I have a 07 Dragon. I have been thinking about the Holz Spindles. The sled is really darty on the trail. Will these fix that problem. I have heard better steering but does it improve trail performance.
Stock Spindles VS Holz 2007 Dragon
- Thread starter beeler
- Start date
5
550iq
Well-known member
What the Holz spindle does is decrease the "trail" between the centerline of the spindle and the ski attachment point. Take a look at your spindles and note the A-arm to spindle attachment points, line them up, and project a straight line down to the ski. I know in 06, the ski mount was about 1" back from this line, with the Holz spindle, the ski mount is in-line with the A-arm attachment points. This results in an easier turning effort. By 08 or so, Polaris changed their spindles accordingly and the need for the Holz spindle diminished.
But as noted previously, the Holz, nor any body elses, spindle cannot correct for out of alignment skis (or bent skags).
But as noted previously, the Holz, nor any body elses, spindle cannot correct for out of alignment skis (or bent skags).
To me, they are worth their weight in gold with regards to how much they helped with the steering effort.
I wish i bought them sooner.
I wish i bought them sooner.
I had an 07 D7 and bought the Holz spindles. I think they helped and they look really cool. I don't think they were a HUGE improvement, but it did help. Especially when you are not moving. It is harder to turn the bars at that point and it puts more stress on an already weak steering post (I went through two of them). I weighed the stock and Holz spindles and there isn't much difference. It won't do much for your darting problem. Make sure your carbides are straight and your toe in is around 1/4" - 1/2".
wow i think this is the first post on here that i have read that so far hast pushed the gripper skis. when i asked what aftermaked skie to use on my 06 most of the post told me to buy the gripper and i have friends that have them and they dont like them so i went with the sly dog powder pro's but i havent go to try them out yet hope to have them and my better boards on this weekend.
As others have said check alignment first.Then try a 6" carbide instead of the factory 4" and see if that helps.More grip from the additional 2".A lot cheaper than new spindles.
Rmk
I already set the toe out. I had the Simmons Gen 2 fat boy's on it and hated them. Way to hard to steer. Like kill you tired hard. I put on the grippers but have not tried them. I came off an edge I am getting the feeling this chassis is not a good trail sled like the edge its great off trail but sucks on the trail.
I already set the toe out. I had the Simmons Gen 2 fat boy's on it and hated them. Way to hard to steer. Like kill you tired hard. I put on the grippers but have not tried them. I came off an edge I am getting the feeling this chassis is not a good trail sled like the edge its great off trail but sucks on the trail.
Upgrade spindles. Either to the 08+ factory spindles, or the Holz Spindles. If you are buying new the Holz spindles are cheaper and look cooler. 08 the factory changed spindle designs. My 08 Shift is a great trail sled. It turns like a dream and handles well. Darting was the only issue I had, so I got SlyDog skis that I haven't tried yet. When I heard people complaining about heavy steering I had no idea what they were talking about since I have an 08.
There is a noticeable difference in steering between '07 and '08 as I have both. Upgrading to the '09 liteweight spindles soon on one of them. Setup is they key to a great ride on the trail and in the powder. The '07 likes to go straight and doesn't turn as sharp as the '08, but both ride great in all conditions. I also have a set of Slydogs coming in the mail, take off Grippers are going on my son's '06 600RMK to replace the SH II's.
I love the Holz on my 08 and the Grippers are the best I've used so far. I have compared my 08 with Holz to a stock 08 and it seems VERY noticeable to me regarding steering effort. I could care less how it handles on the trail though since that's only the means.
I run grippers on one IQ and Powder Pros on another and it is hard to tell the difference between the two. But the PP do look cooler.
The grippers work great. I see no reason to spend $380 on any other ski. "Darting" is not a big deal to me because I don't ride the trail much. I don't see the spindles fixing any darting issues.
I don't claim to know the theories of snowmobile suspensions very well, but IFS works in pretty similar ways and the same simple characteristics from a Ferarri to a Sled to a Fourwheeler. The Spindle COULD change the caster angle. Caster angle effects multiple things. Chiefest being, steering effort and following. The higher the Caster angle, the less likely a suspension is to follow the surface it is riding over. Namely, the less likely to dart, the more likely it is to go with your command. But steering effort is increased.
I believe the newer spindle designs just use a longer "steering arm" to provide more leverage at the spindle and reduce effort. If that is the case, no it will not charge the darting factor. Also toe will heavily affect darting. If you are toed out or in too much the vehicle will have a tendency to favor one guide line or another. So depending on which ski has more pressure that will be the dominant one to direct the sled. I had an 85 K5 Blazer that was in a minor accident, it toed way out as a result. So driving down the road you could feel when one tire started to take over vs the other as the truck went side to side down the road.
Of course this is me applying my automotive knowledge to a sled. With mushy snow tht gives and skis instead of tires, things could be different. But I honestly doubt it is a lot different.
I believe the newer spindle designs just use a longer "steering arm" to provide more leverage at the spindle and reduce effort. If that is the case, no it will not charge the darting factor. Also toe will heavily affect darting. If you are toed out or in too much the vehicle will have a tendency to favor one guide line or another. So depending on which ski has more pressure that will be the dominant one to direct the sled. I had an 85 K5 Blazer that was in a minor accident, it toed way out as a result. So driving down the road you could feel when one tire started to take over vs the other as the truck went side to side down the road.
Of course this is me applying my automotive knowledge to a sled. With mushy snow tht gives and skis instead of tires, things could be different. But I honestly doubt it is a lot different.
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Beeler,
I had the same darting on the hard pack with my 06 Switchback stock skiis. I installed the SLP Powder Pro II's. with 6" 60 degree carbides. I put them on in 2007 and that took care of the darting.
Thanks for the info on the Simmons Gen II skiis. I was considering theim for my next sled. But now who knows.
Anyone else have an opinion on Simmons skiis. I'd like to hear what people have to say about their experiences with the flexi ski and the gen II's.
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