AC+YA
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Posts posted by AC+YA
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On 11/18/2021 at 6:18 PM, Muskoka Bill said:
Just checked out Cedar Meadows on the web, looks very nice, is it close to the trails ? Snowmobile friendly ? Parking for a trailer ?
Cedar Meadows
Taken in the parking lot where you also can park sleds. Plugs available along fence for engine heaters or borrowed hair dryers.
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The warming shack……..
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21 hours ago, Ox said:
Dec 1996:
The first time I ever experienced 2 lane divided skidoo trails!
Three seasons back when the loggers plowed open about a 20 mile portion of the northern most side on Dub1 to extricate a large cache of Birch logs, they tried to restore the destroyed snowmobile trail by using a road grader to plow the banks back onto the road. When the groomer returned on its way to the Kabi River, the operator found so much snow in the center of the road that it had to make a one way trail on each side of the road. The groomer could not make headway moving the enormous packed pile and went to plan "B". The 2 lane divided trail was back again for the season in that section.
I have also seen the 2 lane on sections of the 100 mile loop over the years.
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18 hours ago, skidooboy said:
this is good news for this season and I applaud all involved, including the gentleman (Junior) who holds the rights to plow the Simpson side of the trail, for giving access to the sled club this season.
the club, towns, and districts, have known about both the 100 mile loop roads, will be closed to sled traffic, due to hauling and logging permanently, for the last 3 years. there needs to be a permanent solution to this on going issue, or we will be right back here again, in a year. Ski
That is absolutely the truth. We will have to hold our breath again for the 2022 - 2023 season to see if the loggers will be OK with not using one side or the other. I do wish that some trail could be added each year so that eventually a real trail would be available every season. Perhaps when logging is finished some portions of new roads will be left to connect and create a trail.
The roads do offer faster and easier riding when they are available and so many have become addicted to fast trails in that area. Just like the northern corridor and hydro lines. I feel a sure thing would be better than hoping for a trail each season.
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On 11/19/2021 at 5:52 PM, skidooboy said:
Cat's fail as much or more than the yamaha's. either keyway/pin the bearing, or use the expander, and add grease. Ski
Is it because there are more Cat's built than Yamaha's ?
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On 11/19/2021 at 6:41 PM, stoney said:
The odd thing is, not all seem to have the issue.....but I guess could.
It seems to be a more common issue on the turbo with big HP.
Never touched mine, when I was getting up in miles., I considered inspecting, but never did.....and never had an issue, sold now of course.
Before I lost mine, I had a 2014 run for 15,000 miles before i sold it and never had an issue. Guess you never know how good the bearing seal is or how much grease was put into that bearing? Most will probably go a long way. At least long enough for warranty. My 2018 didn't make it past warranty.
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This was how badly the shaft was worn after the caliper bearing failed due to the lack of grease and then the corrosion which locked the bearing race and ground the shaft down.
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1 hour ago, Hoosier said:
Interesting. Wonder if I should get this driveshaft saver for my 18 600. I've only heard of issues on the yami versions although I suppose it would make sense to have issues on both since they are the same chassis.
Grease is the answer.
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1 hour ago, Puggz said:
Is this what you're talking about??
Yes. That is the bearing I lost the first time out in the second season of riding my 2018 XF-8000. I also grease the jackshaft bearing behind the secondary. I have not had issues with the bearings on the chain case side as they get some oil. I don't feel the ID race of the bearing in the caliper wants to slip until the bearing runs out of grease and and corrodes. With plenty of grease they seem to hold up. the seals and amount of grease from China don't seem to be right. I just fill behind the ID lip and get the bearing lubricated to keep it from rusting and keep it running properly. The expansion plug would better make sure that the shaft stays good even if the bearing goes.
I take the secondary off and the outside half of the caliper so that the rotor can be slid off the spline for access to the caliper bearing. You need to be handy with a way to get it up in the air and know how to bleed the brakes afterwards. While up in the air, I drop the skid out and go through every bearing in the skid, replace sliders, and tighten the hub bolts of the original back wheels. I don't replace bearings unless I feel a catch in them as they rotate. I use a thin grease needle and add grease to all bearings unless I replace them. I seem to replace more of the bearings on the top return wheels in the Cat skids, I use a special tool I have made and welded to an air chisel to knock the old press fit bearings off the axle. To get the bearing into and out of the aluminum caliper/bearing housing, I use temperature extremes to expand and shrink the aluminum which changes must faster than the steel.
In total quite a process, but no dealers I know of will do a real complete job of this. They just replace after something goes out, but not other things which are next. When replacing bearings, I try to use better bearings and have found some SkiDoo part numbers which directly cross reference and are actually made in the USA.
