Nearly Vintage MM700 track length question

[Frostbite]

I bought a 97 Mountain Max 700 for my 13 year old son. It still has the stock 136 x 1 1/2" track on it now. I bought a MPI 97-99 Mountain Max update kit that improves the approach angle considerably and moves the suspension back accomodating a longer track. The kit says the supsension accomodates a 141" track after the modification is done. I have a 141" track but it's full of cracks at the base of the paddles and I'm reluctant to use it.

I had a buddy with a 141" MM700 and another with a 700MM with a 151" and the difference between the way they worked in the powder was incredible. My son is a rookie rider for sure (coming off a Yamaha Bravo this year) and I don't want to overwhelm him but, I do want the sled to be semi capable.

I was wondering if I'll have enough adjustment to fit a 144" track as a compromise on the sled without adding another rail extension?

I guess I'll need some 8 tooth extroverts as well, right?

What about gearing for a 141" or 144" track?
What about clutching? Are the stock clutch weights and springs adequate? What about helix angle and secondary springs?

Any help you can provide would certainly be appreciated.

Thanks

Frosty

 

[M.M. 700]

With a few cheap/free mods you can put 16"wide under it.

I have a 151 on my MM, I do not think it will be to much for him, but I also did ok on the 141 for a few years.

As far as clutching, elevation would help to decide on weigths. Also you can go to www.totallyamaha.com and look threw the "Tech Section" and find stock set up. Pending of your elevations

I droped 1 tooth of off the top gear, worked great.

Is that sled stock 8 tooth, for some reason I thought the earlier MM's were 9 tooth?????

If you put 8 tooth extros on it. PM me I have a diagram with measurements on placement of Wahls drivers. Can be used for other drivers by measuring off the center of the extros.

 

[Trashy]

See if you can find a 144x16... they will fit but its a little close to the drop brackets... the length pretty much works out if you add the larger wheels from a newer 'Doo as well. As for gearing the triple seem to like lots of it; a 42x19 or 40x18 works well IMHO but the 18 is hard on chains. I don't know how much i will ride my MM this tear but I will never sell it; they are great sleds!!!

 

[snowdad4]

if you havent installed the relocate kit yet, just alter your templates back 1 1/2 " for the 144. i have 2 of those base cracked 141's with over 2000 miles on them. they look bad but are durable as hell. i got one free from the dealer and have been running it for six years and the cracks dont get any worse. as for clutching and gearing, if you have the 8t drivers, look at the setups for 00-03 model years. i have the info and probably the parts if you need it.

 

[Frostbite]

Thanks guys, yes if I remember right the 97 through 99 with the 136" x 1 1/2" tracks came with 9 tooth drivers and went like stink. I could leave the 9 tooth drivers on and go with my 141" and cut it down to 1 3/4" and probably make out ok but, to go to a 2" high track I'll need 8 tooth drivers.

I was also thinking about going to 3.0" pitch drivers and buying a 153" Maverick take off from a Nytro.

I put a 16" x 162" Camo extreme under my RX-1M and I really can't believe the difference from a 151" x 15" track. Maybe the 144" x 16" would be great too. Either choice would require new drivers.

Thanks for the tip on just setting the skid back another 1 1/2". If it's really that easy to get the additional length that's great. Heck it might improve the track approach angle too.

Thanks

Frosty

 

[Maxx99]

144x16 is a good mod-makes sled more forgiving- which means less pulling for you when he gets stuck. Gearing on mine is 20-40 with 60 tooth chain and a little rivet grinding and you are cookin with gas.

 

[KFD070]

May I make a suggestion not related to the track. If your son is a young Rookie rider, may I suggest that if the MM still has the stock skis on it, change them over to something ike a powder pro. I did this for the wife on her MM700 and the difference in the ease of handling was amazing. Just thought I'd throw that in there to possibly make his experience more enjoyable.

 

[M.M. 700]

May I make a suggestion not related to the track. If your son is a young Rookie rider, may I suggest that if the MM still has the stock skis on it, change them over to something ike a powder pro. I did this for the wife on her MM700 and the difference in the ease of handling was amazing. Just thought I'd throw that in there to possibly make his experience more enjoyable.

Good point. The stock skis suck. I just bought a set of Apex Mountain SKis. I had Simmons, but they cost me 3 trailing arms. Damn dual carbides cought every stump/rock, and bent the trailing arms.....I will Never have them again.

 

[Frostbite]

That's funny you brought up skis! Yes, the stock skis (metal with ski skins) suck. They need to go in a museum.

