Lesson Learned with composite skis

[WinnipegStPaul9]

I was eager to try the composite skis and especially thrilled when Matt began to carry the mounting brackets. I had a homemade pair of brackets and switching to the new brackets saved me 10# per ski. What I didn't consider (enough) was the carbide situation. I guess I must have thought, "if 4" carbides are good then 6" carbides are 150% better"...
WRONG, WRONG,WRONG. After fighting with these skis on both my Cross Country ( Jekyll called it "EVIL") and then on my Sportfire I realized the error of my way so today I switched to the 4" carbides. It was like installing power steering on a 59 Cadillac. If I didn't have a dental appointment in a few minutes I would still be out riding.

Bottom Line: I do NOT recommend the 6" carbides on composite skis.

DA

[driftbuster]

6 inch carbides work nice with 144 studs in the track, 4 inch is plenty for rubber tracks.
Glad you never treed it. Had a couple deaths here, apparently steering related.

[harleysportster]

I have read that carbide length is retaliative to the number of studs in a track. For the average trail snowmobile, 4 inch is the optimum.

[WinnipegStPaul9]

6 inch carbides work nice with 144 studs in the track, 4 inch is plenty for rubber tracks.
Glad you never treed it. Had a couple deaths here, apparently steering related.

Ha ha ha Driftbuster, I'm certain you don't know my "tree" story which makes your post funny ( Certainly nothing funny about death, and I'm thankful to be alive). I put the composites on however after my tree incident.

DA

[Steven]

Are the leaf spring brackets available at "new breed "??


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[Matt]

Don, what was your issue? I'm running 6" happily and will use them again when I wear these out.

Steven, I don't currently have any brackets available.

[69camaro]

Wow, I use 8" carbides on my trail sled without studs.

[Danzig]

6 inch here no problems and no studs

[harleysportster]

I have read that carbide length is retaliative to the number of studs in a track. For the average trail snowmobile, 4 inch is the optimum.

I run the Sno-Stuff X-Calibar II Carbides which are 4 inch.

[driftbuster]

Matt, no issues here after 45 years of sledding, and 20 motocrossing, heck that 65 years of wrenching.
Run what ever works, altho more studs always means more carbide.
It's common knowledge not to follow me, it's hazardous to your well being.
I got to see my pride and joy upside down last week, my comment to my Jet Mechanic
buddy was "my daughter seemed to handle it ok" as I flipped my sled back over for the
want to be rookie

[sledder670]

I think it's just an indiana thing. They are happy with 4" and just say its 6 or 8. Sorry I couldn't hold back on this one.

[WinnipegStPaul9]

I think it's just an indiana thing. They are happy with 4" and just say its 6 or 8. Sorry I couldn't hold back on this one.

Man!! You make me proud !! I couldn't have said that better.

DA

[400brian]

At the meet and greet a few weeks ago, I believe Brian Nelson said he never ran more than 4" even on his race sleds.

I think this is a "run what works" for you kind of thing.

[liquifireguy]

I think it's just an indiana thing. They are happy with 4" and just say its 6 or 8. Sorry I couldn't hold back on this one.

Actually, most of us Hoosiers tend to be quite modest. It is actually 6 or 8, but we say its just 4. You know, just to prevent any rivalry between the states.

[sledder670]

Thanks Jeff