Things ive learned through my first 4 rides...

[Pinchecharlie]

snowmobiles are heavy and fast.
They will charge hard and if you got it wrong you will fling right the f!@# off. Then they are heavy again but won't move at all.

You can not use all your weight and strength to get on edge when it's too late.
Especially if you weigh 145lbs.

They will not just go where you are looking.
You have to do a bunch of things in unison and on time and it happens super fast and you fling right the f@#$ off and now it's super heavy again but not moving at all.

I think you tube is full of shi@ and those videos are C.G. or something!

My newest book title " when a fall line is not your friend" getting flinged off a snowmobile over and over again by charie the shi@ snowmobiler

 

[christopher]

Yup
Its pretty clear
You are LEARNING...

Keep at it.
It really does get better!!

If you want to reduce the learning curve, consider spending a couple days at a Riding Clinic.

Home Page

Snowmobiling Clinics, Next Level Riding Clinics

www.nextlevelclinics.com

Ride Rasmussen Style / Backcountry Snowmobile Rides

 

[selenagoins00]

Bump


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[Pinchecharlie]

Now since I have ZERO EXPERIENCE with snowmobiles....my 2916 m6000 141x2.6 is so "jumpy" and "twitchy " is there a way to tame the beast with clutching or is it just that I never rode dirt bikes or snowmobiles and I gotta get used to that sensation? I cam not go very gently into a edge or anywhere for that matter. To ME it feels like it "leaps" into action . Like a launch at the drag strip lol! I really am struggling and can hardly walk this morning and my elbows won't bend!!! I know it's gonna be awesome but iam a bit worried it's the machine being g the wring fit but HAVE NO IDEA IF THIS WOULD BE TRUE? yahaha

 

[volcano buster]

Yeah, those Arctic Cats made after the year 2900 are extremely twitchy...

Do you have the capability of raising the rear of the sled to run the track free? Curious if your clutching is engaging the motor on the high side or you have excess play in the belt so you are losing the "1st gear" of a good clutching. If you can jack the rear of the sled up just to the point of the rear suspension coming off the floor, I'd be curious to know if the rails come up evenly or if one end comes off the floor first.

 

[Cat-man-Doo]

I started riding in 1993 but took 10 years off from 2006 to 2016. Had to learn all over again as the sleds changed a LOT and, of course I am older. even still I would LOVE to be able to go to a clinic but have yet to find one in Canada. I WAS booked for the Burandt clinic @ Grizzly lodge but it was cancelled. For me, having just turned 60, I don't want to spend time trying to learn the finer points of riding without expending excess energy. If you are young you can learn over time but you run the risk of developing bad habits AND, when you are "self taught" the just. mean that you learned from someone that didn't know what they were doing. My point is, if at all possible, go to a riding clinic. It will, be the best money you ever spend on this sport. Use the $2-3000 that you would spend on a trade a few years down the road and put that to a clinic and ride your current sled twice as long. BTW, I have always said that if you are not falling off you are not trying hard enough. The only way to get better is to push beyond your capability but knowing the proper technique is key IMO.

 

[Pinchecharlie]

Hmmm...I can put a hoist back there easy enough and loft her up but I'll have to re read your post and research that to understand exactly what iam looking for. If iam understanding right it's to see if the rails "tilt: front to back or raise evenly? Man I have alot to learn.

 

[farmboy84]

I think he's talking about checking 2 separate things. First spin your track to see what rpm it engages at. Low 3000s is more forgiving than close to 4000 or above. I'm not savvy on cat clutching but I'm sure others could help you out if it needs to be lowered.
I'm not sure about the even rails.

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[volcano buster]

I think he's talking about checking 2 separate things. First spin your track to see what rpm it engages at. Low 3000s is more forgiving than close to 4000 or above. I'm not savvy on cat clutching but I'm sure others could help you out if it needs to be lowered.
I'm not sure about the even rails.

Sent from my SM-A526U using Tapatalk

Yes, engaging the clutch at higher rpm's creates a jerky start and makes it difficult.

I used to ride with some AC guys and the dealer had the limiter strap out too far to make the front ends feel lighter. It made the sleds almost impossible to ride up steep hills since the front end was out of control. By lifting the back of the sled just to the point of the rails coming off the floor, this may help you determine if the limiter strap is controlling the front end under acceleration and hill climbing. This will also affect your side-hilling as the front will be less controlled.

 

[goridedoo]

Yes, engaging the clutch at higher rpm's creates a jerky start and makes it difficult.

I used to ride with some AC guys and the dealer had the limiter strap out too far to make the front ends feel lighter. It made the sleds almost impossible to ride up steep hills since the front end was out of control. By lifting the back of the sled just to the point of the rails coming off the floor, this may help you determine if the limiter strap is controlling the front end under acceleration and hill climbing. This will also affect your side-hilling as the front will be less controlled.

I get where you’re going with this, nothing incorrect about it BUT if the limiter strap is out it should also help him learn getting on edge- it will be easier to do so with less ski pressure. And I’m guessing beings the sled is 600 its probably not got unmanageable ski lift when climbing in presumably mild terrain. Reading about the limiter strap in the manual and then examining the limiter strap with the sled on the ground or tipped on its side would be another way to check it out.

 

[goridedoo]

I THINK those ctecs engage super low, like 2900. But even most 800/850s engaging from 3800-4000 are very manageable. I wonder if you just arent used to sleds yet, they do have a surprising amount of pep if you haven’t been around them alot, especially if you are in harder packed snow.

