79 jag shocks - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

therealdude · 11-04-2006, 02:52 PM

i have a 1979 articat fag and the track shocks are flat and has no bounce
can you do any thing to raise it and give it some bounce?

tamacat · 11-04-2006, 03:10 PM

Are you saying they will not budge???

therealdude · 11-04-2006, 04:09 PM

yea the have saged all the way down and have no bounce when you go iver a bump

**RJ Gleason** · 11-04-2006, 04:51 PM

replace the shocks.

**smallengineguy** · 11-04-2006, 08:39 PM

Yup replace them.

rgoers · 11-04-2006, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by therealdude

i have a 1979 articat fag and the track shocks are flat and has no bounce
can you do any thing to raise it and give it some bounce?

Is it a fag, or a Jag??? I don't know anything about giving a fag some more bounce, or how to give it a raise...

If it's a JAG - I'd say take a look at the springs and the shock. My '80 Jag has a lot of travel for the year. It's like 8" or so. Not bad for an old sled. If you have no bounce on yours, your springs may be bad or broken. Should be 2 sets of springs, and one shock. The shock is pretty easy to find, and relatively cheap. I replaced mine last year. It was totally shot. When I worked the piston, rusty clouds of dust came out of a weep hole. The thing is - it still had plenty of bounce, even with the bad shock (just no damping).

therealdude · 11-05-2006, 09:32 AM

lmao its a jag** lol umm yea it has 2 sets of springs and they have seased up if i have to replace thos how much u think it will cost?

Kemo · 11-05-2006, 09:39 AM

oh so these old bastards should actually have some bounce to the suspension?

Well no wonder!!! Time for new shock for me!

Where might I find a exploded pic of my sled like that?

rgoers · 11-05-2006, 06:46 PM

There's an adjuster block on the rear springs as well. You should be able to replace the whole lot of them for around $50. Not sure you can find them at a dealer anymore, but I've seen NOS (new, old stock) springs for that Jag listed on eBay. You should be able to use springs from any 1978-81 Jag.

**RJ Gleason** · 11-06-2006, 06:38 AM

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Arctic Cat®
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online michrofiche.

rgoers · 11-06-2006, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kemo

oh so these old bastards should actually have some bounce to the suspension?

Well no wonder!!! Time for new shock for me!

Where might I find a exploded pic of my sled like that?

The springs provide the spring. The shock provides the damping. Not sure where to get Doo drawings or parts...

therealdude · 11-06-2006, 04:22 PM

yea because it has 4 springs that are pretty rusted and i think i need to replace thos i am afrade to loesin the bolts on the springs couse they will snap or somtin?? has any one done it ???

M_Jerew · 11-06-2006, 07:13 PM

we had to replace the rear springs on our 78 but ours were already broke but putting them in is a treat

rgoers · 11-06-2006, 07:41 PM

I bought my '80 Jag from a guy who took care of his sleds. It's got almost 10k miles on it, and everything underneath was free when I checked it last season. Not even a seized bearing! The shock was (understandably) shot, but the rest of the suspension is in very good shape.

If you can loosen the track enough to get some working room, that will help a lot. Get the back end up off the ground, so you can get your hands in there. I would soak the bolts/nuts in PB Blaster overnight. Give them a try the next day. If they still feel stuck, apply some heat to the nuts. It is amazing what just a little heat can do. Should free it right up. Disassemble - then go at changing out the springs.

M_Jerew · 11-06-2006, 07:44 PM

i think we did it hard way

rgoers · 11-06-2006, 07:53 PM

A lot depends on who had it before you...

therealdude · 11-06-2006, 11:01 PM

yea ok i was just out in the garage and the bolts are all lose. if i take all the springs of will it be hard to get all back togather? and should i replace the shock?.................how much bounce do u guys think it will give it??????
thanks!

M_Jerew · 11-06-2006, 11:03 PM

if you can afford it i would buy a new shock cuz ya probably wont want to get back under there and do it later thats what im gonna do

i found them at Parts Unlimited

therealdude · 11-07-2006, 07:40 AM

well ok thanks alot for all the help guys and if you got any more sugstons than post em up

thanks! luke anstett

rgoers · 11-07-2006, 09:25 AM

The shock cost me like $26. Well worth it to just throw it in there.

As for bounce - I ride with the adjuster block on the middle position. I can hit some pretty rough stuff, and not bottom it out. I jump the drifts in my driveway and get a foot or so of air, and it lands softly. My daughters (16 & 17) ride it 2-up, and it doesn't bottom out. On all but very rough trails, it rides quite comfortably. Like I said before, you should have a good 8" of travel when it's working correctly. It's not as good as a modern sled, but pretty darn good for a 25+ year old one!