Author Topic: Ski Spreaders  (Read 4700 times)

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mswyka

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Ski Spreaders
« on: February 29, 2016, 04:46:46 PM »
Good afternoon.  Well, since we have already established that there has not been any snow, we have not been riding, have not been breaking anything and have not needed to do any repairs.  So I am thinking that I have to find something else to talk about so I thought that I would throw some gasoline on the fire of controversy over ski spreaders. 

For the record, I am quite fond of ski spreaders.  We have them installed on all of our Kawasaki sleds and prefer the additional stability that they add.

Over the weekend we refreshed a pair of skis and thought it appropriate to share a photo or two.

When we first looked at adding ski spreaders the first problem encountered is the upper mount for the ski shock.  One of our friends in Sweeden shared the great idea of the off-set spacers.  In the photo he shared, he had used washers to take up the space.  On our first couple of skis we machined spacers out of suspension shafts.  But more recently I found that I could buy them quite affordably from McMaster Carr.
Intruders:  1978, 1979, 1981 Custom (Pink)
Invaders:   1980 440
Projects:    1981 Invader 440

Interceptor398

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Re: Ski Spreaders
« Reply #1 on: February 29, 2016, 07:05:05 PM »
That is really wide??? ;)

mswyka

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Re: Ski Spreaders
« Reply #2 on: February 29, 2016, 08:21:17 PM »
Photo of the 340 Invader and 440 Intruder with ski spreaders.
« Last Edit: March 01, 2016, 07:01:26 AM by mswyka »
Intruders:  1978, 1979, 1981 Custom (Pink)
Invaders:   1980 440
Projects:    1981 Invader 440

jimvw57

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Re: Ski Spreaders
« Reply #3 on: March 20, 2016, 07:25:47 AM »
similar to adding wider tires on a car, they will put a bit more stress on spindles and steering components. I had a set on a sled and it would get stuck between trees at times.  I always felt they would be better used on older sleds that were quite narrow and didn't add much on a Kawasaki, but they are your sleds... do what you want!!

gixxer6

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Re: Ski Spreaders
« Reply #4 on: March 21, 2016, 06:40:46 AM »
Looks great Mark!  A 4" wider ski stance should really make it handle nice!   

sprocket

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Re: Ski Spreaders
« Reply #5 on: March 21, 2016, 08:17:07 PM »
 Just be careful it doesn't spin all the way around I've seen this happen on another sled the outcome wasn't good

Gilson435

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Re: Ski Spreaders
« Reply #6 on: March 22, 2016, 01:35:37 PM »
I did the exact same thing on a 78 Intruder and it worked real well 8) I'll have to scan a picture of it and post it up later tonight!
69 Panther 372 JLO
73 Gilson 435
80 Kawasaki Intruder 440
81 Pantera,93 Jag,(2)94 Cougars, (2)Prowlers, (2)Z440's
2002 Polaris XCSP 800

Gilson435

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Re: Ski Spreaders
« Reply #7 on: March 26, 2016, 02:05:06 PM »
Here was my 78 Intruder with ski spreaders. Pic taken back in 1990ish... Wow, where has the time gone...seems like yesterday! No Idea why these are upside down...???
« Last Edit: March 26, 2016, 02:09:38 PM by Gilson435 »
69 Panther 372 JLO
73 Gilson 435
80 Kawasaki Intruder 440
81 Pantera,93 Jag,(2)94 Cougars, (2)Prowlers, (2)Z440's
2002 Polaris XCSP 800

jimvw57

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Re: Ski Spreaders
« Reply #8 on: March 26, 2016, 06:00:25 PM »
you can see the ski posts are at an angle that makes the skis tilt inwards, that would wear out the spindle bushings over time.

rminier

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Re: Ski Spreaders
« Reply #9 on: March 29, 2016, 06:24:33 PM »
 Gilson435, I had no problems with your pictures....sorry, couldn't resist. Whenever something like that happens to me, I just blame old age. ::)
 By the way, congrats on the 2 Yammi SS 440's over on VS.
75 SnoJet Astro SS, 79 Kawasaki Invader 440 (two of them), 81 Scorpion Sidewinder, 82 Blizzard 9500, 83 Yamaha Vmax 540, 97 MXZ 670....and holding...for now.

Gilson435

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Re: Ski Spreaders
« Reply #10 on: March 29, 2016, 07:50:33 PM »
Gilson435, I had no problems with your pictures....sorry, couldn't resist. Whenever something like that happens to me, I just blame old age. ::)
 By the way, congrats on the 2 Yammi SS 440's over on VS.

 NICE!! LOL!! YOUR A REAL HOOT!! (PUN INTENDED) HAHAHA...

THANKS, rminier! I have never owned a Yami snowmobile before so I'm excited to see how they ride and such compared to my 1980 Intruder 440 and the many other brands I've owned over the years!
69 Panther 372 JLO
73 Gilson 435
80 Kawasaki Intruder 440
81 Pantera,93 Jag,(2)94 Cougars, (2)Prowlers, (2)Z440's
2002 Polaris XCSP 800