mods for talon 150 to run on sand dunes

Posts: 18

i just came from a trip to central la., where there is a 300 acre sand dune site for 4 wheelers and dune buggies.
i have a 2007 talon 150 gsx with no mods. i immediately got stuck in the sand by a creek. after you cross the creek is a large sand dune you have to go up to get to the 300 acre area. i crossed the creek and went about 10 feet before i bogged down. a guy on a large 4-wheeler hooked my buggy and tried to pull me up the hill, to no avail. Crying or Very sad

so all i could do was watch everyone else have a good time. no wonder there were no other dune buggies out there.
does anyone in the buggy forum have a 150 that had mods done, enough to get their buggy up a sand dune.
i found out that i needed paddle tires, but i dont think that would be enough. any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

thanks christie

Posts: 1737

talk to pghurby do not get paddles these things do not have enough power to spin them

Posts: 301

first thing is to deflate your rear tires as low as you can without popping the bead. Knobbies are too aggressive for sand. I'll let the 150 experts tell you what mods will help in sand, but don't expect a whole lot. raw horsepower is really what is needed for sand.

Posts: 18

thanks for the info guys. i appreciate it. i do have a message in to talonman and pghruby for more info.

Posts: 1832

CM, from everything I have read here regarding buggys and sand, I believe you will find the 150's just do not have enough power to be used there. I hope someone can jump in here and give you more of what you want to hear. I know it must have been disapointing when you found out your buggy would not perform like you thought it would.

Posts: 1893 · *Last edited by pghruby on Sat Oct 04, 2008 11:44 pm; edited 1 time in total*

There are two things you need in sand: Low end torque and Floatation.

There is not enough power to spin the paddles with a 150cc engine so you should look for a tire that will stay on top of the sand. Mudlites and Bearclaws are too agreesive for sand and will dig more than move you forward. The stock tires or turf saver type tires will work better on the rear. The front tires should be as big and wide you fit so they float over the sand and don't sink in. Typically I deflate the rear tires so they are riding on only a little pocket of air between the ground and rim. Run the front tires at 10 PSI to keep drag low.

To get more torque out of your engine, you need to gear the engine down and while letting it breathe better. Contact BigE on this forum or BuggyDepot.com for most of the parts I am suggesting. Get a 2-stage UNI filter with filter cover and intake kit to replace your restrictive airbox. Your engine will breathe so much better that you will need to rejet the carburetor with a 125 to 130 main jet to keep the fuel ratio in check. You can add an A12 torque cam and high performance CDI to get the engine tuned more for torque than stock.

Gearing will also help in the sand. The stock transmission and sprocket are fine for running on hard pack flat terrain, but you need the engine operating closer to it's peak horsepower and torque curves. You will do this By retuning the CVT and putting a larger axle sprocket on the buggy. The CVT has a variator and clutch to to automatically change ratios based on engine speed and and load. You should change the variator rollers to a set of 10g rollers and the torque spring in the clutch assembly to a 1500 RPM yellow spring. If you have a double roller chain, get the dual 37t sprocket. If you have a standard single roller chain, get the 39t sprocket. These sprockets may be to large to fit your stock chain, so you may need one or two links.

Expect 30-35 mph top speed after these modifications and a 20-25 mph in the soft sand.

Posts: 325

I dont know what kind sand you are talking about,but there was alot of 150s at the buggy bash inthe sand The badlands In. has sand dunes and there was a bunch of us with 150s there.Sure more hp the the better but I think we can make it work for her.

Posts: 1832

Thanks for jumping in guys. I'm happy to hear there is hope for getting a 150 to run in sand.

Posts: 18

pghruby thanks so much for the info.

these sand dunes are soft sand and pretty steep hills. so u think with these mods, i would be able to go up those dunes?

if you want to see the dunes go to www.thedunesinc.com

it is a great place. there were no buggies there, only 4wheeler and mules, etc.

funnyman what is the sand like in the badlands you were talking about? any steep hills and soft sand? how are the 150 buggies modified to ride in that sand?

thanks again christie

Posts: 325

cm,pghruby hit the nail on the head!I think he's pretty much the go to guy when it comes to sand.The gearing/cvt is what I would do first.

The badlands in In. has pretty much everthing.High hills, sand,mud,deep pea gravel(I think thats worst than sand its like driving on marbles).I think you'll be fine!
I think theres vid on the badlands and of the national buggybash.Check it out, see what you think.