January 18, 2006
A number of you requested more information on the o-rings used to quiet down the clutch rattle on various 2005 Yamaha RS (three-cylinder) 4-strokes. The noise will not cause any mechanical problems, and is said to be a result of the power stroke interval characteristics of the three-cylinder engine design. The noise comes from the clearance between the primary clutch sliders and the moveable sheave, with the fix being installation of a new style slider button with an o-ring on the driver side of the spider.
Not all 2005 RS models experienced this. To install the o-ring and new slider, the primary clutch must be removed and disassembled to allow access to the sliders. This requires special tools, so if your sled exhibits this condition consult with your Yamaha dealer for the appropriate repair to be performed.
January 18, 2006
A number of readers expressed concern about the “Diamond Drive Service†in the December issue. The concern was that they’ve been previously warned to not tip a Firecat up on its right side for an extended period as this can cause air to enter the oil lines and possibly cause lubrication issues.
Therefore, if performing service on the Diamond Drive assembly, tip the sled up only as far as needed to perform the service (properly support the machine for safety) and pay specific attention to the possibility of air entering the oil lines, and bleed it if required to ensure adequate lubrication.
January 18, 2006
…..The Needles Highway Snowmobile Trail (in Custer State Park) in the southern Black Hills of South Dakota is closed through March 1, 2006. This marks the third straight season the scenic trail has been closed because of ongoing timber sales in the area.
January 18, 2006
There has been some confusion as to the proper adjustment length for the exhaust valves on the Arctic Cat F7 and F6 engines (found in various Firecat, Sabercat and M-Series models). Originally, the 2003 F7 owner’s manual stated the proper cable length to be 36.1 to 38.1 mm. We published a cable length spec of 37.15mm in September of 2004 (per Starting Line Products).
Arctic Cat service documentation now indicates the proper and preferred cable length on laydown 700 & 600 engines to be 34.5mm. We’re told this spec is used on all F7s and F6s, new and old, stock and mod.
The important thing is that the cables are all equal in length (synchronized). As long as the cable lengths are equal and you are within this range, the ECU will index them and make sure they work properly. If the cable lengths are out of range, the servo will cycle 3 times and give up, leaving the valves in the closed position. The sled will run good on the bottom end, but not very good above 7000 RPM.
This measurement refers to the exposed cable free length, with the cables removed from the servo motor and all slack pulled back. The length spec is from the cable housing to the “barrelâ€; only the steel cable portion is included in the measurement, not the cable attachment end.
Cable length adjustment can be performed using the adjuster nuts (after loosening the locking nut) that are located about half way between the servo motor and the valves themselves.
How often should this be checked? After time, the cables can stretch slightly which affects the synchronization of valve opening and proper valve timing. Starting Line Products suggests every 500 to 1000 miles, as valves that do not open fully are sacrificing top end horsepower.
January 18, 2006
After talking at great length to somebody from a California toy importer not too long ago, I realized what a difficult question this is to answer; what is snowmobiling?
The toy manufacturer was simply trying to get a better understanding of the sport. Being from southern California, their exposure to our sport was mostly from ski hills and magazines. So in the course of their research, they happened to call SnowTech.
I started out by explaining how snowmobiling had started out primarily as a means of winter transportation and utility, but now days the basis was more the “sport†aspect. I laid out the typical usage, with around 75% of the users (midwest and east) riding on a vast interconnected groomed trail network, like a system of backcountry highways groomed by ski hill groomers (easy for him to understand). Then in the western states where snow was more plentiful (as well as public land) users were more typically explorers and freestylers, riding off trail when possible, using the groomed trails primarily as a means to get to the “good stuffâ€.
Next I was asked about racing. They wanted to make some toy snowmobiles and, of course, the racing image was important. How were snowmobiles used in racing?
This was an even more diverse answer than that of usage. We have snow cross, a closed-course version of motocross with bumps, jumps, and plenty of tight left-right action, usually in a stadium or other setting that was conducive to large crowds of spectators.
But there were also ice ovals, enduros and cross-county racing, as well as hill climbs, water cross (he had a hard time comprehending that one) and the one he fully understood – drag racing. Until I told him we do it on the snow, on ice, on grass, and yes, even on water.
I also explained how snowmobiling was enjoyed by the young and the old; that it was both a family sport and one of the boys, the weekend warriors if you will. It was work and play. It was both escape and competition. It was the lifeblood of the economy in many rural areas during the winter months. And even when people can’t actually ride a snowmobile on snow, they will do all sorts of things simply as an excuse to get together with and talk about snowmobiling with others who feel the same way. This is how I justified the grass drags and the watercross events, as well as the vintage shows.
The gentleman on the other end of the phone was quite impressed. His prior vision of our sport had been muddied by general perceptions of noisy, smoky machines that chased animals and terrorized the winterscape. What he now envisioned was a complete society of polite, friendly northerners who liked to share their passion with those they enjoyed spending time with, regardless.
So what is snowmobiling? It continues to evolve. It is many different things to many different people. But to all of them, it is fun. That’s why we do it.
Kevin Beilke
January 18, 2006
If a Yamaha RX or RS 4-stroke is idled for more than three minutes when the engine coolant temperature exceeds 212 degrees, the ignition will shut off.
January 18, 2006
…..Ski-Doo RT models (1000 SDI) are fitted with a high-powered capacitor just below and in front of the headlight so the engine (with its electronic fuel injection system) can have enough “juice†to be started in case the main battery is virtually dead.
January 18, 2006
Primarily designed for mountain and powder riders, the 2006 Outlaw from AD Boivin has an all-black mean look. The 2006 model is equipped with a new center-dump exhaust system and numerous ergonomic improvements.
* New exhaust system – The 2006 SnowHawk models come with a whole new exhaust system that considerably decreases the noise output of the vehicle. The center dump outlet also broadens the midrange output.
* New ski adaptor – The new ski adaptor acts like a self-alignment system in that when you lean the vehicle, the front ski and the handlebars start to automatically turn in that direction. This innovation also reduces the effort required to ride the vehicle and helps to prevent forearm muscle fatigue. It also reduces the length of time required to acclimate to the riding style – the “learning curveâ€. (This part can be adapted to earlier SnowHawk models
* Adjustable ride height – It is now possible to adjust the rear ride height of the SnowHawk by changing the position of the rear suspension. The height of the “saddle†can be varied from 31†to 33.5â€, making it more suitable for a wider range of riders.
The SnowHawk Outlaw is offered in two track lengths; 121†and 136â€, both 12†wide with 2.25†lug height and the AD Boivin exclusive radiused-lug profile where the center lugs are taller than the outer lug edges to enhance leaning the machine into the corners. The 121†Outlaw ST retails for $9,999; the 136†Outlaw LT retails for $10,399. To learn more visit Posted in Industry Update |
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