So, we had great snow for a couple weeks at the end of last year, but that dried up (at least down here in the foothills), so I decided to complete the track/skid swap and upgrade a few parts while I was at it. I was planning on doing it last fall, but ended up working into December to get my house closed in, and then the fluffy snow was too good to ignore. As it turns out, I'm overdue to dig in and replace some parts and pieces: the speedo died in Dec, the driveshaft didn't seem too loose, but after getting it apart the bearing was definitely in full failure mode (the one on the 800 I'm parting is the same way).
Anyway, the things I'm doing / have done are:
Track and skid swap to a home ported and windowed 144 (from the 800).
Shock swap to RydeFX clickers.
Swap to SLP PowderPro skis I got used
Replace all drive bearings (except the clutch side jack-shaft bearing – feels like new and it's easy to monitor anyway).
Replace bent lower radius arms and shift to narrower ski stance.
Coolant flush and brake fluid service.
Upgrade to SLP adjustable clutch weights – my tach reads a few hundred high, but I've seen over 8500! Should be 8000 +/- 200
Full cleanout and new grease for all pivot points –*decided to switch to Mobil aviation grease
Replacing some bushings and grommets and such.
Since I had the track out, I decided to experiment with some porting and open the closed windows. I just went with two rows of 1-1/4 holes alternating sides, the theory being that if I keep them each behind a lug I'll maximize snow cleanout and minimize floatation loss. Everything seems to take longer than expected with these things, but the thing that's got me nearly beside myself is trying to adjust the tie rods for the narrower front. I got one side to adjust in where it needed to be, but the other got to the point where it was impossible to turn. I tried to go back out, thinking maybe I could get it apart and clean up the threads, but then it just snapped the rod end. No problem, I'll just use the ones off the parts sled. The inner rod end comes right apart; the outer one: jammed up just as bad as the one that broke.
I really hate aluminum sometimes. With steel, heat and oil will always get it loose eventually, but seems like once aluminum gets sticky, there's no clean way out. I managed to get one of the broken pieces out by heating the tie rod. Thing is, it basically destroyed the threads in the process. Makes me wonder if I should just buy a new set and be done with it. As it stands, I've got one more shot with the parts sled, although I might be able to improvise if I can get a clean outer rod end. You can bet it'll be slathered with anti-seize before it goes back together; I always make it a point to use anti-seize on threads into aluminum, and I just wish manufacturers would be as generous!
The two-week weekend project
