I have a 2003 F7sp with the 128 track, im wondering what i need to ride in some powder. Im looking at riding like in Wyoming(snowey range) where theres groomed trails and some powder. I know i need a deeper lug track, just wondering how deep and who makes them if anyone. This will be my first time out west so i dont want to run out and buy a mountain sled just yet, want to see if i like it first. Ok, so here is what i need to know.....

1) Track..how deep and who sells them for a 13.5X128
2) Clucthing...riding in 7000 to 11000 altitude, what do i need for weights
3) Gear....any special gear

My sled is fuel injected, and i have a open face helmet with goggles. I want to keep my sled set up so i can ride here in the midwest to so i dont want to go to extreme with this. Just want some ideas so when i do go out west i can spend a day or two and convert my sled over...Any info from you guys would be much appreciated

for that elevation i would use 56.5g weights.
you could change the gearing, but probably not neccesary
not sure about the track, iknow you can get a 1.7in track tho
goggles work great for powder riding, make sure you have a no-fog mask tho

Or you could just get a sled like mine, and you'll have sooo much more power, you need nothing... :wackit:

We setup a friends F7 128 with a 1.7" A 20 off the 05 snopros with the 3.0pitch. Its not a direct bolt on we ended up getting 8tooth wahl brothers no slip drivers and pressing them on. They will fit fine on the 03s as far as clearence goes but they fit in a different spot on the shaft. The stock ones sit inside the windows and the no slips need to be centered on the windows. Worked great though really lofted the sled out of the snow and still is very trail rideable although he did loose some top speed. There is also a 128X1.7 track with the stock 2.52 pitch.

how will the 1.375" track work out there?.. I'm going out in Feb and no longer have access to a 1.7, and also what about clutch springs??

Kevo

It works so so it doesn't help alot but you'll be fine cause it shouldn't be bottomless powder in Feb like it can be early season. Suck the limiter strap up as far as possible helps the approach angle. 51flat helix for better backshift, leave the springs alone, and go for cats suggested weights there pretty spot on.

great thanks... so if i pull up my limiter strap, won't that allow like zero weight transfer??

I was at the snowies 8th to the 12th, with my 2003 firecat 151" snopro and had a blast. I used 56 gram polaris weights with yellow primary and red/white secondary spring with a 53/51 helix. I also changed my gearing to 19/43. My backshift wasn't what I was looking for. I was going to try something like a 57/52 with a green secondary spring next time.

www.tracksusa.com has a 128x13.5x1.7, don't know how much it is tho.

I had a 1.7 on my F7 last year and i loved it. Its a great all around track and doesn't even compare to a 1.375 in the deeper stuff. I don't know if you have stock skis or not, but if you do this would be another HUGE improvement. Also, get ur handlebars alittle higher for better leverage. The throttle is your friend in the deep stuff, but you really have to learn how to use it if you are going to ride a firecat in the pow...

http://www.tracksusa.com/trail.html
#1602-546 13.5-128-1.7 $399.00
if your not going to put a taller lug track on dont bother, a 1.375 isnt going to be much help to you since there usually not designed for off trail deep stuff. there designed for loose trail snow. i have a 1.5 ripsaw on mine and it isnt anywhere close to the performance of the 2" challenger in the deep, but mines a 136 not a 128 so i have more options.

My 121" Rev 600ho with a 1.65 track and geared down with brp clutching specs did great out in the snowy range. Had to hold on to the throttle a lot to keep going and i couldnt climb as high as others but still had a great time on the sled. Oh yeah if you can bring a oxygen tank with you when you do get stuck hahahaha, the air is so thin up there you get tired if your sled doesnt start on the third pull lol!!!

except for the getting unstuck part, how much different is 5-6 feet of pow compared to 3-4 feet???... cuz my 1.375, works awesome in those depths, and it floats on top pretty good

Kevo

We rode in Cooke for the first time last year with Firecat EXT's with the stock track. Not so good in fluff IMO after switching to a 2.25" paddle. Night and day difference. Have been to Cooke twice since changing the tracke out and it is soooo much better. Now we are ready for some new M7's (leftover is cheaper when you have to buy two of them). GAWD! I need mountains!

I'm guilty of it too, but Flatlanders are hilarious!!!!!!!!!

I had fun out there on my 121.......well of course you did but the others on MTN sleds didn't have fun pulling you out all day long!!!!!! I have a 144 on my summit 800 and last time I was in the mountains I was running around pulling out 162's does this mean a 144 is better than a 162 in pow?????? No, it means I either picked better lines, didn't challenge my sled as much, or I'm a better rider! We are all going to have fun in the mountains cause there is much more snow then most are used to. But, whoever thinks a 121 or 128 floats in pow is full of $HIT!!!!!!

