I think I finally found the answer

[cjgodden]

My riding partner has an 05 600 and I have an 04 600. Over the past three years I have been tring to figure out why his is easier to ride on the hard packed and seems to climb a little better ( does not trench as bad ). I have matched every thing on my hawk to his, ski, rear shock valving, ect. The only thing I have not changed is the rear springs. I was sure the springs were not the problem but the difference in handling is dramatic and it has been driving me nuts.

Well this summer I decided to go 151" and while doing the job I would lower the seat height so I can touch the ground with both feet. Thanks to Bud he provided me with a template of an 06 600 that has the holes for both set ups to make it easy to drill the holes for the lowering. While doing this I discovered somthing about the 04 that is different than the 05 and 06. The front shaft that the limiter straps attach to is in a different spot ( all most an inch lower ) on the 04 than the 05-06. causing more ski pressure and increasing the approach angle of the track.

I can't wait to get out on the mountain and let this baby rip. After moving the suspension my approach angle so so much better. The suspension geometry has changed so much I have at least 3 inches of sag when I sit on it with 0 preload on the 355 pound springs ( i think I may even turn up the preload) So now I'm gonna have to ride it and reevaluate the spring rate's for the progressive springs I will order to solve the bottoming out issue. And if all works out the way I think it will, the two ski's better look out cause THIS BABY IS GONNA CLIMB!!!!!!!!

 

[J&L Snowhawk]

151

Just wondering if anyone has run a 151 on their hawk and how it woked out. Does it hve enough power?

 

[snowhawk jockey]

... While doing this I discovered somthing about the 04 that is different than the 05 and 06. The front shaft that the limiter straps attach to is in a different spot ( all most an inch lower ) on the 04 than the 05-06. causing more ski pressure and increasing the approach angle of the track...

That is a huge find for setup and handling!! I bet the mounting location is leftover from the 503 prototype with the Exp-Extreme. It would make a dramatic difference in handling with the front of the skid elevated another inch. Cool discovery for the '04 600 gang to improve their powder handling. In addition to approach angle and ski pressure, it should have an affect on weight transfer. Especially when your chop the throttle in the deep stuff, maybe it wouldn't nose dive as hard...

 

[buffaloHAWK]

i think the nose diving is cause the fork springs are way to soft.... on the limiter straps. my 503 had them on the same shaft as the main pivot, and the 600 had them seperate. i put the 600 suspension on my 503 and attached the limiter straps to the same position as the 503,works fine so far....

 

[snow hawk gal]

Mountain Hawks.

Proven on two plankers could be worth the investment for some of you.

http://duluth.craigslist.org/rvs/942520974.html

 

[buffaloHAWK]

does that guy have dual rate springs on that expert? that might be a good set-up!!!!

 

[Nightrain]

not limited

just looked at my 2004, with track off the groung the straps still have quite a bit of play in them. Thats not really limiting anything.
How far up did you move the mounting holes, or did you shorten the straps?