Less weight on skis with Timbersled skid

[loudelectronics]

Anyone have any tips to reduce the ski pressure when using a timbersled skid? This is on a viper 162. The skis just stick to the ground when backing up or even going forward as the track just spins under the sled. On my Nytro MTX with stock skid but Skinz front end the amount of weight on skis is minimal and very easy to steer and the track does not spin when backing up or forward. Just not sure how to set up this viper with timbersled skid to get it to feel the same. I think this has something to do with why it just nose bombs in deep snow and gets stuck and why my nytro does not.

 

[jrusher]

Did you try adjusting front limiter strap? Loosen it up a hole or two and increase preload on front shock..

 

[moyiesledhead]

Yup. Front of skid needs tuning. Should be 80psi in the shock. More or less doesn't really do much. Tuning is done with the limiter strap. Let it out and see what happens. You may also need to move the bottom shock shaft to the forward hole to get more shock extension.

 

[crazeejames]

Add the shims to the top of your slide mechanism on the rear Timbersled arm to lower the ride height in the rear, and if the Viper has them, mount the skid in the upper holes.

 

[loudelectronics]

The limiter strap is all the way out. Suspension is set to the second hole down on front and second hole down on rear which is where the stock mtx position is. The skid does not have the washers as it is the new style that has the coupler.

I think the front shock has 75 psi so I will bump it up. There are no holes to move front shock mount further up the rails. Should I drill some holes 1" forward?

I can put suspension up to top holes but already had it there and did not make a difference.

Thanks for help so far. Will play with front shock more.

 

[moyiesledhead]

Does the limiter strap get tight when the front of the skid is fully out, or is it hitting full extension on the shock first? Also, what skis are you running?

 

[loudelectronics]

That is a good question. I will have to look at it closer to see which one bottoms out first. I just know the strap is fully extended. I am running the powder pros. Wanted something close to the stock yamaha skis as possible.

 

[climbmax]

Did the ride height increase when you installed the skid? If so you are loading up the front end and will need to lower the back end somehow.
Best of luck.

 

[crazeejames]

With the "new" post 2011 Timbersled skid, you can still lower ride height by putting spacer on top of the slide mechanism. The new style just has a hand screw to adjust the coupling point in the suspension travel, this screw doesn't affect ride height. The skid should of came with some spacers to install on top of the slide to lower it. Here is a link to tuning instuctions: http://www.timbersled.com/docs/2012%20Arm%20Tuning.pdf

 

[loudelectronics]

Thanks Crazyjames. I will look into that tonight. The skid did not come with any. Timbersled sent this skid out in a rush I think. It was missing bump stops and the rails caps on it were used. They did send me antistab kit though and did not ask for that.

Randy not sure on ride height. Wanting to try and find some 2015 mtx rails to try the stock suspension again but no dealer can get them yet. Any idea how I can get my hands on a set of blue ones?

 

[moyiesledhead]

That is a good question. I will have to look at it closer to see which one bottoms out first. I just know the strap is fully extended. I am running the powder pros. Wanted something close to the stock yamaha skis as possible.

Powderpros are great skis, but very aggressive. Could be part of your problem. I finally had to take them off my current sled. Could never get enough pressure off the skis to make my arms not hurt at the end of the day, yet on my M7 with a Timbersled skid they were just fine.

 

[loudelectronics]

Powderpros are great skis, but very aggressive. Could be part of your problem. I finally had to take them off my current sled. Could never get enough pressure off the skis to make my arms not hurt at the end of the day, yet on my M7 with a Timbersled skid they were just fine.

I know what your saying and last year that is what I went along with until I drove my nytro MTX for the day. The Nytro was not nose diving in the snow and in the shop on cement it will back up and drive on it no problems (with new carbides) where the Viper with the TS skid dives really bad and on cement just sticks. Not that I drive on cement but it was an indicator is all. I am going to buy some scales and measure out the weights of each shock location and try to play with it. When viper was stock it was not like this at all, only after the TS skid. I may go back to a stock skid but having trouble finding stock rails.

 

[moyiesledhead]

I know what your saying and last year that is what I went along with until I drove my nytro MTX for the day. The Nytro was not nose diving in the snow and in the shop on cement it will back up and drive on it no problems (with new carbides) where the Viper with the TS skid dives really bad and on cement just sticks. Not that I drive on cement but it was an indicator is all. I am going to buy some scales and measure out the weights of each shock location and try to play with it. When viper was stock it was not like this at all, only after the TS skid. I may go back to a stock skid but having trouble finding stock rails.

Can you drop the front of the skid lower in the tunnel on the Viper? I'm not familiar with the new Yamaha/Cat chassi. On my M1000 I dropped the front to the bottom hole in the tunnel and it solved most of my ski pressure problems with a TS skid.

 

[Wendolyn]

Add the shims to the top of your slide mechanism on the rear Timbersled arm to lower the ride height in the rear camping equipment, and if the Viper has them, mount the skid in the upper holes.​