The cost to have it done 100% would be extreme.
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1 hour ago, Puggz said:
Is this what you're talking about??
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51 minutes ago, signfan said:
Is the east west tie project completed? Or will they have portions of the trail around Wawa and out towards Marathon plowed?
Good point. I have heard nothing about that in following Marathon starting to brush trails.
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GREAT NEWS........
I heard that the Club Alouettes Dubreuilville have reached an agreement with the logging company and MNR to allow the east side of the 100 mile loop to be used as the connecting trail. The interactive map shows this as "DUB1" and will act as the connector to complete the D108A. The west side labeled as D108A will be open only to the Canadian Pacific tracks this season.
They are brushing the trail out to the Magpie from town and also north of town D108A all the way to the railroad tracks which was the new trail not always used fully due to not being easy to groom. With this more complete brushing it should be easier to pack a base for late season access to fishing just north of the CP tracks. This should help keep more local support for the trails. The road usually turns to dirt after the plows decide to remove the trail portions created along this rail crossing access road. The equipment being used to brush is an excavator with a wide brushing head able to really cut a wide trail all the way to the ground.
Coupled with Halfway Haven opening, the trail system should be in good shape to run the big loop or to run from SSM to the northern corridor. Logging toward White River west of Dub may keep the run to the west from opening, but I hope not.
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Heard today that Disney cruises will require full vaccinations for everyone 5 years old and up since it is now approved. Below 5 need a negative Covid test.
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On 11/12/2021 at 8:01 PM, Big Pussy said:
You should really, really take the brake caliper apart, and remove the rotor and check that the bearing inner race has not spun on the drive shaft. The bearing needs to have the seal removed, washed out and re-greased. This bearing is a slip fit on the shaft and WILL SPIN and destroy your driveshaft. That will require shaft assy. replacement or spray welding and machining the area back to a tight fit. My bearing was actually seized after being stored. I checked it and fixed it before my shaft was destroyed.
I have developed a way to stop the bearing spinning. Grind a keyway in the edge of the inner race with a dremel tool and a 1/8" round end tungsten carbide rotary file.
TIG weld a small tab on the side of the rotor hub to insert in the keyway on the edge of the bearing.
Here is the bearing assembled in the caliper and on the shaft. The tab on the rotor needs to be filed until it fits in the keyway with the hub flat against the bearing.
I also welded a 1" long plug in the hollow shaft. It is center drilled and tapped for a M10 bolt. Machined a cap to hold the rotor tight against the bearing, and the bearing against the inside circlip to stop radial sliding on the shaft. I can't find my picture of the cap assembled on the outside of the rotor. The outside snap ring is a pretty loose fit and allows the shaft to slide in and out which adds to the wear and tear.
The guy who designed this needs his a$$ kicked all around the engineering office.
https://www.barnofparts.com/apps/webstore/products/show/8034395?siteId=134334799&locale=en-US
RT Performance (Rob) hooked me up with this expander idea from the "Barn of Parts"
This Barn of Parts expander is out there to expand the slip fit enough to stop the race from slipping. (BP has figured out a way to do it, but many don't have the tools or patience he seems to posses.) The bearing still needs to be greased as I have always done since the failure I had on my 2018 Cat XF-8000. I have found that grease is the key and these China bearings don't last without re-greasing every year. I do all the bearings not getting some oil from the chain case. Taking off the secondary clutch lets you easily re-grease the jackshaft bearing with a fine grease needle inserted under the inside seal lip.
Never lost another China bearing since.
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12 hours ago, skidooboy said:
That would work with touring riders in larger city centres but, try that in a small northern community, trying to get everyone, including the locals... and those that enforce it, would be out of business the first winter. it would spread through town like a wild fire, and those getting outed by the business owner, would tell their friends, family and like minded neighbors, and they would group together to stop utilizing that service in that town.
It is bad enough when you have kids on bikes, atv's, sxs, sleds, ripping up community, and private property with pics, video, etc... and when confronted, the parents say... "that is not my kid, in that pic, video, prove it". yes, it happens. Ski
I have seen the signs at gas pumps in New Brunswick and Quebec, but all were clubhouse's along trails outside of towns. Sometimes at self-serve gas............
Nice thought, but no real teeth without an attendant willing to push it. Yes, most traffic was touring and only stopping for food and gas.
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On 11/13/2021 at 9:25 PM, 1049 said:
Thanks must have been those two snow flakes we had to day lol
So true with sleds this time of year!
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17 hours ago, Ox said:
I sure hope they get a good turn-out!
