Phazer mod sleds

[bird]

I added gas yesterday and cranked on it for few minutes, in 5 second bursts waiting 10 seconds and it didn't fire. Verified spark and fuel in the float bowls, tried again to no avail.

Went inside to watch the Packer game and came back out hours later. Touched the starter button and braaap!

Probably had too much fogging oil in the combustion chamber. My sled had been sitting since last season, and I wanted the cylinders lubed before premix arrived from the carbs.

Going to do the idle drop on the trailer today and fiddle with the throttle linkage.

SNOW COMING TONIGHT!

 

[bird]

My issue with starting was the choke cable throw. I was using the stock Phazer choke cable with the VMAX carbs. I was able to use part of the stock carbs choke linkage with the flat side choke cable brass to make it work. Gonna try to ride this weekend.

 

[bird]

Got the sled out today. Ran it on some public property fishing roads back and forth.

First run. 1/4 mile in sled is running good, everything feels great, then I smelled brakes.... My brake was sticking! Disc brake was smoking hot. Parked the sled and walked back to the truck, put it on the trailer and took it home. Spent 45 minutes taking apart the ratcheting brake mechanism. Figured it out, by backing out the adjuster and setting the spring pull/adjuster length to 71mm.

Second run. I put a mile down going back and forth, maybe hitting 40mph. Then I leaned out the pilot adjusters for a little more bottom end response.

The sled rides and glides SO much better with new bearings, pulleys, and slides. I can also tell the rear suspension is moving and working better than before. The new track drives right up on the trailer, no sliding!

Trails are getting groomed here, they should be open by Monday. Cold weather ahead, no sign of snow melting.

 

[schicks]

Oh yea, always wrenching.
My shock froze up.

 

[bird]

Got the sled out yesterday on the trail for a bit. It drives so much better than it ever did!

The previous owner installed a rear drop lift, to make it look "cool". I took that off since it messes with the pressure on the skis, as well as the way the skid reacts. Kids these days.

I had a hard time pulling past 55mph, the mains are too big. I jetted down from 150s to 145s last night. Going to try it out on the trail today.

 

[Quinc]

55 is pretty impressive for that little ski and an adult riding it!

 

[Storbeck]

I would have expected a phazer to do quite a bit more than 55 on hard pack. Maybe mid seventies.

 

[bird]

I would have expected a phazer to do quite a bit more than 55 on hard pack. Maybe mid seventies.

With my crusty skid and the old carbs it had a hard time pulling 60s on the trail last year. On the ice it was pulling 70+ no problem.

My mains were so fat I couldn't hold it open without it getting gurgly. I'm about to head out and try the 145 mains.

 

[Storbeck]

She'll be a RIPPA when you get her dialed!

 

[bird]

Sled was pulling through 55 doing 60+ last night, no gurgles. On the way back my speed cable fell off the meter hookup... lol Pushed it back on.

I still feel like there is more power to be had up top. I'm going to get it on the lake this weekend where I know it pulled 70s. Thinking about tinkering with the needle positions.

I've been doing some internet searches, and I can't find a real reason snowmobiles use thumb throttles!? Typical forum replies are silly like "work out your thumb more". Does the snowmobiling community know finger throttles exist? I saw that munster one for 200 bucks, wth? Munster Cheese Throttle. If the sled tips over it can pin the throttle, I get that. But I've heard stories of the thumb throttle hitting legs while turning and getting pinned that way. At least the sled is upside down, with a finger throttle in that scenario. Float bowls would run out of fuel quick.

I went with the Slippery Finger throttle. I bought mine for $43 last week, it goes for $80+ everywhere else. Got a cable adjuster off amazon. 2024 is looking brighter.

 

[Storbeck]

I grew up riding snowmobiles and the thumb throttle (snowmobiles style, not atv style, they're different) is what feels most natural to me. Unpopular opinion but twist throttles are dumb. I got used to them, but if you really think about it they're dumb.

Trouble with finger throttles is gloves/mittens.

But the end result is I think it's just what people are accustomed to, so use what you like and apologize to nobody.

