Diceman
New member
Was at the cottage for the week. Had just put on a new set of sliders before going up. Two Polaris buddies came up on Friday and we headed off. Had to cross an icy lake ( 1/2 km ) , side of road ( 1 km ) , and went on an icy trail maybe 3 km. We stopped for abit because of a logging area that was bare. When I went to take off the sliders had partially melted on the track, I couldn't move the track. Had to lift the back of the machine up and step on the track to get it loose. I know I was not riding in ideal conditions but the odd thing was the two guys I was with had no problem with their sliders. One of my buddies however blew a head gasket. I just wonder why just my sled had problems with the sliders? I know my track is not too tight, it is alittle loose if anything Does anyone have any suggestions? Do some sleds just go through sliders quicker than others or do I have a bigger problem. Thanks Guys Diceman
How are your track clips ???? Check to see if they are all straight....Is your track aligned properly????????
woolyviper
New member
new slides are clean and prone to sticking - when they get a little older, they are scratched and have a little grit in them that doesn't lend itself to sticking as much. You should have cooled them quickly coming off of the lake to temper them - they last a lot longer if you do that.
Yamahammer485
Member
Diceman, what track do you have?
If its a Ripsaw or other Camoplast track with these features, it is because every thrid window is closed, has a third of the clips it should have and all the windows are narrower. This is why your slider wear is so bad.
Case and point. With my stock yokohama track, changed one set of sliders since stock at 12000kms. The put the new track on and I have gone through 4 sets of sliders already, and its not liek our conditions are bad here. The old track, same exact, maybe worse condtions, and the slider wear was superior.
If its a Ripsaw or other Camoplast track with these features, it is because every thrid window is closed, has a third of the clips it should have and all the windows are narrower. This is why your slider wear is so bad.
Case and point. With my stock yokohama track, changed one set of sliders since stock at 12000kms. The put the new track on and I have gone through 4 sets of sliders already, and its not liek our conditions are bad here. The old track, same exact, maybe worse condtions, and the slider wear was superior.
Yamahammer sounds like you have a little tweeking to do on your sled...Two of the guys I ride with have put Ripsaw tracks on one is a Vmax4 and the other is a ExicterSX...The Vmax4 has 6000kms on the sliders and he should get another 1000-2000 kms..the SX only has 3000kms on the sliders and they look good...It just sounds weird that higher hoursepower sleds can make the sliders last..While you are having problems....
How much do you weigh and how tight is your track? We had a similar experience once riding on pure ice. The heaviest guy in the group trashed his slides, mine were slightly wore out and the lightest guy had no problems other than overheating.
Diceman
New member
Blkhwkbob said:
My track is on the loose side for sure. I weigh 230 but the other two guys I was with weigh 270 and 280. They had no slider problems. Diceman
Yamahammer485
Member
Blkhwkbob said:
I weigh 200lbs with gear, track is tensioned exactly to spec. It ratchets like a mofo too if its not exactly tight or just a little over spec. All bogey wheels are regularily inspected, all with NTN blueseals and are all perfect, checked them two days ago. It is aligned perfectly straight and to spec.
Funny thing about this track is that the windows that are closed squeak when the sliders are hot, and the clips get hot. Also, track has all of its clips and there is no misalignment to any of thm and they all look perfect, besides on the non contact edges where all the burned plastic melted and collected on the clips. My dad had the same problem on his TF, so he cut all the windows and fully clipped, still hardly helped, then put 4 of those little yamaha wheels on and narrower VK540 sliders on and now its waering at an acceptable level.
Also, just thought id mention this. We are always riding in mint conditions, we still have tones of snow, but even on the trails when theres jsut harder snow, but its still torn up, they will stick, and then squeal, and if we have to ride down a plowed road or something, then the melt instantly.
Next sled I own will have extrovert sprockets so I can tension off the track and reduce slider wear OH, and the track will be fully clipped.