AmSnow.com is now SnoWest.com
Stock sled performance upgrades
Q What are the top 5 things I can do to my stock sled to improve performance? But, I’m not tearing the engine apart or tinkering with my clutching. Just basic things I can handle. –
Surveyed reader
A Generally speaking, clutching is the No. 1 thing that can be changed to optimize performance. If you don’t want to tear into your clutches, the next five things would be: 1: Setting track tension and alignment appropriately. A track that is too tight or misaligned will rob a considerable amount of power. 2: Setting ski alignment, most sleds work best with about 1/8-inch of toe out 3: Setting the belt deflection properly, most sleds perform best at about 1 to 1 ¼ inches of deflection, but I like the belt just as tight as it can be without squealing at idle. Clean and properly inspect the clutches for any wear. 4: Running a reasonably new belt. We find that in real aggressive mountain riding, belts start losing performance at about 500 miles. This interval will be much longer for trail sleds, but the rule of thumb is when you start losing peak rpm, change the belt first. 5: Make sure your exhaust joints are sealed. We recommend Ultra Black high temperature silicone. If your grafoil seal is worn, replace it with a new one. And don’t forget to seal the silencer outlet to the belly pan. This is especially important when running in deep snow. –
Jerry Mathews, Starting Line Products