1978 Rear Suspension

[mswyka]

I have found that the skids go in easiest for me if I do the following:

1. make sure rear wheels are as far forward as possible
2. raise rear of sled off ground to give full access to the track
3. slide skid into track front first
4. use ratchet straps on each side of sled to pull skid toward rear
5. bolt in front brackets
6. Insert bolts for rear bracket
7. tighten track by moving rear wheels to rear of skid
7. lower rear of sled
8. take for a ride

Taking this approach I had the skid out, serviced cross-shafts, and back into the Invader in less than an hour.

[bryan_damone]

Thanks for the tips. Regarding the ratchet strapping, where/how are you pulling the skid backwards? Are you pulling it backward from some other fixed point in the shop? or are you ratcheting from some other point on the sled itself? I got my NOS lift brackets installed, so its time to wrestle the skid. I used stainless structural rivets with a pneumatic riveter. Pneumatic riveter is great.

[mswyka]

Looks very good.  Send me the riveter when you are done.  I could use it to save my hands.

I tie the ratchet straps to a bracket on the suspension and then to the back of the tunnel - someplace where it will not bend anything and the strap will not block where i need to put the wrench to attach the skid.  It usually does not take much.

[bryan_damone]

Thanks for the clarification. I will see how it goes soon.

[bryan_damone]

It's in. Less of a struggle than most machines.

What is the ideal track drop when setting tension?

[mswyka]

Looks great!

The track droop is in the manual.  I have run slightly looser and slightly tighter and can't say that I have had a problem either way.

[bryan_damone]

Ok thanks. Looks to be 3/4 to 1 1/8  gap with 10 lbs pull down. I seem to be in the ball park.