Carbide Wear (How long should they last?)

T

tripplec

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Belleville, ON. CA
How long do yours last?
- got some 4" carbides on skis
- mostly trail riding (snow, hard pack, & the odd dirty snow contacts on the trails) Speed traveled mostly between 30-70Km/h. Some slower and short runs faster on snow though
- highway pavement crossings (some but not a lot, however necessary to continue on)
- along side of road mostly snow and ice with occasion contact with the dirt, grave or pavement with the left ski

The carbide is flat now (no angle of the point showing) after 400km. Seems rather fast. Would 6" last longer or is this a quality issue of the carbide?
:letitsnow
 
From what i have found, i go through a set a year, the first couple of hundred km's it will turn really good on ice and the pavement then after that they lose there bite. They would last alot longer if we did not have to cross payment or drive on the sides of roads or go into gas stations. I also find myself taking shortcuts at the end of the day just to get home, which is usally rideing the side of the road for a few kms. I use 8inch or 9inch which ever i can get when i'm buying, i also run studs, and i usally do 2000kms to 3000kms a year
 
BenderSRX said:
From what i have found, i go through a set a year, the first couple of hundred km's it will turn really good on ice and the pavement then after that they lose there bite. They would last alot longer if we did not have to cross payment or drive on the sides of roads or go into gas stations. I also find myself taking shortcuts at the end of the day just to get home, which is usally rideing the side of the road for a few kms. I use 8inch or 9inch which ever i can get when i'm buying, i also run studs, and i usally do 2000kms to 3000kms a year
Click to expand...

Ok 2000 + Kms is light years more then my two machines put on a year. I have two 80's machines and regular runners last a season. Now two much newer machines (94 Formula & 97 Venture) and this is my first experience with carbides. I installed with the 4" carbides and new plastic skis. The sharp edge is now flat (horizontal) but still below the wear bar. I though that was quite quick after 400km so far this year. We hope to get another 100+ k's in this weekend and that might be it for us.
Yes forgot to mention going into the gas station a few times as well.

Thanks for the feedback.
 
They may have worn a little faster than usual, but there are different types of carbides. There are different sizes of carbide, different diameters of bars and different hardnesses of bars, depending on the manufacturer. There are also different angles of carbide, which will make a difference in the wear, but 4 inchers will usually be 90 degrees.
The hardness of the bar will make a big difference in lifespan.
I have heard that there can be different hardnesses of carbide, but do not know if that is true.

Snow conditions will make a difference, so it is hard to judge exactly when comparing your wear to someone elses, or the wear you get with one set to the wear with a different set. Different ski pressures on different sleds will also make a difference.

I never change my bars until they are 3/4 or more gone in diameter and then all the carbide is gone except maybe a peice or two in the rear. I ride quite a bit and often run in marginal snow conditions and over plowed fields etc. and spend enough money on wear bars as is, so I try to get the most out of them. If you always want sharp carbides you will have to change them quite often or sharpen them. One thing you can do is run the carbides until they are down to about 50% of the point that you would change them and then replace one of them. When the other one is down to where it needs to be replaced and you put a new one on, the first one changed will be only 50% worn down. I don't feel it is necessary to have them both even and often have changed just one with no ill effects.

Longer carbide bars will last longer, but you may not like the handling. I normally use 10 inch for the longest life and they cause no problems for me. If you have to run the edge of roads, the left side will usually wear faster because the right is often in snow and the left often on the pavement.
 
You you normall wear the carbines down beyond the angle to where they are flush with the bar? I thought the pointed angles would hold up better than they did (at least in my case).

Problem is finding different carbide to fit aftermarket upgraded plastic skis. Mounting is quite different. I got another sled to upgrade and wondering what ski to use. Not looking for high tech ski for general trail riding but one that works well and has good carbides now.
 
what skis did you use?

I put 98 SRX skis on my 97 venture, and I used the 4" carbides thatw ere ont he skis when i purchased them. The carbides were not shrap, and looked halfway decent, and like the seller (from TY) said, and I figured after seeing the carbides, we both figured they would last a season. And they did. I got clsoe to 1000miles on the venture with those skis and carbides,a nd they are a bit flat, but they still work decently, enough so that parking lot maneuvers on bare road while going into get gas are not a hassle. I will put a new set on in fall.

what brand of carbides were they?

I have never had much luck with Roetin's, those seem to last a half a season, but studboy shapers, woodys of any carbide variety, and bottom line carbides all have held up for bare minimum a full season to up to 2-3 depending on how much each sled gets used.

the 6" shaper bars by stud boy on my XC are really nice, so nice that I will put a 4" set on the venture next fall. I have around 1500miles on them and they still look new. They also helped my XC with darting, so that might help on the venture as well.
 
Put a set of Viper skis on and try a set of Bergstromm Carbides. I use the 6" tripple points with ski savers and a shim. In my second season now and still carving great in the trails. No darting issues either. Have had woodies and dualies before and could barely get one season out of with either one.
 
stein700sx said:
Put a set of Viper skis on and try a set of Bergstromm Carbides. I use the 6" tripple points with ski savers and a shim. In my second season now and still carving great in the trails. No darting issues either. Have had woodies and dualies before and could barely get one season out of with either one.
Click to expand...

I believe they are ATS Skis but I will check and the carbines came with the ATS Skis from Royal Distributing. Not many sources here in Canada. I can't find mention of Woods or Bergstrom on their site but will continue to research for next year. This upgrade is on a Doo...Formula I got two years ago. But the Venture will get its next year and likely something different now that I know more. Thanks Stein..
 
fwiw, rx1 or viper skis will work, but will lower your sled a little. mine with the SRX skis works quite well for carving corners, which is a heck of a lot better than the stock skis.

for a direct replacement, get the skis with the thick cast aluminum shoe, like the srx skis and the sxr skis.

I never heard of ATS.Woody's is out of Michigan, Bergstrom is out of northern Illinois. I have no clue where stud boy is from, but the shaper bars are really quite nice. They use an X shaped host bar that grabs the snow really well.
 
Bergstrom is pretty good with working with people and may make a set of bars to fit your skis. Then he will have the pattern to be able to offer carbides for sale to fit those skis. Other carbide makers may do this as well.
 
Site Good

stein700sx said:
tripplec
try this www.bergstromskegs.com
I bolted on 02 viper skies to my 97 sx vmax WOW what a difference that made
Click to expand...
How about ski links. I need to find a pair for next season and then half decent carbides. Bergstoms look very good but for my riding it's a bit pricey and customs to Canada.
 
Pics

horkn said:
fwiw, rx1 or viper skis will work, but will lower your sled a little. mine with the SRX skis works quite well for carving corners, which is a heck of a lot better than the stock skis.

for a direct replacement, get the skis with the thick cast aluminum shoe, like the srx skis and the sxr skis.

I never heard of ATS.Woody's is out of Michigan, Bergstrom is out of northern Illinois. I have no clue where stud boy is from, but the shaper bars are really quite nice. They use an X shaped host bar that grabs the snow really well.
Click to expand...

Any pictures Horkn, (got my email still?) of the mount you're referring to. Maybe someone has a pair they're no longer using having upgraded further. Would be good for me.
 
tripplec said:
Any pictures Horkn, (got my email still?) of the mount you're referring to. Maybe someone has a pair they're no longer using having upgraded further. Would be good for me.
Click to expand...

yes, I will email you or throw a pic on this thread:)

Going up North this weekend again. probably the last time this season

It is My Bday saturday:)
 
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