Rockmeister The Destroyer...

Hhahhahhaha!

Nick gave me a new nickname based on some of my recent sledding "experieces"...
Planned on a trip to Gaylord Mi with Mattzilla & Bonehard for a few days of sledding right after Christmas.

Wake up Christmas morning to POURING rain.
All our snow is GONE!
I'm seriously bummed...
Mattzilla calls and had broken a rib at work, so he is toast for this trip.
Call all over, people are saying that the rain there didn't hurt things too bad & they may not ride it, but they know I will!

(No snow Prima donna here, I just wanna ride! lol)

So, we load up & head north.
We start out Sun morning riding and have a blast. Ride 150 miles or so.
Trails are ok, not super great, not too bad.
Sled traffic is HEAVY!
Heaviest traffic I have ever seen during the week, and it stayed that way the entire time we were there.
Passed a LOT of sleds...

Monday morning pack up all the orders I have and take to the post office.
Riding my sled, it has a slight vibration that is new.
Hmmm...
Think just a bit of ice in the track or something initially.

Later I get a message from the Grim Reaper from Atlanta, he can come out and play!!!
We wait & meet up with him and his son after dark.
We have an awesome ride north of Lovells, some serious café racing style riding.
(Aside of the thrill of an occasional deer crossing)

By this time my vibration is getting worse.
Am talking about it at a trail stop, & we think maybe better change the drive belt just in case.
Looking at the belt, we find BIG cracks in the secondary.
(Had looked earlier in the day & did not find them then.)
Upon closer inspection find large chunks missing from my secondary!
Rut Rho Raggie!

It is broken where the rollers mount that ride on the helix. (Roller Rooster Secondary)
Looks like it MAY hold together to get back, but I wasn't gonna test it at any high rate of speed.
Give a call to Superman from the trail, he gets on TY to see if he can find me a clutch.
We take a relatively leisurely ride back to the motel after splitting off from the Grim Reaper & his son.

By the time we get to the hotel, Superman has located a clutch for me.
WooooHooo!!!
End up finding one in Cadillac MI, not too far a drive and one near Detroit.

Tues am:
Make contact with the guy in Cadillac & head that way late in the am.
He has a Team TSS-04 Captivated Roller. (MAY hold up better?)
(Have broken many clutches on many different brands, is the second broken secondary on this sled.)

Friend of Waldos on here.
Met Waldo & his Jewish friend (monetary religion. lol)

Installed a YamaHeater for Waldo on his Nytro while we were there.

Get the clutch, back at the motel, answer emails & get the new secondary installed.
While installing the secondary, look at the primary.
Hmmmmmmm... #*$&@!
Looks like someone took a hammer and took a really good single whack at the primary.
A piece of the secondary hit the edge of the primary.
Not a show-stopper this trip, but something that needs fixed sooner rather than later.

By this time, it's dark & we suit up & take off.
Have an awesome ride!
It's late enough, most of the riders are in for the day & the groomer has been out.
WAAAAY AWESOME!

My sled is running way low in RPMs (9600 or so), but is very smooth shifting & vibration is gone.
Is ride-able & I'm happy.

After stopping for some food, we are flying down a trail having a blast when all of a sudden, my sled feels funny & snow is shooting straight up in front of me...

Stop & check it out...
Have broken the right front shock...
The eyelet at the bottom end broke off the shock rod.
We have tools, but need a socket to get the shock off that we don't have with us.
So end up leaving it hanging and ride back. (again, kinda easy)

Turns out the 13mm sway bar did a reasonable job of holding that corner of the sled up.
Had to take it easy in left turns, but right turns & straights were no problem.
Until...

Caught a large rock (~5" diameter) and sent it flying with the shock.
Looked like it was shot out of a cannon! lol
When we got to the hotel, the shock rod was bent at a 45 degree angle.
Apparently it didn't like golfing with rocks...

