We finally have good snow & my 08 XP went down so I bought a new cat. Going up the groomed trail it handled awesome, plush ride, tracked straight, good power delivery, nice & smooth. Trail got a little rougher, front end pushed in the corners, rolled in the corners, felt mushy & the rear bottomed out. Checked air pressures: front shocks were at 35# I put them to 60, rear shock was at 80# I put it at 100. Much better, I didn't bottom out the rest of the day. We get into the deep power on a good open side hill, it climbs, cuts & carves beautifully until I point it down hill & try to turn sideways at low speed. One side would just flat drop into the snow & put the sled on its side. Stuck! If I stayed in the throttle a little while turning, it was ok, but making a 45 or 90 degree turn dropping back onto the road, you just cant stay in the throttle. Then we got into the deep snow with trees. Totally unpredictable, uphill on the throttle was ok, sideways in & out of the throttle was scary, the front end would tip downhill & it wouldn't stop. The downhill ski would drop through the snow like a rock. Crossing trenches was the same scenario, on the throttle no problem, back out of the throttle a little & down hill I go. For the ride back to the trucks, I wanted to take the cross country route which would have been easy, gentle, down hill slopes through the trees in 3'+ powder. My confidence level was so low, I opted for the groomed road. Back on the road, I pumped the ski shocks up to 75# but never got a chance to test them. It did make the steering heavier & a little darty. The ride was also no longer plush like it was on the way up the mountain. On my XP it would have been game on all day. Is it me or the sled &/or sled setup?
14 153 LE 1st ride, need help
- Thread starter BBP
- Start date
This is why I run my front shocks at 90+ psi. I dont get near the front end dipping and unpredictability compared to low pressure in the front shocks. I think even the manual that came with the sleds calls for 90psi. I know I would hate 60psi like a lot of guys run. I run 150 psi in the rear shock. I'd rather sacrifice plush for predictability in the backcountry. And that's exactly what having more pressure on the front shocks feels like it gives ME. More predictability. Other peoples riding styles and feelings may vary.
Start by getting rid of the stupid skis and get some powder pros, C&A BX, Slydogs og Polaris gripper skis.
Then start adjusting the suspension
I like to be in the 75 psi range in front and 110 psi in the rear
Then start adjusting the suspension
I like to be in the 75 psi range in front and 110 psi in the rear
I have had the front end drop in how you are discribing on my 14 m8000. I found it is more the skis than anything. I changed out my skis to polaris Grippers and the wifes skis to Powder pro. After riding all day with new skis, totally different sled. Both skis are a great improvment but think I like the powder pros better. My buddy has the C&A Boondocker he says they are the best but I have not tried them yet. I have my front shocks set at 50 and my rear shocks at 130. Rides great and easy to sidehill my 200+lbs. Wife is quite a bit lighter but have her sled set about the same and it is smooth and easy to throw around
I knew there was a reason I liked the grippers on my old Dragon and Pro, they rock. I like the traditional bottom designs. I've tried the powder pros and SLT's on many different sleds, and while they all have certain snow conditions where they excel, they also have more downfalls in other kinds of snow. The Grippers have the perfect width at 7" and a traditional bottom without being heavy. Win win for what I want in a ski. I also think the grippers with stock '14 PC ski rubber fit tighter and don't get as sloppy as quickly as slp ski mounts/rubber.
Thanks everyone, I have some powder pros I'll put on & try some more air pressures. Where do the grippers excel over the powder pros? I'll order in a set of those also.
G
gjp
Well-known member
BBP - keep in mind you are coming off an XP with much different steering/handling characteristics. The flat steering on the M is enough to make a good doo-doo rider look horrible at first. Give it time. I rented an 09XP years ago and fought it all morning; it was a nightmare. After lunch I finally relaxed and adjusted my technic; and was back slaying the pow.
As stated above, the stock cat skis are narrow at 6" tend to dive. Wider PP or Grippers will definately help.
Read your user manual on suspension setup. 110lbs in the rear is very soft for the average weight rider. 130lbs is a good starting point and adjust from there. Also check your limiter strap and front skid shock settings. Stock is best for most riders.
If you do not know, you must take all pressure off the fox shock you are working on when setting pressure; lay sled on its side in the backcountry or elevated in your garage.
For my setup (250lb rider + gear)
150lb rear
limiter middle
front track 1/4 turn past slack spring
fronts: 75 - 90lb depending on snow terrain
As stated above, the stock cat skis are narrow at 6" tend to dive. Wider PP or Grippers will definately help.
