Ascender lift spindle options and opinions
- Thread starter MrIQR
- Start date
yes, to reduce ski pressure after raising the front sure. might not be necessary as you are reducing the lay over affect of the skis though. they are not flopping one side to the other like the stock castor does.
i dont mind stock castor after brief testing with one on each side. Im used to heavy steering i guess. I thought it tracked a little better on edge on the stock castor side, took a guess that it was more than just the ski angle in play there.
Compromise as you say, for sure.
Same here.
Resurrecting an old thread but still on topic...
I just finished a ride with my buddy who is on an Axis Polaris and we noted that in the wet and slightly deep snow we were riding in, my '17 Mountain Cat was a bit more difficult to get on edge, but the main issue was that it collected snow in front between the skis until I couldn't steer, whereas the Poos let the snow go under. The front of his sled is about 2" higher than my cat, and that seemed to make all the difference. It's also about the amount of "lift" from the Elevate kit or the riot spindles. Was just noticing that the Catalyst spindles are also around 2" taller looking. (Based on measuring and comparing parts diagrams...
The Catalyst spindles are ~$180 each... Riot spindles are a bit more I think, and the new spindles look WAY better...
Wondering about Catalyst spindles, drop the front skid to the undrilled lower hole, and possible TKI or perhaps Catalyst upper arms, as they appear to have reduced caster...
Anyone have Catalyst and an Ascender to compare?
I just finished a ride with my buddy who is on an Axis Polaris and we noted that in the wet and slightly deep snow we were riding in, my '17 Mountain Cat was a bit more difficult to get on edge, but the main issue was that it collected snow in front between the skis until I couldn't steer, whereas the Poos let the snow go under. The front of his sled is about 2" higher than my cat, and that seemed to make all the difference. It's also about the amount of "lift" from the Elevate kit or the riot spindles. Was just noticing that the Catalyst spindles are also around 2" taller looking. (Based on measuring and comparing parts diagrams...
The Catalyst spindles are ~$180 each... Riot spindles are a bit more I think, and the new spindles look WAY better...
Wondering about Catalyst spindles, drop the front skid to the undrilled lower hole, and possible TKI or perhaps Catalyst upper arms, as they appear to have reduced caster...
Anyone have Catalyst and an Ascender to compare?
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Catalyst spindles have a shorter distance ball joint to ball joint and will throw the geometry of the a-arms off if you try to run them on an Ascender/Proclimb.
Thanks Boondocker, I do see that now... Catalyst spindles perhaps an inch shorter between the balljoints... I would not be too worried using a 1/2" spacer to raise the upper ball joint. That would get it close but definitely still a little off. Probably close enough to work without serious bump steer. Pretty good chance Catalyst upper arms would not interchange with Ascender, but sure would be cool if they did and reduced caster. TKI upper arm likely the only good fit. Anyone parting a Catalyst? 
Part of what you’re describing is a characteristic of the stock skis that I don’t like. We run Mohawks cuz they float and flow a bit better when the snow is in a pushing mood.
I run riots and tki uppers on mine, have several with stock. I prefer the riots both in divey snow and steering on firmer is easier. Very noticeable to me as I have a fused neck.
I run riots and tki uppers on mine, have several with stock. I prefer the riots both in divey snow and steering on firmer is easier. Very noticeable to me as I have a fused neck.
Rode my buddies 19 Alpha for a bit last season, with the elevate spindles. It feels remarkably similar to my Axys, just with a noticeable heavier nose.
Riot spindles and tki uppers was my direction before seeing the Catalyst spindles, which look WAY Better than the Riot spindles. I'm looking for it to come up on edge and sidehill easier from the higher center of gravity. Also, I would appreciate a bit more clearance under the nose and drop chaincase, which I have whacked HARD on rocks a couple times. (w/o damage thanks to BDX guard...)
I think the Riot spindles were lengthened to add ski pressure for trail performance, but if I drop the front of the track, that should pick up the nose a bit. I just want it to come up on edge a little easier, which is I think the main selling point of the Ice Age Elevate kit.
Is any of that what you have seen with your Riot/TKI equipped sled?
Thanks!!
For future reference, the 2020+ ZR spindles are the same geometry as Riot spindles, at least based on common usage of the charcoal colored spindle between Riot and ZR models...
I'm going to pull the trigger on a set of spindles from fleabay. I may spring for some TKI upper arms too. Either drill out the lowest tunnel holes or re-drill the lower track shock mount about one hole forward to drop the front of the track. Possibly both if it's needed. The turn-up in the factory rails appears to be able to accomodate this, since the rails are the same as the pre-dropped chaincase rails.
As I said before, I am hoping to have handling similar to IceAge, without quite so much cost... I think at the very least I will appreciate the additional clearance under the drop chaincase, and if that's all I get, it's still a win.
I'm going to pull the trigger on a set of spindles from fleabay. I may spring for some TKI upper arms too. Either drill out the lowest tunnel holes or re-drill the lower track shock mount about one hole forward to drop the front of the track. Possibly both if it's needed. The turn-up in the factory rails appears to be able to accomodate this, since the rails are the same as the pre-dropped chaincase rails.
As I said before, I am hoping to have handling similar to IceAge, without quite so much cost... I think at the very least I will appreciate the additional clearance under the drop chaincase, and if that's all I get, it's still a win.
I bought a used 2014 BDX Pro-lite sled earlier this year that they added BDX Hy-Pro spindles to without making any changes to the skid or mounting locations. Those spindles are 1.25" taller than stock under the lower ball joint. The thing has so much ski pressure it's no wonder why they wanted to sell it! It might be worse since it has the pre-2016 rail profile, but definitely shows the need for skid modifications to accompany lifted spindles.
As in drill out the lower hole in the tunnel AND move the lower shock mount forward on the rail, correct? I was thinking one or the other but I would believe that it might take both to get the ski pressure back to what it is now...
Thanks to boondocker97 for that input too! I think the rail profile for the older sleds actually supports this mod better, as it would make sense the the tips were turned up more for the non-dropped chaincase...