The Nytro Mountain skis (with red handles of course) showed up today. I think they will work great once I figure out how to get them mounted up.

Yes, I can make some drop down brackets like I did on my RX-1M if I go to a 16" wide track but, there's always the question "does a 16" wide track make it harder to lay the sled over in the powder"? With a kid, I want it to be as easy as possible for him.

I am leaning toward a 144" track too.

Thanks guys

Frosty

 

[Maxx99]

Good point on the ski's. I found a left handle throttle really helped out when you have to go slow on a slope and machine is acting like a piece of plywood.

Until you learn to hit the throttle the tree magnet is always on full power.

 

[Frostbite]

Oh yeah! I completely forgot about a left handed throttle. I'll have to get one I can put a pin in so he doesn't hit it by accident when it's not needed.

I could use a mountain bar too. I don't remember if the 97 MM had one?

Wasn't the steering column weak on the 97 Yamaha's too? I seem to remember pounding some bar stock into the steering column of my 98 MSRX.

Thanks again

Frosty

 

[Trashy]

Good point. The stock skis suck. I just bought a set of Apex Mountain SKis. I had Simmons, but they cost me 3 trailing arms. Damn dual carbides cought every stump/rock, and bent the trailing arms.....I will Never have them again.

Where and what time of year are you riding that you are finding all the sledmines? And what kind of trailing arms do you have; the stock ones are pretty near indestructable... I have and know a ton of sledders who own and love their Simmons skis.

 

[M.M. 700]

Where and what time of year are you riding that you are finding all the sledmines? And what kind of trailing arms do you have; the stock ones are pretty near indestructable... I have and know a ton of sledders who own and love their Simmons skis.

If it matters...........Snowies/Big Horns/Black Hills. I had the stock trailing arms, and now run light weigth t-arms.

The stockers are by far IMO NOT INDESTRUCTABLE....

Some love Simmons some don't.....I am one the doesn't

 

[Trashy]

The stockers are by far IMO NOT INDESTRUCTABLE....

I haven't wrecked one yet so they have to be pretty close! To be honest they would be one of the few things I haven't wrecked... and they most certainly are a lot more forgiving than the newer A-arms that are on all sleds now!

 

[Trashy]

Needless to say, this trailing arm bizz is sorta hijacking the thread.... Lets get back to the original post of track length!

 

[Trashy]

The whole trailing arm/ski preference thing made everyone overlook your question; YES the steering posts on the pre-2000 MM's were failure prone... MPI makes a fix for this, being an aluminum tube that you drive inside the existing post, or you can replace it with a longer one as well.

Oh yeah! I completely forgot about a left handed throttle. I'll have to get one I can put a pin in so he doesn't hit it by accident when it's not needed.

I could use a mountain bar too. I don't remember if the 97 MM had one?

Wasn't the steering column weak on the 97 Yamaha's too? I seem to remember pounding some bar stock into the steering column of my 98 MSRX.

Thanks again

Frosty

 

[Frostbite]

Thanks for the tip.

I'll see if MPI has any more steering stiffeners.

I know I'll have to raise the bars (I have the risers) but I'll need a longer throttle cable and a choke cable.

What I need more than anything is a decent primary for this sled. The sheaves on the stock one are grooved horribly.

Frosty

 

[rynokron]

Mtn. Viper cables are alot longer than the Mtn Max ones. They came stock with very tall bars. I vote for 151"x16". Get some 8 tooth drivers the lower gear ratio makes them worth the hassle. Might as well go with extroverts otherwise you will ratchet like crazy. 19/40 or 20/42 are good gear ratio's to run. For the primary i would try to find a Polaris p-85. They work good and don't crack like the Yammi one. Talk to Tom Hartman he has all the goods to sell and is very knowledgable as well.

 

[whatryan]

i got a steering post that was on a srx i machined peace for the post and weld it in and added support to the neck were they break if you need one pm me its my back up but i dont ride the srxm that much anymore got a different sled

 

[Trashy]

Mtn. Viper cables are alot longer than the Mtn Max ones. They came stock with very tall bars. I vote for 151"x16". Get some 8 tooth drivers the lower gear ratio makes them woth the hassle. Might as well go with extroverts otherwise you will ratchet like crazy. 19/40 or 20/42 are good gear ratio's to run. For the primary i would try to find a Polaris p-85. They work good and don't crack like the Yammi one. Talk to Tom Hartman he has all the goods to sell and is very knowledgable as well.

Listen to Ryan, he knows his stuff!
I have a throttle cable, new in the yammy packaging if you want it...