Still getting tossed around.... - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

dirtrules · 01-08-2006, 07:53 PM

My wife's last sled was a bit narrower than most, a 94 440 Sport. I had hoped her newer 02 500 XCSP would be a little 'smoother' on the trails. The ride is good, but she seems to frequently hook other's grooves and gets tossed sideways on the trails pretty abruptly. I thought new carbides would help so I put a set on yesterday before heading out, but that helped only minimally. Currently, we have the rear of her sled set pretty soft and the front is up pretty tight. Would softening the front springs a bit and letting it sit down while stiffening the rear spring help at all? BTW, the skis are aligned well.... Any thoughts or ideas appreciated. Thanks!

Dirt

wildxc · 01-08-2006, 11:48 PM

is the track studded?, if not that could be the problem with sliding around,

**RJ Gleason** · 01-09-2006, 09:54 AM

the problem is called "darting" caused by the skegs following the grooves left tby the previous sled. ther are severall ways to eliminate this problem. One is to use dual carbide runners, two is to have dual runner skis and three is to use the anti-dart insert that breaks down the grooves and gives you a clean area for the ski to run.

IndianRvrShiver · 01-09-2006, 10:24 AM

What you're descibing is pretty common on all sleds with single runner skis. Floatation type skis, like Simmons or SD Precisions (concave bottom with dual outer runners), help immensely solve the darting problem. For the $4-500 cost to upgrade, most people live with the darting.

You mentioned the skis are aligned well.....be sure you have about +/- 1/4" toe OUT!!

upersleder · 01-09-2006, 10:30 AM

i just had a friend tell me how he fixed his darting. i'm not sure how the polaris's mount, but the doos have a rubber stopper in between the ski and spindle. he took an 1/8" piece of aluminum and screwed it to the underside of the REAR portion of the rubber, it lifts the front of the ski up and he says helps eliminate the darting.

dirtrules · 01-09-2006, 06:34 PM

Thanks for all the advice guys.

She isn't sliding, and I would like to throw some studs under it but we have always gotten by without them.

I will check on the toe out again since i don't believe this is a $500.00 problem.... hopefully a pinch more toe out will solve it. I know she is getting it much worse than alot of those we ride with.

Thanks again!

wotmode · 01-15-2006, 05:05 PM

you need to do two things, first, check the toe out on the skis. If they are toed in, it will always dart and be difficult to control. use a bungee cord to put light tension drawing the ski tips together. (just enough to take the play out of the steering linkage) and adjust both tie rods in equal amounts so that the measurment between the tips is about 1/8 of an inch wider than the rear of the skis. Second, loosen the front limiting strap of the rear suspension a little bit. this will reduce ski pressure. Don't get too crazy, or she wont be able to steer. try these one at a time, the toe adjust will most likely make a huge difference. The sled will still move around a little, but it will self correct making the ride much more enjoyable.

SnowRida · 01-21-2006, 07:43 PM

You should really ask locky. He has all the answers. Exspecially about oil caps.

bradford · 01-22-2006, 10:29 AM

kwodrich@countrysidefire.com <kwodrich@countrysidefire.com>
this person has a set of dual runners for polaris. posted on www.johndee.com $90 obo. might be good to check out.

Ruger · 01-29-2006, 08:48 PM

i have a 2001 polaris classic 600 with studs and M-10, carbite scages. i have the same problem so bad it sometimes throws the back of the sled around. i tried every ajustment of the m-10 and nothing worked. then i removed the scages for a test ride. was like a new sled. going to try less carbite on scages and was told to make sure skies are towed OUT. hope this works

wotmode · 02-12-2006, 04:26 PM

if your skis are toed in, there is nothing you can do to stop darting. If your skis are toed in, and your left ski catches a groove, that ski will push the sled to the right. When the sled moves to thr right, weight is transfered to the left side giving that ski more grab on the snow. When you steer left to correct, the right ski takes over and does the same thing. You will constantly be correcting. With toe out, and the left ski catches, it will pull the sled to the left and transfer load to the right without any steering input from the rider. The left ski loses its grab on the rut, the right ski takes over and self corrects. The sled will wiggle a little, but as long as your lose and relaxed, the sled will drive its self.

96sport · 02-13-2006, 09:07 AM

I fixed this problem by instaling ski corectors.
Very cheap!! 14$ canadian

Here's a pic.