Finally got the first ride, my thoughts.

[theletup]

Alright so I got to ride my new 2011 Standard RMK yesterday for the first time in Saltese, MT. There was about 3-4 feet of fresh pow everywhere I went. No one had even touched it yet! My thoughts on the sled:

1. Most rediculous handling sled I've gotten to ride (came off an 08 Dragon 700). Feels like you can sidehill for days and lay it flat on it's side without even trying. Love it.

2. A little concerned about a harsh vibration that started happening about mid day. It only happens when the RPMs are dropping back down to idle. Right before it hits idle it shakes hard and almost feels like the sled is falling apart and then idles down and smooths back out. Does anyone else's do this? I almost though the primary was coming loose but I visually inspected and everything looked fine. I noticed the clutches felt really hot for my liking. Burned my hand touching the primary. Normal?

3. I was powder all day and I kept getting snow into the side panel on the clutch side. Got my belt a tiny bit wet a couple times. I think it was coming in through the footwell vents. Not positive about that though. I noticed snow was building up on my boards and I think I may have been kicking it forward and I moved my feet around.

I cannot wait to ride this thing again! I think I should probably call the dealer about the harsh vibration coming down to idle. It almost sounded like the sled was rattling it's teeth out for just a second right at 3000 rpm.

Well here's a couple pics.

 

[Jonce]

Is it possible that the snow was coming in from the upper side panel vent (2"x8")? I've heard that snow comes in from that vent as well as the foot well vent. Check out Mike Taylors foot well vents, looks like good quality and unlimited options for hydro-dipping.

 

[mike taylor]

WE found this to be a major Concern in fresh and deep powder!
the footwell is where your pushing snow in,Everytime you put your feet up in there.
here is how to handle that issue.
Left side

RIGHT SIDE

PM Me For INFO

 

[Polaris04rmk]

I still have not had any issues with snow getting into the clutches. The first few rides last year i was looking for it and after that i just rode it. The vibration is wired, mine hasnt done that yet but i will watch for it. I went from a 2004 800 144 rmk vertical escape and man what a difference, i went to the 163 pro snow check. I love this sled.

 

[Robbie]

Finally got the first ride.

As far as the vibration you described. Check you motor mount bolts. My engine was doing that and I found the rear chaincase side bolt broken. Fixed it and no more shaking.

 

[theletup]

Thanks for the replies. I'm pretty sure the snow was coming in from the footwell. I caught myself kicking my feet forward with a bunch of snow built up right in front of it a couple times. Then when I stopped to check my clutches there was a pretty good size pile of snow under them. I like the idea of Mike Taylor's design. I'll probably pick up a set.

I'll check all the motor mounts when I get home tonight. Hopefully nothing got broken while I was out. Seems like the clutches would have to be re-aligned if the mount bolts came loose right? I should probably just bring it into my dealer and ask that they fix it. I shouldn't have to fix my own sled after only putting 27 miles on it.

 

[cascadesnowjunky]

The vibration is normal, it will seem like alot to you because you came off a 700 in an IQ chassis. I came off an 09 dragon 800 and this pro vibrates alot worse. The biggest reason is the stiffer chassis of the pro it allows you to feel it as where the IQ you did not feel it as much. Lots of other info on here to steer you in the right direction, enjoy your sled and have a safe season.

 

[Old Scud-doo]

Definitely get something or build something to keep the snow from entering the foot well. I was one of the first to complain about water/snow on the belts.

Also, remove the upper vent and cover it with SLP type fabric to keep snow from "Falling" on the clutches. Doesn't happen much but it does happen. There are some companies making some other types of covers for there too.

I have no vibration other than at idle so I can't help you there. Hope you get it figured out though. Let us know if it's a mount.

 

[F-Bomb]

Didn't you buy some Better Boards?...no issues on clutch snow buildup nor slipping and falling off from the ice glob. Big front opening evacuates the snow so it doesn't build up and get kicked into the clutch compartment. I have Mike's vents to try but frankly all last year I never had an issue. They flat out work on the PRO and it's a super positive mod to do. ( I have nothing to do with Better Boards any more but the product works and is the best thing for that sled)

Call Carl's and get their clutch kit. Better performance and no hot clutches that result in prematurely warn belts. Pays for itself in a season even if you didn't have a much better performing sled. 208-853-5550

Check your motor mounts...mine does the same thing..I did lose a mount on the clutch side last season and it was a mess

 

[Oregonsledder]

Didn't you buy some Better Boards?...no issues on clutch snow buildup nor slipping and falling off from the ice glob. Big front opening evacuates the snow so it doesn't build up and get kicked into the clutch compartment. I have Mike's vents to try but frankly all last year I never had an issue. They flat out work on the PRO and it's a super positive mod to do. ( I have nothing to do with Better Boards any more but the product works and is the best thing for that sled)

Call Carl's and get their clutch kit. Better performance and no hot clutches that result in prematurely warn belts. Pays for itself in a season even if you didn't have a much better performing sled. 208-853-5550

Check your motor mounts...mine does the same thing..I did lose a mount on the clutch side last season and it was a mess

What?? I thought you were Mr. Better Boards??