Read your user manual on suspension setup. 110lbs in the rear is very soft for the average weight rider. 130lbs is a good starting point and adjust from there. Also check your limiter strap and front skid shock settings. Stock is best for most riders.
If you do not know, you must take all pressure off the fox shock you are working on when setting pressure; lay sled on its side in the backcountry or elevated in your garage.
For my setup (250lb rider + gear)
150lb rear
limiter middle
front track 1/4 turn past slack spring
fronts: 75 - 90lb depending on snow terrain
Last edited:
Make sure you are checking your shock pressures without weight on the suspension (lay sled on its side). Your pressures will be skewed if you don't unload the suspension.
I personally like around 60-65 psi in the front ski shocks and about 135-140 lbs in the rear track shock.
I'm about 190 lbs without gear.
You guys running 90 PSI in the fronts are crazy. I can't ride the sled like that.
IMO, if your front shocks are too stiff it makes it way harder to lay the sled over.
I also run Powder Pros. Not a fan of the stock skis.
I personally like around 60-65 psi in the front ski shocks and about 135-140 lbs in the rear track shock.
I'm about 190 lbs without gear.
You guys running 90 PSI in the fronts are crazy. I can't ride the sled like that.
IMO, if your front shocks are too stiff it makes it way harder to lay the sled over.
I also run Powder Pros. Not a fan of the stock skis.
If u do a lot of side hilling 50-55 up front makes the proclimb a dream on one ski.
If u like both skis on the sno 65-75 is nice.
Front track shock needs 1 in. of threads showing. Those of u running a loose track shock are missing out on a fun ride!
Rear shock I like at 125 ( I weigh 175) any less than that it trenches and wheelies too much. 140 keeps the front too planted and takes away some fun for me.
Ridin da Yamacat
If u like both skis on the sno 65-75 is nice.
Front track shock needs 1 in. of threads showing. Those of u running a loose track shock are missing out on a fun ride!
Rear shock I like at 125 ( I weigh 175) any less than that it trenches and wheelies too much. 140 keeps the front too planted and takes away some fun for me.
Ridin da Yamacat
summ8rmk
What you are running is very similar to what I run. I have maybe 5 more psi in the rear shock, but I am a little over 200#. I have my front spring set so it just does not rattle. Just curious about the 1 inch setting on the spring in the front? How does that change the handling of the sled? Is it better for boondocking or climbing or............ What length track are you running?
What you are running is very similar to what I run. I have maybe 5 more psi in the rear shock, but I am a little over 200#. I have my front spring set so it just does not rattle. Just curious about the 1 inch setting on the spring in the front? How does that change the handling of the sled? Is it better for boondocking or climbing or............ What length track are you running?
G
gjp
Well-known member
Do you have limiter in middle hole? I found more preload only worked with limiter tightened on the 2012 M. Having that much preload with limiter in middle hole made the 2012 M feel like a teeter-totter. The sled would trench on throttle and dive when decelerating. Zero ski pressure without braking on the trail.
It's funny how much difference suspension preferences are.
What length of track do you have? Mine are all 162's. On our 13's we let the limiter straps out 1 hole. And pretty much left the front shock spring where it was. Then we Loosened it up so it just didn't rattle. Didnt have to loosen it very much to make it loose. Thought that it might of helped a little by loosening it up. On the 14 we have left the limiter strap where it is from factory and then loosened the spring so it just doesn't rattle. We are adjusting the spring with no weight on the track just like you would adjust the air pressure in the rear shock. I will give it a try with the 1" gap on the next trip. Doesn't hurt anything to try it. If I don't like it I can put it back. And it won't cost me any $.
The snow changed dramatically from Thursdays 3' of powder to Saturdays 1' of setup snow so comparing the skis aren't apples to apples but the powder pros definitely helped with the diving. They're way more aggressive & more than a handful to make a low speed turn in the heavy powder, but still an improvement. They have 6" carbides, 4" might be better. I started adding air pressure, front & back, & the diving & trenching improved with each increase but the sled felt flat & heavy. I held off tightening the center shock based on everyone's advice on here until I got the air pressures right. Then I ran into Casey. One pull on the hill with his sled & I couldn't get the tools out fast enough. 1" of threads showing on the shock was the ticket. It no longer felt flat & heavy & it got rid of the aggressive feeling of the powder pros. Thanks Casey. I'm 210#. I ended up at 90# in the skis & 140 in the rear, limiter in the middle. Thanks for everyone's help.
