Making a 174 feel like a much shorter sled.

[JungleJim]

https://www.snowandmud.com/image/jp...iIgCIiAIiIAiIgCIiAIiIAiIgCIiAIiIAiIgCIiA//9k=

Different kind of riding completely... so is the definition of "deep"! Ha ha!

 

[yamiklr]

Now that my fuel map and clutching is pretty much dialed in I am working on chassis improvements on my 2019 174 with the 850 Patriot.

The mods I am doing are unconventional but my goal is to make the sled feel like a 155 (or at least a 163) but have the traction of and flotation of the 174.

Things i am working on right now are steering effort, body roll and less track on the ground when in hardpack.

I am not ready to post my photos of the skid and steering modifications yet but I am wondering if there are others that are working on similar goals?

Maybe just buy a 154 for the 90% time it ain"t deep . they cheap now .

 

[Lund]

I actually had an aerocharger kit for it but didn't want the headache of an unreliable turbo setup. At this point it's easy to make power but not cheap and I'm not sure if I want to throw the cash at non-current chassis or just upgrade to a newer machine that will do what I want.

Your a great candidate for a Side Winder, your a big guy and you’ed be very surprise compared to a T3 how the Winder feels.

 

[Lund]

In the past i have put a slight curve (up tip) at the back of my rail, really makes a huge difference. But you can't doit to just any rails and i wouldn't advise it unless you've done it before.
Did it to my 05 RT back in the day, it was a 162 and made it feel more like a 151 of the time.
I also did it to my 2010 Nytro using Iceage rails when i converted to a 174.
But i can't doit to my Winders cause the rails i bought have too many cut outs but Bomber rails i could had done...too late now.

BTW, in reverse in the deep works way better too.
As for wheelies, it will wheelie a little more but nothing that a lock out would not take care of.

This is what i mean by the above post. The sled will react similar to a shorter track yet in the deep has the longer track advantage.

 

[SicLoco]

This is what i mean by the above post. The sled will react similar to a shorter track yet in the deep has the longer track advantage.
View attachment 216070

Bending your rails up will make your 162 feel like a 151! it will also make it climb like a 151 but some prefer that type of riding.We used to bend our rails flat back in the day. Iceage rails were meant to be flat and have an attack angle unlike curved stockers for traction purposes so other than them being a little stronger you're actually taking away from their design

 

[Bnorth]

Your a great candidate for a Side Winder, your a big guy and you’ed be very surprise compared to a T3 how the Winder feels.

I've tried them and like them and am getting more into big mountain riding but damn I sure still love being deep in the gnarly timber and don't feel confident on a winder in the really technical. I need 2 sleds lol.

 

[moyiesledhead]

I need 2 sleds lol.

Don't we all? I have 2 sleds, a snow bike, and tracks on my RZR. Don't ride any of them often enough.

 

[Lund]

I've tried them and like them and am getting more into big mountain riding but damn I sure still love being deep in the gnarly timber and don't feel confident on a winder in the really technical. I need 2 sleds lol.

Not to get to off track of Tethair thread.
I've been riding with a few guy's on T3's and one with a T3 turbo and they all feel like tractors compared to the Winder. The Winder is a lot more playful. That's been my experience. The T3 174 is not very agile IMO, kinda under powered and clumsy in some situations. JMO

 

[Teth-Air]

Okay, a little teaser, but this is just one of the mods. Will know the direction to take from here after this weekend. Facts about this set up:

2 extra wheels are running on either side of the center window, they lift the track about 3/4" off the rails. Think about this and how it will affect handling, pivot point when turning on hard pack and backing up. Yes I know what can go wrong but I also know what can go right about this setup.

So this setup did roll side to side easier but maybe not enough to justify the extra weight. I had no issues de-railing the track or anything and it rolled noticeably easier . The next thing I want to try is moving those center wheels forward more to increase their effect. The unexpected effect was that just 3/4" lift on the rear made the whole sled feel different that I spent most of the weekend re-adjusting the suspension to find the sweet spot again. I was surprised how much the wheels made the sled feel tipped forward. More work to be done and yes tipped up rails would be cool too but they are set and not able to be adjusted for testing.

 

[snopro]

So this setup did roll side to side easier but maybe not enough to justify the extra weight. I had no issues de-railing the track or anything and it rolled noticeably easier . The next thing I want to try is moving those center wheels forward more to increase their effect. The unexpected effect was that just 3/4" lift on the rear made the whole sled feel different that I spent most of the weekend re-adjusting the suspension to find the sweet spot again. I was surprised how much the wheels made the sled feel tipped forward. More work to be done and yes tipped up rails would be cool too but they are set and not able to be adjusted for testing.

The good news Chris is if you drill enough placement holes doing this testing the extra weight from the extra wheels will allow you to break even weight wise. Lol

 

[Teth-Air]

The good news Chris is if you drill enough placement holes doing this testing the extra weight from the extra wheels will allow you to break even weight wise. Lol

The good news is I haven't drilled any holes, the holes I used are the for the stock cross-shaft. But I have plenty of room, weight wise if I need to add 20 wheels and still be lighter than the Doo. Any word of Ski-Doo building a lightweight sled that i can get excited about?