....and posted postively of the sled you own.....because if you read the first post and the one above this one....they don't sound like the same person.
Change your password!!!
Someone has stolen your identity....and posted postively of the sled you own.....because if you read the first post and the one above this one....they don't sound like the same person.
Change your password!!!
No, both are me. First post is neg because it's a new sled, 1st driven 2-22-11 and the problem wasn't fixed. Good news was the guys at Heinens got the sled turned around faster than waiting for new shocks on order. I wanted to head back up to the north shore of MN that monday, and they had shocks rebuilt and sled back together about noon on mon 3-28 and I brought it in an hour before closing on sat 3-26. (they're closed sundays ) For me, that's an unheard of turn around time!! Unfortunately, the shock rebuild didn't fix the suspension problem. I'm hoping new stock rear shocks will do the trick. Now my worry is how long will it take to get the new shocks, and will there be any snow left so I can test drive the new shocks.. I do like everything about the sled except the crappy ride.. Minor detail lol!!
To all that have posted about their good service with Heinens I am glad for you, but my experience was any thing but good (i even dealt with Paul the owner). Purchased a new carry over from them about 5 years ago and as soon as they had my check custom service went south and the different problems with the sled increased. Have not been back in their store since (and I live about 10 miles away).
Not going to hijack this thread any more than I already have, back to the problem at hand.
I would if you have not make a call to the cat consumer hot line and have them start a log on your situation so next year when your warranty is expired you still might get some help!
Not going to hijack this thread any more than I already have, back to the problem at hand.
I would if you have not make a call to the cat consumer hot line and have them start a log on your situation so next year when your warranty is expired you still might get some help!
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Z1 ride
I have a 2010 Z1 Lxr non-turbo as well as a 2008 Jag Z1 and I can tell you the rides are night and day. Just take the rear Fox Zero pro shock off and compare it to a 2008-9 Ryde Fx and you will see why. That fox shock is wayyyyyyyyy stiffer. I have to stand up going over 5-10 inch bumps where my wife,on the 2008, just stays sitting and rides right over them.
I have a 2010 Z1 Lxr non-turbo as well as a 2008 Jag Z1 and I can tell you the rides are night and day. Just take the rear Fox Zero pro shock off and compare it to a 2008-9 Ryde Fx and you will see why. That fox shock is wayyyyyyyyy stiffer. I have to stand up going over 5-10 inch bumps where my wife,on the 2008, just stays sitting and rides right over them.
Dang.. I asked Heinens if they had a base shock my 2011 f5 uses laying around to try it on the Z1 just to see the difference, but they didn't have one.. I'll get my 2011 Z1 LXR back wed afternoon, or thurs am. Now I'm scared it'll be the same harsh ride!!
Anyone know a good shock re-valver in the twin cities area? I have an 05 ski-doo gsx limited 600 sdi,and it has the stock hpg variable ratio shocks. This has been my benchmark that I use to judge rides on other snowmobiles. If I could get the Z1 shocks valved like this sled, I'd have a great ride.. The variable ratio has less shock dampening on the smaller bumps, then as the bump size increases, so does the shock dampening...
Now, all I need is some snow left on the north shore so I can test drive the new shocks!!! Stupid warm weather....
Anyone know a good shock re-valver in the twin cities area? I have an 05 ski-doo gsx limited 600 sdi,and it has the stock hpg variable ratio shocks. This has been my benchmark that I use to judge rides on other snowmobiles. If I could get the Z1 shocks valved like this sled, I'd have a great ride.. The variable ratio has less shock dampening on the smaller bumps, then as the bump size increases, so does the shock dampening...
Now, all I need is some snow left on the north shore so I can test drive the new shocks!!! Stupid warm weather....
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Well guys, I got the suspension problem solved. I took the sled up to the dealer where I bought it, Miller Marine in St Cloud. They were able to replace the two rear shocks under warranty. I picked it up thurs apr 7th at 530 pm, drove straight up to Two Harbors, got there about 9 pm, backed trailer right up to snow covered n shore trail, and after jut a few feet, I could tell suspension was fixed.. There was enough snow for a short test drive and the new shocks did the trick.. I'm bummed my sort season didn't allow me to see how good the suspension is, but I'm glad it's fixed. My sales guy's co- worker that used to rebuild shock for he and his freinds, said he couldn't move the old rear shock even with all his 275 lbs forced on it..That was the problem.. see you in 9 monthss!!!