Personal opinion for snowmobiles I like hooks, round hooks, properly spaced so that you actually ride holding onto the transition between the straight and hooked part of the bar. A lot of modern snowmobiles are set up that way, the newer Yamaha's (maybe mid 2000's up to the yamacats) had, IMO, great bar/lever/throttle shape. Again, I rode those a lot so it's what I was used to, but it might be worth looking at if you want to experiment. Super common parts that are not particularly highly desired, so cheap.

Do you have a tachometer and where are you with your clutching? If you have stock clutch setup in good working order and it is not pulling rpms that is a pretty good indication you are down on power for some reason.

 

[bird]

I grew up riding snowmobiles and the thumb throttle (snowmobiles style, not atv style, they're different) is what feels most natural to me. Unpopular opinion but twist throttles are dumb. I got used to them, but if you really think about it they're dumb.

Trouble with finger throttles is gloves/mittens.

But the end result is I think it's just what people are accustomed to, so use what you like and apologize to nobody.

Personal opinion for snowmobiles I like hooks, round hooks, properly spaced so that you actually ride holding onto the transition between the straight and hooked part of the bar. A lot of modern snowmobiles are set up that way, the newer Yamaha's (maybe mid 2000's up to the yamacats) had, IMO, great bar/lever/throttle shape. Again, I rode those a lot so it's what I was used to, but it might be worth looking at if you want to experiment. Super common parts that are not particularly highly desired, so cheap.

Do you have a tachometer and where are you with your clutching? If you have stock clutch setup in good working order and it is not pulling rpms that is a pretty good indication you are down on power for some reason.

The Mitten argument makes sense for thumbs. Thanks for the reply and info!

 

[Scorn800]

I agree with storbeck, check you clutches. Have they ever been serviced? You could be loosing rpms very easy with worn out clutch parts.

Also as someone who rode jetski's most of my life is was hard to get use to thumb throttles. Once you get use to them they are fine. I've now owned sleds for 20 years and have had about 10 different machines. You are not always going to want to switch to finger throttles.
Might want to think about learning to use them if you continue to ride sleds they all have them.

 

[bird]

Got the Primary and secondary clutches out....

I have a pre 1993 primary in my 1993 sled. Learning Yamaha stuff everyday over here.

Primary was extremely dirty(two ultrasonic baths with new water and finally clean!). All three rollers had their bushing completely eroded! The weights had the same issue, but not quite as bad. The three slides were grooved.

I had to use a hammer to tap the clutch housing and get the spring to pop and put tension on the clutch. UFFDA! HOW DID THIS THING EVEN WORK BEFORE?

Going to tear into the secondary next and try to figure out my best option forward(go to 93+ primary etc).

Trails are closed, 45 and sunny next week. Might be able to jet ski in January

 

[bird]

Went back and forth on getting a newer style primary clutch. Either way I'd probably end up buying parts to freshen them up, so I went with buying parts for the one I have.

Sourced parts on eBay and Partzilla. $185 taxed and shipped.

Checking out the Secondary next.

 

[Storbeck]

Do you have a working Tachometer? It's really helpful.

 

[bird]

Do you have a working Tachometer? It's really helpful.

Tiny Tach will be used when I get it back together! I pulled my oiler pump and mech tach.

 

[bird]

Got the secondary apart. Only one button was found floating around in between the spring! Other two were MIA. Helix had some scars, but it all sanded out nicely. The helix was stuck on the splines and buildup around the circumference made engaging tough or impossible.

Ordering three new buttons and some shims.

The secondary not shifting was probably why I never saw 80mph on this sled, even on the ice.

 

[bird]

Reviewing the differences in the clutches from year to year, I confirmed I have an older style YPZ Primary Clutch(narrow belt) and the 1993 newer style Secondary(wide belt).

The previous owner installed a Gates belt that doesn't match Narrow or Wide belt Phazers.....They clearly had no clue what they were doing!

Since I already started to rebuild my YPZ primary, and the price of the narrow belt is half that of the wide, I ordered an older style Secondary for $50 shipped. It uses the same buttons I already ordered for the newer style secondary. Check out how bad the old one was vs new.



51 up here in Wisconsin. Going Jet Skiing and skateboarding today.

 

[bird]

adding to the madness, the rollers were not the stock size or versions....



Ordered x3 rollers and bushings of the stock size.