M-series steering/darting issues?

[SnoPro753]

I rode my new to me 2005 M7 141 yesterday for about 20 miles down the trail and noticed the front end felt like there was play in it. The sled has stock skis and it darted pretty bad. It felt hard to control at speed. It also felt like more effort than should be needed to steer the sled from one direction to the other. Any ideas?

 

[clutch]

replace all the a-arm plastic bushings that are wore out, and align the skiis with 3/8 inch toe out. These sleds are very picky about toe out, and the plastic bushings wear out on a regular basis, and it makes it almost scary to drive.

 

[Blk88GT]

x2

Get a good set of bushings. User "bparks" here makes a Delrin setup that works great. My front end is like new after replacing them.

 

[winterman]

m series steering/darting issues

I doubt you will get rid of the darting issues unless you put on some dually wear bars like Woodies.

 

[speeddemon]

what the above people said and u can also let ur limiter strap out one hole to lighten the front end a lil ! skis will be ur best bet for not darting ! what type of riding do u do ?
mike

 

[Mjunkie]

Mine did that, but it doesn't sound like mine did it as bad as yours. Putting Simmons skis on solved the problem for me, and I like the skis better in the powder anyways.

 

[SnoPro753]

Bushings

Can you tell me more about this?

x2

Get a good set of bushings. User "bparks" here makes a Delrin setup that works great. My front end is like new after replacing them.

I am planning on a new set of skis. Probably SLP Powder Pros b/c I can get the best deal new on them.

I am still concerned about the play in my steering. Any ideas?

 

[RockyMtn.Kris]

The stock skiis suck for sure!

 

[wyoradcat]

i will buy your stock ones

 

[89sandman]

try a little more preload on your front skid shock, replace bushings...

 

[K.Materi]

just shoot bparks a pm and he will answer all you questions. straight up guy.

 

[snowmobiler]

"It felt hard to control at speed"
stock skis and att20 is a wild ride combo on the trail.simmons will fix the darting but then youll still have the squirrelly 20 rear end.

 

[tm8]

move your skis to the widest setting that will help a bunch

 

[fuzz]

What Snomobiler said. My first couple of rides on groomed trail on my new 05 M7 was like riding a squirrel. You never knew where it was going. First I dumped the stock skis for Simmons. No darting but the assend was still squirrelly so dumped the A-20 for a Challenger track. Then had full control. 4500 miles now and still rides good. The A-20 is a POS on hardpack.

Check your front A-arm bushings. If the sled has a lot of miles they are probably shot. Jack up the front of sled and see if you get play in the arms. Cat has parts as well as other aftermarket (that may be better). I have replaced mine once. As for darting, get a set of Crossfire (I think) wearbars that have a double bar (cheap fix) or Simmons skis.
Good luck, you'll like the M7.
Fuzz

 

[snakedoctor]

MY wife hated her m-7, because it darted all over the place I bought her simmons skis and now she loves it. It's the way to go. Problem solved

 

[AZ800]

If the A arm bushings are wore out, that will make the front end sloppier, but they still dart alot anyway with stock skis.
This summer I put Sno Pro ski springs on both M sleds. They go in place of the bushings for changing ski stance.
Those things work great. No darting at all with either M on the first ride this yr, and it was quite a bit of packed road riding. Well worth the $4/ea.

 

[Killerk]

1/4inch or more of toe out and it will be pretty stable, even with the stock skis.
My m1000 was horrible the first 2 rides... I checked the alignment and it was way off (toed in)... Fixed that and it was great.
Added simons skis later and did not notice much difference on the trail other than heavier steering.
Shorter tracks the darting is much more noticeable.

 

[u2celk]

A little trick a friend told me to do was take the bushings off of the spindle axle and put in the spring the 600 SP's had. It lets the ski dart on the axle and takes a huge amount of darting out. Works great and is cheap.

 

[dp2826]

If the A arm bushings are wore out, that will make the front end sloppier, but they still dart alot anyway with stock skis.
This summer I put Sno Pro ski springs on both M sleds. They go in place of the bushings for changing ski stance.
Those things work great. No darting at all with either M on the first ride this yr, and it was quite a bit of packed road riding. Well worth the $4/ea.

where do you get these? do you have a part number?

 

[u2celk]

Try this Arctic cat# SPRING,RETURN-PTD BLK
0702-747 $4.49