If I understand snowmobile suspension correctly, the more ski (center spring / ski spring) pressure, relatively speaking, the more a sled will tend to dart while trail riding. If this is true, how does one go about setting up the stock suspension to be soft and compliant for the family ride yet track nice while on the flat hard pack trails? For reference I'm the only fat one in the family, the wife and kids are 115 lbs to 150 lbs and will be riding 2-Sabercats and 1-Crossfire std. I have the rear pre-loads set to soft and the coupler blocks on 2 or 3. What are your thoughts?
Understanding Ski Pressure & Suspension
- Thread starter fcat700
- Start date
snow_monkey
New member
Somewhat of a science of trial and error. There are shims that can help make adjustments to the angle of the skis. The length of the carbides can also reduce some of the need for more ski pressure.
Think of it this way the harder setting on center shock pushes weight off front end+skis .......soften center shock & front end weight on skis increases thus harder steering more ski pressure & more darting. Also when you increase the pressure harden up the block on rear shock you also apply more pressure to the skis & stiffen rear suspension. This is why you only change 1 thing at a time ride a little to get the feel then & only then change the next thing. Don't change anything dry you have to ride to figure out what needs to be done in a particular condition. This is why I like Yam GT ohlin mono shock just push button or turn RA dial to find sweet spot in ever changing conditions.
cooksend
Active member
Always a hot topic. Whitedust had some good pointers! Make sure you start with a ski alignment first! From their make sure you balance the amount of carbide and studs (if you run them). Trial and error to find your liking is the best way to set it up. Others can give you tips and ideas but can't truely pick your favorite set up...
Most stock ski designs are less than stellar. Personally I have found that a set of USI X2 Tripple Threats to be the most tunable set up around! Not always the most economical way however! Try a ski alignment and put some dually carbides on all of them! This will help with darting in most conditions! From there pic a couple mile stretch of trail and run back and forth and make adjustments to learn what makes it tick and what you like! After that is all said and done you will enjoy your sleds and know more about suspension tuning that most sled owners!
Ride On!!!
Most stock ski designs are less than stellar. Personally I have found that a set of USI X2 Tripple Threats to be the most tunable set up around! Not always the most economical way however! Try a ski alignment and put some dually carbides on all of them! This will help with darting in most conditions! From there pic a couple mile stretch of trail and run back and forth and make adjustments to learn what makes it tick and what you like! After that is all said and done you will enjoy your sleds and know more about suspension tuning that most sled owners!
Ride On!!!
Sounds like good info. I just bought two of the sleds and the first ride will likely be a family trip to the UP so not much time to test and tune. I also will probably sell a couple at the end of the season so I'm going to stick with all the stock parts. Any one know the factory spring settings for all three coil springs (both front and rear center) on a 2006 Crossfire 7 std. and a 2006 Sabercat 500 efi?
cooksend is right on. I do all my adjustments on an ungroomed fire road full of whoops & bumps. I make a change then ride the same section back & forth so I can feel each change I make. All our tips can give you an understanding what an adjustment may do to your sled but you really have to ride & adjust to know what just happend by the seat of YOUR pants. You really can learn a lot about you & your sled doing it this way & you know optimum ride for each condition & with experience you will know exactly what you have to tweak to hit the sweet spot. All the new sleds ride very well you just need to understand the adjustments then enjoy the cushy ride.