97 Polaris XLT ski alignment

[mr...@my-deja.com]

I am aligning the skis on a 97 Polaris XLT just purchased. Left ski is
toeing way out. Anyone have any surefire methods to align accurately.
Dealer says specs are for no toe-in or out. Same distance edge to edge
for front and back.

Any help would be appreciated.

Tom
XLT 600
FORM DLX 700

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[Rob Lyons]

On Sun, 21 Jan 2001 23:11:09 GMT, mr...@my-deja.com wrote:

>I am aligning the skis on a 97 Polaris XLT just purchased. Left ski is
>toeing way out. Anyone have any surefire methods to align accurately.
>Dealer says specs are for no toe-in or out. Same distance edge to edge
>for front and back.
>
>Any help would be appreciated.
>
>Tom
>XLT 600
>FORM DLX 700

Tom, your dealer is nuts. All sleds require a little toe-out for stable
running. Attach a bungee cord across the ski-tips and then measure the
distance between the skis at about 10" in front of the spindle, and 10"
behind the spindle. The front measurement should be about 3/16's bigger
than the rear one.

Rob in Vermont

[pau...@home.com]

Check for worn out radius rod or ski bushing in the uprights - if the
skis wiggle more than 1/4" at the tips, something is wacky. If only one
ski is offset, maybe the spline wasn't lined up correctly if the spindle
was recently taken apart.

Paul 93 Indy440

[pau...@home.com]

Check for worn out radius rod or ski bushing in the uprights - if the
skis wiggle more than 1/4" at the tips, something is wacky. If only one
ski is offset, maybe the spline wasn't lined up correctly if the spindle
was recently taken apart.

Paul 93 Indy440

[Alan]

Another way of doing an alignment check is to get a 5/8th steel rod or
even a wooden dowel and remove both skis so that you can slide the rod
through both ski mounting sleeves. I think that for my 97 XLT Sp. the
repair manual DID call for "no" toe out at all. That's why I would be
able to use the rod. It would also be a good starting point if you think
the ski had been whacked or damaged and bent something. I saw this
happen on a 89 Indy 400 that had been hit in a garage by me cousin's
ex-wife. Didn't notice the bent tie rod until you tried to steer
straight.
Alan

[Charles Parker]

Isn't it against the law to hit a perfectly good snowmobile with someone's
ex-wife?

"Alan" <abea...@visteon.com> wrote in message
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[Lee Fife]

I seem to remember that no toe in/out was correct for the 94 XLT that I
had. I used to align the skies by placing a straight 8 foot long 2X4
inside each of the skies and measuring each end of the 2X4. I had a little
too much play in mine so I centered it as best I could. It tracked well.
No darting etc. Of course I had Simmons flexskis with cutting carbides on
all four runners. That might have helped with the darting.

[Rob Lyons]

I owned XLT's from '94 to '97, and I too remember the "no toe-in/toe-out'
instruction in the owners manual. It was judged wrong then, and it is
wrong now. At that time my dealer said that it was a mistake, and ALL
sleds need a little toe-out. Going 'by the book' is not always right.
Just like the track tension adjustment for the old XLT's with the original
Xra-12 called for some ridiculously tight setting. WRONG! How about
jetting specs on many sleds including the fabled '96XCR600sp "Black BOMB".
Follow the book there and you get 50miles to a tank while smoking out
friends and neighbors.

The owners manual is often wrong. All sleds need a little toe-out.

Rob in Vermont

[Alan]

God knows, she has it coming. She's a real wacko!
Alan