[OR Traveling Rmax]

I’m having some steering issues. I first noticed in Moab, after I changed my tie rods, that the steering would sometimes feel “sticky” for lack of a better word. It would kind of bind up, then release and go smooth again. It still does that, but now it is just plain hard to turn all the time. I tried turning it with the engine off and on, and feel zero difference in effort. The battery meter shows 14.5 when at rest, and only drops to 14.1 when I turn. I got in there, and all bolts and u joints seem tight.

 

[Budro2]

I’m having some steering issues. I first noticed in Moab, after I changed my tie rods, that the steering would sometimes feel “sticky” for lack of a better word. It would kind of bind up, then release and go smooth again. It still does that, but now it is just plain hard to turn all the time. I tried turning it with the engine off and on, and feel zero difference in effort. The battery meter shows 14.5 when at rest, and only drops to 14.1 when I turn. I got in there, and all bolts and u joints seem tight.

Is the warning light on?
Does it show a code ?

https://www.wolverineforums.com/posts/420510/

 

[OR Traveling Rmax]

Is the warning light on?
Does it show a code ?

https://www.wolverineforums.com/posts/420510/

No light. I read that thread last night. I went over to the local dealer today and made an appointment for Monday. It’s on a YES warranty. They wanted me to bring it Friday, but I’m going to ride all weekend. Build up my muscles.

 

[therebel19]

Check your ball joints. I have adjustable ball joint and when my steering gets to doing what your describing, its time for me to tighten the ball joints again. Also, the front sway bar can bind up so remove it if your haven't already.

 

[OR Traveling Rmax]

Check your ball joints. I have adjustable ball joint and when my steering gets to doing what your describing, its time for me to tighten the ball joints again. Also, the front sway bar can bind up so remove it if your haven't already.

I will check the ball joints in the morning. Sway bars are disconnected as I brought it back on the trailer after riding the other day. I think I’m going to bump my tire pressure up to 15 pounds tomorrow too, and see what that does. They’re still at 8 front and 7.5 rear right now. I’d really like to not have it go in the shop. It’s going to be warming up over the next couple weeks, and with the holidays coming I’d hate to have it sit during good riding weather.

 

[Larry Meadors]

Yeah. I got on it, but didn’t really hit it. I’d say I have a 50/50 chance, but I need someone around to flip me back over if things go south. It’s steeper than I remembered, and you’re pretty high up the wall before your front tires are on top. I think it’s commit, or crash.
As we came up to one obstacle, my wife said, We can’t do that. I said, You mean now, or we can’t make it up? She said, both.
It was this one…

She didn’t believe me until I showed her the video. It’s a lot more intimidating when you’re out there alone. She seemed okay with the Chute until I put tires on it. Then she changed her mind. I’d pretty much had enough excitement anyway.

Thinking about that climb. I think I’d want to try it the first time with a rope. That’s probably all you need.

Hell of a climb....

 

[OR Traveling Rmax]

Out playing in the rocks with just my wife again today. Really like my clutch, tires, and suspension. Everything is working perfectly.

I think my steering issue is user error. I put 15 pounds in my tires to run to the trail today, and had one finger steering. Bumped down to 8.5 on the rocks. Traction seemed good, but steering seemed hard again. I guess maybe that’s the price of spacers and sticky tires.

 

[OR Traveling Rmax]

Finally put up a couple YouTube videos.

This one really does a good job of showing how well the tires work.

 

[OR Traveling Rmax]

Unrelated. Here’s another one from home, playing around with a bully

 

[OR Traveling Rmax]

Tires are just a little big on a RMax4. Knowing what I now know, I’d still buy them.

also, added to the fender carnage today.

 

[Budro2]

Badges of honor!

 

[OR Traveling Rmax]

 

[OR Traveling Rmax]

Badges of honor!

In another year it’ll probably look like a mini DeathStar.

 

[Budro2]

Is that somewhere close to Dollar Bill? Just to the right of it a bit?

 

[OR Traveling Rmax]

Yes, it’s the climb between dollar bill and the bypass. I called it Fitty Cent because I chickened out on dollar bill, but did that one. It’s not much better, but it’s not as steep up top.

 

[Budro2]

Yes, it’s the climb between dollar bill and the bypass. I called it Fitty Cent because I chickened out on dollar bill, but did that one. It’s not much better, but it’s not as steep up top.