Still, not sure how many will venture accrost the river with the current Wuhan requirements.
I fully expect there to be HUGE lake effect this year doo to the warm lakes, but that could mean great riding below too, so ...
Not sure about others, but we were watching for the opening of the border every month. Glad ski was able to get back up.
The plan is to get up to ride a bunch this season and we love to leave the trailer in Searchmont and run up to Dub so Halfway is usually our first stop unless we go direct to Chapleau. Then the next day is a swing through Halfway. Dub is usually the 2nd stop.
Waiting to see how it all comes together including the D108A to get up to the Northern Corridor and if the D trail west gets opened up. All good for long weekend runs. Got my fingers crossed that the weather is great this season.
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36 minutes ago, Big Pussy said:
I have a 2015 with the real Cat fixed pin clutch and secondary. Clean real good every spring. Check rollers for play in their bushings. Check for clearance on sliding buttons. Check for cam arm surface wear. Check the rollers and helix for wear in the secondary. I have 7500 km on the original belt and there is absolutely no need to change it.
Everyone poo pooed those clutches but the are the best I have owned so far. My boy has the Team pair on a 2017. I can compare the difference over time.
I think from a wear point of view you are correct. The team primary clutch has the bearing and is promoted as a better system, but I never had a true Arctic Cat clutch wear out and stop shifting/get hung up as my team clutch did. I never did any real maintenance on my Cat clutches and saw many roll past 16,000 miles (not kilometers). I was pretty surprised when my knock sensor started throwing a code due to my worn Team clutch on my 2018 XF-8000 around 16K miles.. I was on a tour in Quebec. I was using premium and could not understand why. It only took a couple more days and the clutch stopped returning to its idle position without using a rubber mallet normally reserved for under-skid ice removal. Found a dealer along the way after a day of trying not to slow and even jumping across roads when others had gone ahead to verify no traffic was coming. I had to kill the engine to stop as it would not disengage.
With the new clutch the machine was again like new and the knock sensor never through the code again.
I will never go past 12,000 miles on a team primary clutch again. There is no good way to rebuild it and so a new clutch is in the future of my 2019 XF-8000 which this year should get to that point depending on arrival of the spring snow check and whether or not my daughter has time to get away during her clinicals. She may not be riding much this season.
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On 10/19/2021 at 8:34 PM, coldfinger said:
We were at the Campbellton Hotel by the bridge, they had a tow truck operator with a tilting flatbed. He was bringing across four to five sleds at a time, I saw a lot of $50 bills changing hands. We didn't take the shuttle as we backtracked through moose valley and the took the trail north into the Matapedia Valley. That was probably one of the best trails I have ever been on. The only other tracks were moose tracks. The bumps on the trail were moose crap. That was in February 2019. We plan to be back there this February to finish this journey.
The night we finally reached the river there was in a big storm blowing and already about 9 pm. The gas station attendant said the flatbed tow could only take 2 guys at a time in the cab of the truck. I never asked him about a taxi so it would take a bunch of trips. I don't believe I was even thinking clearly and was just focused on getting to the motel. We had like 12 sleds and the time it would take to get us across was more of an issue than the $ at that point. I just went out to figure another way as we were all very tired and just wanted to be done for that day. We kept thinking of just taking the bridge, but the guy said we would be arrested. We did not really understand where we were and had taken roads to get to the town as trails were not passable especially in the dark. We were too tired to keep digging out stuck sleds. There was probably a premium to be paid for this "emergency" night time storm service anyway.
Planning ahead would be a much better idea, but we were glad to even make it to the town as we were told not to even leave that morning.
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1 hour ago, signfan said:
Ok. I was wondering if the river froze there. Nothing for a trail shown on either the New Brunswick or Quebec trail guides.
There was a dashed line shown on a local paper map we got from the club guy who sold us all a single-day New Brunswick trail pass because the passes we had expired while we were stuck for an additional "storm" day. He confirmed the crossing as he had used it that season on a Gaspe tour.
That was 2019 so I cannot confirm there is still a tree line or local trail north of the river. My guess is that locals still use it even if not, but weather will certainly be a factor. We were told that the tow truck flatbed can always be called to cross, but plan on ah hour for each crossing of two sleds and about $100/sled. A group may take a half day. There is another crossing farther west, so call ahead if you plan to jump down to NB. We came south from Matane to Edmonston on the way into NB.
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44 minutes ago, Spiderman said:
I use simple dollies for under the skiis and one under the track.
We move them around on concrete all the time.
Lightly lift the skii's up - slide underneath - velcro straps down - lift track, slide under - roll around where ever you want.
