Question on riding techniques.....

[J-Roc]

We were arguing about this so bad on our last ride that it almost came down to a fist fight...

When i'm stuck, or when just starting out, I tend to feather the throttle, and get the sled up on the snow a bit, then, hammer down, and ride. The guy who we were riding with (first time in the mountains) knows everything about everything, and of course, he was right. He was getting a buddy unstuck, and told him to just "hammer on it" right off the get go to get out. Seems kinda counter productive to me... I also realize that, depending on snow conditions (Ie. spring snow) his way MAY work.

NOW, as we all hate being stuck, what's all of your tips/ tricks for getting people un stuck?

 

[76FOMOCO]

1 guy on each side giving a ski pull and the guy on the sled to hammer it. no diggin just pull and go, get unstuck, breath hard, have beer, (taken from the guy who was stuck) first stick free all others cost u a beer.

 

[alrevedup]

The shorter the track the more finesse. If the sled is pointed up hill at all, I agree, get the machine on top before hamming the throttle. When you pack out a pack in front of the stuck sled then just pound it out.

 

[verticalman]

If I'm stuck facing up hill I will roll it over. The longer tracked sleds we just pack down the snow in front and hammer on it. The shorter tracked sleds try to get them on top then hammer on it (seems to work better).

 

[LRD]

I have ridden with somebody that believed in hammering it and can still clearly remember one time in Cooke he used that technique going uphill in the trees in deep powder, he dug a 5 to 6 ft deep trench that he walked out of. Worst stuck I've ever seen in 20 years and I started on short track (real short) Phazers.

On the feathering the throttle, I stumbled onto this a couple years ago when complaining about having trouble adjusting to my new rev chassis as far as sidehilling. A friend said to try a high rate spring with lower engagement works wonders, it did but the great side effect was it turned the sled into a regular little snow tractor, it'll just crawl along up to 5 to 10 mph with no trenching depending on how low of lbs on the primary engagement and anytime you blip the throttle instant full shift rpm. My buddy even used it on the 07 800R's with the track everybody complained about and had no trenching issues. A high rate spring will have thicker wire and be short as compared to a low rate spring with skinny wire will have to be a bunch longer to get the lbs. Example my rev summits had stock 160/230 springs 6.2 " long and I switched mine 130/290 at 4.1 " long and my wifes to 100/290 at 3.8" long. The wife has a couple hundred lower engagement and has never been stuck, it will tractor along almost up to 15 mph if you want. Saves a lot of work when she's along and still pulls like crazy when she uses full throttle.

The high rate with low lbs on the bottom gives a bunch more belt clamp in the primary at the bottom of the sheeves because the weights can exert more force, less spring lbs holding them back, no more black marks at the bottom of the primary sheeves. In the low ratio the sec has the max belt to sheeve contact so the primary is the problem area for slipping the belt.

Good Luck

 

[sldgy]

The guy who we were riding with (first time in the mountains) knows everything about everything, and of course, he was right.

Life is too short to have to deal with asswipes on your day off.

Oh, to get unstuck, what 76FOMOCO said.

 

[IceCap]

In general to get unstuck.......... 1/2 throttle right away as soon as the sled starts to move full throttle.

 

[powder Head]

What is this getting stuck you talk about??????????????????????

 

[eyeles rmk]

What is this getting stuck you talk about??????????????????????

I also have never heard of this STUCK thing!!! If I did manage to do the unthinkable then I would probably go with what 76FOMOCO said. I will remember the beer part Shane! Hope to go next weekend.

 

[02prox440]

I also agree with what 76FOMOCO said........seems to work well every time

 

[FurryCURT]

I grew up on short tracks and we used the hammer it technique. When I started riding longer tracks with bigger lugs, I had to change tactics. I usually give it a little blip to let the sled climb back onto the snow. Spinning the track just digs it in more.

 

[colorado_matt]

Most of the people I ride with all carry a Harmon High Lift Jack. When someone gets stuck, jack it up, throw some snow under it and go. I know, I know, who needs a jack? I laughed about it too, until I started having to borrow one. Definitly one of those 'don't diss it till you try it' items. Your argument, my vote is for feathering, ease it out.

 

[Bigrock33]

counter steer

 

[Summit8]

counter steer

LOL, what he said!!

 

[PowderSnowSeeker]

Get a snobunjie, they work great!!

 

[Idcatman3]

If we're with someone, and they just hammer on it while we're pulling and they dig it deeper....they usually only get help once.

Couple guys pulling, nice and easy on the throttle till it climbs out, then do whatever you want.

We set our sleds up like LRD said, nice low engagement for crawling along through the trees and not trenching, seems to work great for us.

 

[whitefish]

It really depends on the condition of the snow. Light and fluffy, hammer it. More set up and sticky, feather it. It's mostly second nature now days and don't think too much about it.

 

[tbuk2]

Two guys pulling and hammer it. Works for our group.

 

[GODEEP]

counter steer

LMFAO!!! yeah.. do that. works like a charm!

Smoooooth low throttle at the pace of your pushin, pullin or gettin pulled until up on top of snow works best for me.

I ride a 144 FYI..

 

[trailtoy1993]

I favor the "just get the sled moving a little bit and use a fast but smooth acceleration on up and out". This is evolution tactic from my former style of "just hammer it".