Wed am:
Hunt around the area & TY for a shock, don't find anything real close.
Think "What about the guy I got the clutch from?"
Call him.
He has ONE. (And soon to have most of my money for the week. lol)
It's a GYTR fully adjustable.
I'm ok, don't really care if they are the same as long as I'm riding!!!

Head to Cadillac AGAIN early in the afternoon.
I had found a couple other GYTRs on TY so knew I could find a match later.
(Ordered the second one from a TY'er as soon as I got back to the motel.)
Purchased a primary clutch from him also while we were there.

On the way back, calling around for a primary spring to get my RPMs back.
Find one at Hackers.
Stop @ Hackers on the way back.

By the time we are back at the Motel, it's dark again... lol
It being dark is actually a blessing in disguise, as most sledders are done for the day & the groomers are out. Our trails are great!
Get the old shock off & the new GYTR on.
Adjust the shock spring, change the primary spring, check emails, and suit up.

We head out to ride at something like 8pm by this time.
Ride 40 miles or so & find food.
Superman calls me & tells me we have to stop by for Lois Lanes B-day.
He also says I can't possibly make it to his place 40 miles away in less than an hour by trail...
IT'S ON BAAAAAABY!!!
Head his way & darn near make it in 30 minutes!
(Blew a belt on the Rage on the way too.)

Have a Blast with Lois & Superman, head out thinking we may head to the bridge.
Realize it's like 2 or 3am, not gonna head to the bridge.
So we head SouthWest and wander cross-country.
Have a blast until our fuel lights come on, then it's time to head back.

Get back to the hotel at 5:45am, rode 180 miles. lol

Over-all it was a Fun trip!

The best thing over-all was the fact that even with a couple major parts breaks, was STILL able to ride due to the contacts on TY!!!

Great report -

Great story, damn near fell out of the chair from laughing.

WOW, sometimes good and bad luck balance out. Glad you survived your trip.

So, Rock? When you travel do you have like a little trailer train going down the road? You know, one for the sleds and a second for parts? Just wondering?

That is a great adventure Rock! Sounds like you had a blast and all the breakdowns just adds to the experience we call snowmobiling. G.B.

Geez now I don't feel so bad

Although like an idiot I always carry at least 2 spare sleds just for that reason. I once took 3 sleds on a trip and had to rent 1 by the end of the week

Rock, you've got the lyrics now you should consider setting this to music. Throw in a dog and a pick-up truck and you've got yourself a country hit.

Don't make me start calling you "Sloth the Sled Slayer Sr."

arteeex said:

Rock, you've got the lyrics now you should consider setting this to music. Throw in a dog and a pick-up truck and you've got yourself a country hit.

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LMAO!!!

It's all for the Fun!

yamaman98 said:

Great story, damn near fell out of the chair from laughing.

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I know!!!
It's even funnier since we got home! lol

We were laughing when it all happened, it's laugh or cry, and I was having too much fun not to laugh! lol

Hey Rock are you writing credit card commercials cause this is priceless lol

Hmmm, who the hell is the grim reaper anyway? oh and by the way, his heater thing is awesome...... thats another 5 rock!

onlyblue said:

Hmmm, who the hell is the grim reaper anyway? oh and by the way, his heater thing is awesome...... thats another 5 rock!

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Hhahhahhaha!

The Grim Reaper Speaks!

(Ya know ur gonna end up with a new nickname don't cha?...)

hossZ28 said:

Hey Rock are you writing credit card commercials cause this is priceless lol

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Broken Secondary, 2 Jew Bucks :exc:
Broken Shock, 2 Jew Bucks :exc:
Broken Primary, ANOTHER G%^*@ 2 Jew Bucks :exc:

Having Fun Sledding... PRICELESS .


PS Shogun & Waldo were awesome & helped get me going, I REALLY appreciate it!
Laughed with him about being a "Jew" when we were there.
"Monetary religion" only implied. lol