 

[theletup]

Didn't you buy some Better Boards?...no issues on clutch snow buildup nor slipping and falling off from the ice glob. Big front opening evacuates the snow so it doesn't build up and get kicked into the clutch compartment. I have Mike's vents to try but frankly all last year I never had an issue. They flat out work on the PRO and it's a super positive mod to do. ( I have nothing to do with Better Boards any more but the product works and is the best thing for that sled)

Call Carl's and get their clutch kit. Better performance and no hot clutches that result in prematurely warn belts. Pays for itself in a season even if you didn't have a much better performing sled. 208-853-5550

Check your motor mounts...mine does the same thing..I did lose a mount on the clutch side last season and it was a mess

Hey Rob, I'm hoping to make it down to McCall atleast once this year for a ride. Hopefully we'll be able to go out together. I've never ridden down there before.

I did buy some better boards from you but I put them on my 08 Dragon and sold it a couple weeks later to buy the new pro... (damn) so yes I'm going to get another set. I planned on running the stock clutch set up this season but we'll see if they get too hot. Seems like on my Dragon I was able to touch them without burning my hand.

As far as the engine vibration goes I don't think it's normal. It idles smooth... it's just when I'm feathering the throttle and let drop back down to idle it has a harsh vibration at 3000-4000 rpm for just a second and once it idles down it's smooth again. I'm thinking it's got to be a motor mount issue from what I've read from others.

 

[PalousePoo]

X2 on the better boards. Put my set on the beginning of last season and have never had wet clutches on my pro. I don't have to kick what little snow is in the footwell, I push it down through the openings. Clutches should not be that hot. Just had my primary balance by a guy close to you, near bayview idaho. He found it out quit a bit and on my last ride I didn't notice the vib anymore. PM me and I'll give u his #.

 

[RockinMntKing]

Rode my 800 163 pro for the first time sunday at Reecer Creek north of Ellensburg and basically had the same results as you did the sled was unbelievable coming off a 08 dragon, and also noticed that at 3-4k rpms it had a vibration a bit rougher then at idle i wouldn't have said it was a severe one though and there were two other assults on their maiden ride with me doing the same so would tend to agree with the above comment that its probably due to the stiffer chassis. But will still be giving my motor mounts a good lookin before this weekend think were headed to Lookout Pass 116 at the top of the ski resort and STILL SNOWING!

 

[theletup]

Rode my 800 163 pro for the first time sunday at Reecer Creek north of Ellensburg and basically had the same results as you did the sled was unbelievable coming off a 08 dragon, and also noticed that at 3-4k rpms it had a vibration a bit rougher then at idle i wouldn't have said it was a severe one though and there were two other assults on their maiden ride with me doing the same so would tend to agree with the above comment that its probably due to the stiffer chassis. But will still be giving my motor mounts a good lookin before this weekend think were headed to Lookout Pass 116 at the top of the ski resort and STILL SNOWING!

Did you seem to notice it more while the sled was idling down? I didn't notice while I was accelerating.

Yep STILL SNOWING! It snowed all day while we were riding yesterday. We ended up riding on the complete opposite side of the freeway from where everyone else had ridden so it was all untouched! I'm going back up to Lookout this weekend for my annual Thanksgiving camping trip. We'll be riding Friday, Sat, Sun. We should try to get a ride in together

 

[RockinMntKing]

Ya, DEF noticed it on idle down, the whole sled sorta shakes but it feels the worst in the handlebars, and alsot if you held the throttle at about 3600-3700 right before clutch grabbed it would do the same thing. And the two assults were set up from two seperate dealers and my pro set up from a third so i would find it hard to believe they all had something wrong or clutch issues. so im checking it off as normal. And ya we are hoping to go on saturday and sunday. Are you riding out of the montanna side by right of the freeway or idaho there just before the ski resort, sorry only rode there twice unsure of the names of the parking lots. But trying to get rid of some bad juju last year my two rides there one ended with a riped track and broken rails and the next a month later the throttle froze on the 08 d7 and it took off over the trail about 100 yards and smacked a tree at 60+ and ended my riding season and the sled. So heres to the new pro and a new season!

 

[theletup]

I almost always ride from the Montana side. I usually park at the Taft exit (first exit over the other side of the pass. There's some pretty fun riding back there. I'd like to try riding from the Idaho side too. Maybe head that way one day and the other side the next. Down low there always seems to be more snow on the Montana side for some reason. There was plenty when I rode on Sunday every where though and it's been steady snow there ever since. When I rode on Sunday Lookout's ski report was saying 38" and now it's saying they've gotten 14" of new snow since then. It should be a GREAT weekend!