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The "lightly lift skis up" doesn't work for me anymore. It's been years since my arm and shoulder had to be fixed and I prefer using the lever action to lift my sleds. I'm 66 now and feel this will work for me well into my 70's. Plus it can be driven and reversed using the machine's own power. I have all the dollies from swivels to steerable. Sometimes I put the swivels under my track and just push and steer it into a tight spot for storage. I just don't like lifting the skis by myself anymore even though I still can do it. This is much faster and easier. It does cost more though.
Click image to open expanded view-
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14 hours ago, signfan said:
Where were you crossing the river?
I believe it was Campbellton, New Brunswick. The bridge cannot be crossed, so the ice is normally marked with a tree line and there is a local trail leading north to the main trail on the Quebec side, however the storm had buried the trail and swept away the tree line. The young man running the gas station across the street from the river in Campbellton was a sledder and described all of that and then said if we could get over the huge snowdrift and get on the river ice we should look for a group of lights and head towards them. It was a parking lot of a store next to the main road north. He knew the trail would be gone and that we had to just follow the edge of the road to get to the motel we were booked at. It was scary even though he 100% guaranteed the ice to be solid on the river. I knew the ocean connected to this wide body of water and being pitch black at 9 pm and wicked winds still blowing snow causing short white-outs it took some faith to venture across. We first wanted to hire a tow service or just take the bridge, because there seemed to be no way to even get over the drift across the street. I tried riding down the street looking for a way around the drift with no luck. When I came back, Patrick, Mark, zrtkat & crew, and the rest were crawling over the drift and trying to dig it down where the trail was supposed to be. Patrick managed to run his sled up and almost over. The others dug and pulled and his sled was on the way down to the area next to the river. He jumped on other sleds and over and over we finally got it broke open and the rest made it so we could get on the ice. Once we crossed the river and found a way up onto a road, it was about a half hour of road running to the motel. What a day it was from Caraquet to Campbellton and then up to Motel Interprovincial on Route 132 in Quebec.
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23 hours ago, Candubrain said:
You don't find they flex and bend too easily? That is what I've read on a couple reviews
I have 3 sets of these as I am done lifting sleds to put any kind of rollers/wheels under them. I think that there are several versions and like you said, they are not all created equal. My "Ski Saver" version which is much better designed and built from heavier stock came from Finland and cost twice as much. The other 2 sets of the cheap copies I got were "China specials" and had to be tweaked just a bit as I assembled them. They would have worked, but I did not like the dimensional differences so I used my vise and a hammer to adjust a few things. The hardware was also China made "crap" and I replaced a few bolts and nuts after trying to use my small impact driver to tighten and stripped them out. I went back to a set of hand tools and the rest did not fail.
The leverage allows them to be slid under the ski and then by pushing down the ski is raised and the hook end is pushed into the ski handle. They work well to drive and steer on fairly flat surfaces. They work fine on my dry lawn and great on hard surfaces. I do not try to drive into my trailer or up sharp steps over an inch or two. I have found that the wheel axles should be put in line with the ski pivot when sliding them under. Too far and the skis run low in the front and not far enough and they want to drag in the back. If you drive over something too big they can slide along the ski and cause the tipping up or down of it depending if you are backing up or going forward when it catches and slides.
They are by far the best thing I have found to save my back and they do a great job in most hard terrain. NOTHING is better for quickly and easily rolling around from garage to trailer or even driving down my road a few hundred meters when it is dry. Small rocks or bumps don't bother them. 10 MPH Max is stamped on them. I have 3 sets now, but wish I could still get the original "SKI Saver" brand. The China copies work, but the points that lift the ski are not as aggressive and tend to slip a bit easier. Still, they get my vote.
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13 hours ago, 1049 said:
That was my favorite trip of all time lots of good memories ! Thanks for letting me tag along!!
That trip was changed by the storm! In so many ways it brought everyone together in the struggle to get back into Quebec from where we were stranded in shut down Caraquet, New Brunswick. It seemed it had cut into a fabulous long trip at first, but breaking through the drifts and finding our way as the trails could no longer be found in the mountains and finally being caught between the monster drift at the south edge of the river and getting onto the ice has burned the way we worked together to get everyone across into my head. No one was tagging along and I am grateful for your help, Patrick's, and everyone else. Digging the drift down by hand with all doing a share to get sled's over and the rest of the do or die situations still the next day, will always be in my memory. It is also a favorite of mine. Thanks again Mark. Here you are helping Kip.
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A102Q from NB308 to Temiscaming QC Will Reopen This Season
in Main Clubhouse
Posted
You get a printable 21 day temporary permit when you buy on line. It can also be downloaded to your phone and can be used by showing your phone.