You need mountains too? I just got back from Cooke Sunday and I NEED to go back ASAP!!

Gett'n unstuck- LOL! That is so true!

Nobody is arguing that 121 and 128 float better than mountain sleds. All the kid is asking is if he would still be able to use his f7 in the mountains. And with the right set up on that sled, you can still have an enjoyable time with just changing some of the sleds aspects. To me it wouldnt be worth buying a mountain sled because Ive only been out west once(hopefully much more to come) but since i set my sled up correctly it behaved in a completely different manner if i would have touched it at all. I think that most of the time it is the rider more than the sled. I would guess that you are a much better rider than the person you explained in your post. Put it like this: If you could get the job done with less tools (your 144 sled) compared to another guy that cant get the job done with more tools (162 sled) than i would only guess that you are much better worker (rider in this case.) I asked the same exact question a few months back many people tried to scare me away from bringing my 121 out west but i did it anyway. I had a great time on the sled and i think if you can set up a sled correctly you will be fine. Just make sure you know the limitations of the sled. It is true that mountain sleds can get you farther deeper and higher than 121 or 128s but a sled is still a sled. Ten years ago it was a rareity to see a sled much bigger than a 136. And these people seem to agree with me http://www.hardcoresledder.com/forums/inde...howtopic=208481

Thank You!.... some ppl on here are unbelievable, all we did we ask a few questions to help out our chances of riding shorties out there... You can have the best sled available for the steep and deep, but if you can't ride it, then you might as well be riding a 377 Safari out there, I've been told that I can ride, so I'm not gonna brag, and I'm sure I'll get stuck lots of times, I just want to know what I can do to my 128 to make it work better out there.

Kevo

So-can anyone here give me some setup tips for an efiF7 with a 1.7 track-running f6 gearing-I am going to be riding from 6-9k- I was thinking either a 53-51 with a red/white sec.spring and was going to try and sling 60gram weights with either a pink epi or orange ac pri spring-am I even close to a good setup? or do I need to go another route-the whole deep snow at elevation riding is new to me soany help would be much appreciated-Thanks

I would try to help you but looks like you will have to talk to an AC guy about that....

I rode my F7sp for three years out west...... First year did nothing as recommended from a flatland dealer.... I was sorely dissapointed.
I followed the manufacture reccomondations for 6-9000' and was very happy.. The engine setup made all the differance in the world. The F will go alot of places, However you will be working hard.
I recommend getting a minimum of a 6" bar riser, (there is enough slack on all cables for that) I eventually went with a 8" and got a throttle extender on mine the last year I rode it.
Fr8tdog

Did you have any motor mods done to it, or was it a stock motor with just clutching??


Kevo

i just use my sled a stock 06 f7 and it does ok in the powder. would like to lengthen it but next yr is time for a new sled so i dont see it worth making it longer

Ok I'd suggest running cat suggested weights for 6-9 i can look up the part number depending on your year wether they are new or old style weights. Run a 51flat helix for better backshift and belt hold, red white secendary spring, yellow white primary you don't want a higher engagement or it hits in so hard you'll dig in and that should do it for clutching thats what I ran on my 151F7 and on a friends 128X1.7 F7.

with record snowfall aroudn ware i live .. i got 5ft of snow in my yard my lil seven have to get worked tough to be able to go out with my friends" who all ride mountain sleds" What i have done is 1.7 camoplast track 9tooth driver 20/39gearing dropbracket VENTS IS A MUST and as many bullseyes you can throw on your airbox i have the SLP airintake and the bulleyes. They make a huge difference when your in deep ass snow and its flying over your hood then your nosecone gets pluged. THE PART I FUCKED UP ON is buying engine mods instead of wide skis.. i have 5in wide C&Apro skis... i hate them so much if i have to do any turningon a lose trail or something they fuckin suck.. you spend most your time pullin your ski's off the ground and leaning to turn. Reclutching is a must you wanna reach peak RPMS so you can stay on top of the snow.i have a few mods here and there im sure a stock engine could do just fine in the powder with a set up like that. I love the sled too death and from then on its time and talent you just have to get used to it. Ive been riding F-cats in deep pow pow for about 4 years now and it aint no big deal to get with it in the deep snow. Hope this helps

Thanks for chiming in... I'll throw it in the trailer with this setup and take a bunch of parts along-just in case