Snowmobile Caster and camber

[afterburn 549]

I have been reading my manual and the internet.
This Dragon DARTS like a drunk with a mind of its own.
Have on order Bergstroms 3 points and shims .
For my Polaris Dragon there is zero for numbers given for camber , just a bar through the ski hole and ,measure drop to other side.
Kind of cave man.
Anyone have some "real numbers that work for caster and camber ?( on your anything ?)
I am going to presume some Neg camber would be helpful ?
This thing steers like a truck !
Maybe some caster numbers ?
Thanx

[Heel n Toe]

I don't know anything about them, but until you get some numbers for caster and camber, it might help to make sure you don't have any toe in. Just a little toe out should/could make it a little less "darty."


Useless followup curiosity question: I've noticed that some people call 'em snowmobiles and some call 'em snow machines... does that go with certain geographical areas?

[Gretch]

set the front suspension softer..... if it is darting you have it set to hard.

[afterburn 549]

Ok, well there seems to there are no numbers for camber or caster - just the rude crude cave man method with a pipe . (what a joke)
Snowmobile /snow machine potato,patatoe, tomatoes,tamatoe ,supper , dinnner
So I am thinking just duplicate a brand new XF Arctic Cat next door for numbers .
And yes i will lighten the skis up. Thanx!
Actually its the G.F. sled..I have only road it a bit the other day when she said it was steering bad.
Its Twitchy, Darty not predictable at all!

[intakexhaust]

We call them sleds or simply 'machine'.

Suspension / front-rear are tunable to what the rider desires. Why there isn't a benchmark, I don't know. Reminds me of the days when we purchased brand new Polaris sleds and fully dismantled them. Go thru every piece, lube, assemble and dial it in.

Anyhow, the brief criticals-
center steering linkage, handlebar, bell crank, etc.
setting on the shop floor, each ski 100% equal height - (measuring from the width edge)
skis 1/4" toe out
-----note: most likely you have carbides, but I don't what you have in length. The longer they are, more aggressive.
Set up the usual IFS to rider weight, compression, rebound rates and where you plan to ride. ie: groomed or washed out trails?
Don't skip out on setting up the rear suspension. Weight transfer is crucial and really affects the front end. Generally, to lighten the load on the skis, you want the front of the rear suspension to push the track downward. Not familiar with your machine, but you might have travel limiter straps.`

[LakeCleElum]

Burn - Caster and camber are not adjustable on sleds (unless you hit a stump).....1st thing to check is "toe-in"......You can do it with a tape measure....on most sleds, you want the front of the skis to be "Toed-out" 1/4 to 1/2 inch....I'd had a Arctic Cat new from the factory that was set a one inch toe-in, instead of out.

New, loosen your limiter strap to take a little weight off the skis. If still having issues, dual runner carbides ........

You are on the right track with Bergstrom. To sort out my AC, he mailed me some shims to put under the rear of the ski saddle to take a little weight off the front. He didn't charge me a thing. Just said, Try this before I sell you dual runner carbides.....that did the trick...

Nothing worse than trying to haul down the trail on a sled that darts for the edge all the time...Dragons don't usually have this issue, so you should be able to sort it pretty easily.....G'luck....

[afterburn 549]

Looking at it just now, camber is adjustable cause there is a threaded ball end on top of spindle , threads go inboard to upper "A" frames so the spindle cam be adjusted pos or neg camber.
I see no way to adjust caster.
If anyone gets a chance to throw inclinomter or level across the skis please tell me what you get .
I will measure my A Cat too as it runs out well .
Pretty stupid of Polaris not to put out a number .
Using one spindle to reference the other one is a shot in the dark ! (Their way )

[LakeCleElum]

[afterburn 549]

Appreciate the pic. Mine is just like that only different..LOL
The top adj is horizontal so when turned it will move upper part of spindle in or out changing the camber
08 Polaris Dragon RMK 800 Right Side Upper A Arm Suspension IQ Shift 2251 | eBay

maybe this will help.