Kachess
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
No. 12 ton came with a timbersled front end. We were excited to try one out, but so far we are struggling with it. The geometry is drastically different than stock, and tends to want to rip the bars out of you hands on the trail, running the powder pros we run. The ski pivot axis leads the spindle axis and makes it want to "power steer". I am scared to death to take the sled on a "death drop" through crud. Almost have to ride the trail sitting down to brace the bars so they don't jerk out of your hands. We finally flipped the spindles 180 degrees so the ski pivot axis follows the spindle axis and it tracks much better (like shopping cart front wheels) but increased effort over stock is required to turn the skis. Maybe too much. Still messing with it. It definitely doesn't handle as easy as our stock front ends. Jury is still out.
thinksnow
Expert
Yup, I hate the Barkbusters on my turbo Apex. The last time out I was ready to call it a day after 3 miles. My arms and hands were hurting by the end of the ride from the death grip on the bars. Not fun or safe IMO. I am just about ready to trade someone for a stock suspension.
birkebeiner
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Interesting information guys. I was wondering of getting the Barkbuster front end together with some Fox Floats, in the 42" version, but will reconsider now!
Would like to widen the front end of my Vector Mountain from 39" to 42".
Would like to widen the front end of my Vector Mountain from 39" to 42".
Mtn-Track
Extreme
I was leaning towards them also, but now I'm thinking twice. So what is another lightweight alternative that has some strength and good driveability? (for BOTH Vector and Apex?)
Jabber
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I have the barkbuster on my sled and find they work as good or better than the stock front end. I had the same problem with wild steering last year. This year I looked at the geometry of the setup and noticed that the spindles were tilted causing the skis to be pushed under the front of the sled. I adjusted the hiem joints to tilt the spindlesso the top of the spindle was closer to the sled and the bottom of the spinde was futher away from the sled. Solved the steering issue and lovin it. Give a look at the spindles from the front end and see which way they are tilted. Worked for me.
Kachess
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
We noticed the same thing last week and adjusted the ball joints to tilt the tops in (spindles straight up and down). Helped alot. We also had flipped the spindles backwards, which helped, but may flip them back around and give it a try again.
birkebeiner
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Keep us posted Kachess!
obr
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great, I thought I had something wrong with mine... Mine is just the same...my ski allignment is a bit off, so I thought that might be what was causing it, but when you say yours is the same, I guess that's just the way it is...having some problems with the Rider forward mod and the barkbuster...just won't steer all the way over....It seems like the big benefit of increased steering wont work with the rider forward...Might have to cut the stopper off on the steering column...
birkebeiner
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Kachess said:
Hi Kachess
Was this the Barkbuster front-end with the new All Terrain spindles? Heard guys saying that the new 2010 All Terrain spindles are better, also for trail riding.
Where you able to tune in this front-end so it works now?
Kachess
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
It was an older timbersled front end. We ended up turning the spindles back around the way they are supposed to be, and the guy rode it the rest of the season that way. He's gotten used to it, but there's tons of play and it doesn't handle as well as our's. I'd be interested to see how the newer design handles. The durability is a major issue. We ride the crap our of our sleds, but have never had a front end flop around like the almost new timbersled front end.
