BALANCE!

by Kyle Roggenkamp

Wheelies are fun – really fun. But as a rule, if a sled is too good at doing wheelies, that’s a strong indicator that the sled is capable of much better trail performance with the right setup. When a sled has too little ski pressure and too much transfer under acceleration, the sled wheelies well, but lacks the necessary front-end bite for carving tight corners. Achieving great bite isn’t about bolting on the longest carbide possible. It’s about balancing front and rear traction, setting ski pressure, and dialing in ski toe-out. So set aside an evening in the garage and take three simple steps to ensure your sled offers you the best front-end bite it’s capable of all season long.

Maintenance: the Prerequisite

It is amazing what a few thousand miles of rough trail riding can do to the front end of a sled. Before adjusting anything on the sled, inspect the front end. Fine-tuning a clapped-out suspension is a waste of time, so be sure to lift the front end off the ground and rock the front spindle fore and aft, and side to side to identify and replace any worn parts.

Toe-Out Adjustment

Setting proper ski toe-out is the best way to eliminate the most annoying snowmobile handling characteristic—darting! Without enough toe-out, skis will chase every track on the trail. I prefer to set my sleds at an 1/8” of toe out per ski, but each manufacture provides a recommendation, so be sure to look to that recommendation for your machine.

Ski Pressure

Ski pressure is critical to getting a sled to bite in a corner. Too little and the sled will push through the corner. Too much and the rider will be exhausted before the ride is over. Dialing in ski pressure can be achieved several different ways, but it all starts with the front track shock. Think of the front of the skid as a fulcrum that the snowmobile balances upon. Increasing the spring preload of the front shock will reduce the overall ski pressure, and vice versa. Front limiter straps should also be adjusted at the same time. These straps control weight transfer: under acceleration, the limiters control how much weight is removed from the skis. Experiment with these two variables—they will help dial in the amount of ski pressure a snowmobile has in steady state conditions as well as under acceleration.

So, while wheelies are fun, I’d argue that carving corners on trails is even more fun. Especially with a sled that bites hard in corners, is balanced, and gives you the confidence to ride all day long without fatigue. By spending some time tuning these simple items on your snowmobile, you can bring your trail riding to another level this season!

Collecting Pop Tabs for a Great Cause

Since 2020, the River Valley Trailblazers club has challenged all MnUSA snowmobile clubs to participate in the “Great Tab Off”—collecting tabs to give to the Ronald McDonald House Charity. Saving your tabs helps to support families with a medical crisis staying at the Ronald McDonald Houses in the Upper Midwest.

You can drop tabs off at the MnUSA Rendezvous or mail/drop them off at: 1053 Dakota St. S., Shakopee, or email Sandy for a possible pickup.

So far, 300-plus pounds of tabs have been collected. Keep saving them!

For more info on how to join the cause, contact RVTB Club: Sandy Doherty at 952-445-9130, threegamesandy@aol.com, or Steve Blake at 952-594-1848, sblake905@hotmail.com.

Hank Lindsey Memorial $500 Scholarship

The Hank Lindsey Memorial scholarship is available for students who are enrolled (or who are enrolling for the first time) in a course of small engine repairs, DNR, or GPS at a vocational school.

The family must live in Region One. The deadline to apply is April 1. The student must submit an informal letter of application to: Dale Dahlen, 2321 Pebble Beach Rd. NW, East Grand Forks, MN 56721.

Each application is evaluated as it is received. Several students can receive funds, provided they qualify. Funds have been donated by individuals and by snowmobile clubs.

Several schools offer this instruction: Northwest Technical Collage at Detroit Lakes, Central Lakes College at Brainerd, Hennepin Technical College at Eden Prairie, and South Central Technical College at Faribault. Private vocational schools are okay, if licensed by the state.

Federal Recreational Trail Program Grant Application Deadline February 24

FRTP grants are available for motorized and non-motorized trail projects; maintenance/restoration of existing recreational trails; development/ rehabilitation of recreational trail linkages, including trail side and trail head facilities; environmental awareness and safety education programs relating to the use of recreational trails; and redesign/ relocation of trails to benefit/minimize the impact to the natural environment.

A 25% cash or in-kind match for eligible elements of the project proposal is required. Costs must be incurred and paid for before reimbursement. The minimum grant request is $2,500, and the maximum trail grant award is $200,000. Maximum request per equipment grant is $75,000. Equipment grant requests also require a 25% secured match. Trail Improvement Grants can be used as a match for RTP grants. https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/recreation/trails_federal. html Questions contact Dan Golner, Grants Specialist Coordinator, 651-259-5599 Daniel.Golner@state.mn.us