Charlie I know you mentioned in another thread you’d like a bigger sled. If you are near somewhere that you could rent one for a day? I know it not cheap, but it may be worth renting a 163/165 for a day to see how you like. I think you would maybe like a Ski doo Gen 4 850 165”- just my opinion but I think if I were learning to ride in the mountains thats the sled I would want to do it on.

 

[Pinchecharlie]

Ok I kinda see what you guys are talking about. I see dudes on you tube talking about limiter straps and wheelies with khaos sleds lol. Ok ill check that. I think it's just the combo of thumb throttle being weird and hard and it lurching so hard that's just adding a bit of fear to the mix. So I wanna do a u turn and I'll just jump across the space never fall onto the edge and be stuck lol! I'll mess with it or maybe try and find a hot rod snowmobile shop where they wanna help. The dealer doesn't really care about me lol. Good news is it's dumping snow and forecast till Friday so this weekend ill be out there getting flinged around!

 

[volcano buster]

True, but the sled we had the most problem with was a 600 Cat.

 

[Pinchecharlie]

Yeah I think your right. My only experience with motorcycles was Harleys and I never rode two strokes or snowmobiles so maybe it's just faster than I have the nerve for? We where at this cool little rally gully kinda small ridge and my buddy was snowboarding off it and I'd drive around the back and down and get him. I'd be all frickn over the place and gunning it and stuck lol. We got are asss kicked doubling but we kept at it and dud 4 runs and by the end we could nake it. A year asking came this guy on a big mountain sled and just went , blip on edge and literally just crawled up and across that face we had been bombing. He wet to the top and rode up the ridge a but and crawled off the back side and was gone. We where slack jawed and felt really dumb lol.

 

[CISC0]

Welcome to the club . If you haven’t yet find and experienced group to tag along with. We are all still learning every ride , even the “pros”

 

[J270wsm]

I started riding in 1993 but took 10 years off from 2006 to 2016. Had to learn all over again as the sleds changed a LOT and, of course I am older. even still I would LOVE to be able to go to a clinic but have yet to find one in Canada. I WAS booked for the Burandt clinic @ Grizzly lodge but it was cancelled. For me, having just turned 60, I don't want to spend time trying to learn the finer points of riding without expending excess energy. If you are young you can learn over time but you run the risk of developing bad habits AND, when you are "self taught" the just. mean that you learned from someone that didn't know what they were doing. My point is, if at all possible, go to a riding clinic. It will, be the best money you ever spend on this sport. Use the $2-3000 that you would spend on a trade a few years down the road and put that to a clinic and ride your current sled twice as long. BTW, I have always said that if you are not falling off you are not trying hard enough. The only way to get better is to push beyond your capability but knowing the proper technique is key IMO.

Where in Canada are you located?
Riding clinics have their place but they aren’t the only way to learn.

 

[J270wsm]

Yeah I think your right. My only experience with motorcycles was Harleys and I never rode two strokes or snowmobiles so maybe it's just faster than I have the nerve for? We where at this cool little rally gully kinda small ridge and my buddy was snowboarding off it and I'd drive around the back and down and get him. I'd be all frickn over the place and gunning it and stuck lol. We got are asss kicked doubling but we kept at it and dud 4 runs and by the end we could nake it. A year asking came this guy on a big mountain sled and just went , blip on edge and literally just crawled up and across that face we had been bombing. He wet to the top and rode up the ridge a but and crawled off the back side and was gone. We where slack jawed and felt really dumb lol.

Speed isn’t always the answer. Learning to control the throttle and going slow will make you a better rider.

 

[turboless terry]

snowmobiles are heavy and fast.
They will charge hard and if you got it wrong you will fling right the f!@# off. Then they are heavy again but won't move at all.

You can not use all your weight and strength to get on edge when it's too late.
Especially if you weigh 145lbs.

They will not just go where you are looking.
You have to do a bunch of things in unison and on time and it happens super fast and you fling right the f@#$ off and now it's super heavy again but not moving at all.

I think you tube is full of shi@ and those videos are C.G. or something!

My newest book title " when a fall line is not your friend" getting flinged off a snowmobile over and over again by charie the shi@ snowmobiler

My guess is you are holding it to the wood to keep it on edge and when it is falling you are already full throttle so you are screwed. Out of control. Sometimes slower is faster. There is a fine line there because you are on a more unforgiving sled for deep snow.
Snowmobiles are really dumb. They don't go where you are looking without imput. After you have done it for a while it becomes more natural like driving a car. If you are running an excavator and have to think about what joystick to move, your not handy. When you do it enough you almost don't realize your doing it. Your just doing what needs done. Keep trying and go with better riders if you want to get better.

 

[Pinchecharlie]

Haha what's funny (but sad) is iam TRYING TO GO SLOW LoL! Iam only having fun iam ok and I'll keep trying till I get it. That's another problem, I like being good. Being good makes things more fun!!! That why I wonder about clutching cause the damn thing jumps up and is ready before iam lol. I'll book a clinic or two and try and find a patient group too. It's allways hard to self learn! I will keep on it lol! Funny is I fling off going fast and roll off going slow lol.

 

[Cat-man-Doo]

Where in Canada are you located?
Riding clinics have their place but they aren’t the only way to learn.

Peace River country, Northern Alberta.