I thought so, I’ve been up it. Just never heard the name but it’s a good one. I got up on Dollar Bill but couldn’t really get started. With our wheelbase you gotta hit it hard and and there’s no way to transition into it smooth. You literally hit hard and bounce. I’m sure you’ve seen the footage of Eric doing it in the goat. Pretty dang western. That’s why it’s got green testicles hanging off the back

 

[OR Traveling Rmax]

I thought so, I’ve been up it. Just never heard the name but it’s a good one. I got up on Dollar Bill but couldn’t really get started. With our wheelbase you gotta hit it hard and and there’s no way to transition into it smooth. You literally hit hard and bounce. I’m sure you’ve seen the footage of Eric doing it in the goat. Pretty dang western. That’s why it’s got green testicles hanging off the back

I tested it 4 or 5 times. There’s no crawling it. I felt it a few times to see where I could get square on it, and avoid the worst of the holes. Then I got set up and just ran up a couple feet with the back tires to see how it went. When I came back down, I bounced on the back tires. The bottom is super abrupt, and there’s no transition, so you bounce before you roll back. The last time I tested it, the car slid left before I let off. I really think I could have done it, but I thought too long about it and psyched myself out. I’ll do it, but today wasn’t the day.

 

[OR Traveling Rmax]

Suspension talk.

O-rings and oil seals have never been my strong suit. I’ve spent my life in the brick and mortar, nails and lumber, and chains and straps world. So when I started trying to get my suspension dialed in, I really had very little idea where to start.

After reading quite a bit on here, I decided to start with springs. A lot of people outside this forum seemed impressed with Shock Therapy, and a few less seemed to like Schmidty. Double E was mentioned here with good reviews from those who’d tried them, but some said there were some shady business practices. Then there was Bandit, who many on here liked when it came to tenders, but unfortunately, like many products on here, nobody really gave an in depth review after they installed the dual rate sets. I was starting to lean towards Shock Therapy mainly because I know a few people who have them on cars that aren’t Yamahas. They all love them, but 2 of them are running 4 seat Can-Ams, and the others are running 4 Seat RZRs. None of them are really into rock crawling. I guess I know a couple KRX owners who crawl with STs, but hadn’t heard any input from them at the time.

Then Weller Racing posted that they had springs coming for the Rmax4. They were $540, so it was a low risk investment. I called and asked about them, and decided to wait for the release.

I got them, and spent a month in Moab testing them. My first impression was that they were an improvement, but no magic bullet. I’d say I was underwhelmed. I started thinking that I was going to have to do valving in order to have the results I was hoping for, if that was even possible. I started doing more intensive research on shock tuning. That’s when I saw the Shock Therapy video posted earlier in this thread. They do a good job of scaring people away from using other tuners, by concentrating on the bypass tubes in their shocks. One thing I didn’t really understand at the time was that a Rmax doesn’t have bypass tubes in its shocks. I decided Shock Therapy was going to tune my shocks. I called them and tried to get them to commit to having my shocks done at noon, on the day I could bring it in. They said no, so I put it off until February. I kept doing research, and started to learn a little about gas pressure. It seemed like a low cost/risk fix to hold me over for a couple months, so I asked Weller to add gas while they worked on my clutch. That changed the game. I was/am thoroughly happy with my suspension. I’m still not blasting through 3 foot woops at over 25mph, but I don’t believe my Rmax is ever going to be good at that, whatever I do to the shocks. I decided I’m not having my shocks tuned. I’m happy and done.

Fast forward. I never stopped doing research. So now, even though I love my suspension, there’s a little voice saying I wonder how much better they could be if I had them tuned. And since I don’t have crossover rings, my shocks aren’t dual rate, just dual spring, which is gimmicky and pointless. I called Kyle at Weller yesterday and spent 35 minutes talking to him about my suspension, plus a question I had that I’ll get to in my next post. $750 for the tune, plus $40 for the rings isn’t chump change, but when I thought about it, I couldn’t think of anything else I’d rather buy right now for $800.

TL;DR Even though I love my suspension, I’m going to try to make it better. My appointment is in February.

 

[OR Traveling Rmax]

These tires, my clutch, and suspension sometimes make me feel like it can do anything. Maybe it can, but the driver still needs improvement.

 

[OR Traveling Rmax]

I’m not saying 100% for sure I could have made that obstacle. I assumed a pretty good failure rate when I tried it. After seeing the game film, there was no possibility I was going to make it the way I tried to do it. I think I got scared when i floated my front on a practice run. I needed momentum, but tried to substitute a little power braking to build speed. Obviously didn’t work. The next time I’m out there with people I trust again, I’m going to hit it again.