Solution to Track Rubbing on the Shock

LJ 452 · Mar 8, 2006

I got a chance to test out the shock gaurd I made before my last trip. We rode about 400 miles that weekend, conditions were ideal, lots of snow, very smooth during the mornig but the trails did get beat up pretty bad by nightfall. The material I used is the same type used for Hi-Fax. UHMW polymer. It's basicly two round pieces of this material with on each side of the shock mount. It's in contact with the track at all times which had me concerned however so far the track doesn't have any wear at all, not even a mark. Like I said the snow conditions were great. This weekend I'm planning on going up north and it dosen't look like the conditions are going to be all that great so I 'll keep an eye on it. Seeing as the track normally rides on the same material I don't see why it wouldn't work. It's not perfect deffinenlt some refinement will happen this summer but in the mean time it serves the purpose. The best part about it is that I now can run with less track tension and not worry about destroying the track and my shock. Just thought I'd let everyone know.

:rocks:

Mighty · Mar 8, 2006

Good idea, but what's with the rust?????????

snowbeast · Mar 8, 2006

Wow whats up with the rust on your torque arm,and the plastic pieces are a great idea,let us know if you think it causes so much friction that it robs some top speed,as the large idler rubber wheels that are attached to your rear torque arm are suppose to be doing the job,but in some cases they are not. ;)!

LJ 452 · Mar 8, 2006

I was gonna say something about the rust because I knew it would come up. Not really sure, the picture does look a little worse than it is. Most likely it's because every time I get back from a trip, I'm unable (due to the hours I work) to get the sled out of the trailer and let it thaw out in the garage. Thus it sits in the trailer for about a week or two and with the bizzare weather I guess the rust is the byproduct of that. I was planning on rewelding the grease fittings and painting anyway but I know what you mean. I saw your post on how you spray everything down with WD40. I'm going to try that from now on. Better late than never I guess.

Also on our last trip in paradise ( the testing ground for this) I onpened her up to 126 MPH on the speedo. I know it's not accurate but it still was cool to see that. It was climbing pretty quickly, it deffinently had more but vissibility wasn't great and I was gettin a little nervous.

This doesn't seem to effect (negitively) the speed at all. Still waiting for the warm / low snow ride to trully test it though.

Throttle Jockey · Mar 8, 2006

Good idea !!!!!!!!!! I spray mine with WD-40 when i get back from trips, I have no paint left on that part of the susupension and no rust.

LJ 452 · Mar 14, 2006

OK got back from a warm weekend up north with the RTX. If anyone has been paying attention to the weather in northern Michigan you know what I'm talking about. They had 10 inches a week prior to my visit, after that it had ranged from 40 to 50 degrees. We went out Saturday morning at about 11:00am, the truck said 52*F. I was a little concerned about over heating but decided what the H@ll I paid all this money for the sled lets see what it can do. The trails were mostly packed soft ice and bare patches here and there. Basically stuff I would not normally ride on, but I wanted to test the protector and see how it worked in poor conditions. Well the results are in. It worked perfectly. No marking on the track, no noticeable hi-fax wear (I can now run the track loose and not have it slamming into the shock) but I did dip into the ditches and or drag my toes occasionally. Also the sled never over heated I couldn't believe it. We put about 40 miles before turning back; didn't want to travel dirt roads to get gas. A total of around 80 miles with no issues.

:yam:

82SRX500 · Mar 14, 2006

If this will work, what is the cost? Looks like two plastic stud backers. Just wondering. I would like to prevent track wear if possible would like a set.

welterracer · Mar 14, 2006

You should market those..

My skid looks just as bad as yours.. and i keep it spotless.. must be getting rocks in the track eating off the paint

SLEDSTART · Mar 20, 2006

So where did you find the materal? And did you have to go with a longer bolt for the shock after installing the material?

LJ 452 · Mar 22, 2006

The material is called UHMW-PE (Ultra high molecular weight poly-ethalene). You should be able to find it at industrial supplies or online if you do a search. I cut the round sections from a 1/2" sheet I got from my father in law. Yes I had to us a longer bolt and it does come close to the track coggs but does not seem to contact it. I'll be tearing out the suspension this weekend to get the shock out for revalve and also clean up the rest of the components. I'll get better pics and a bill of materials put togather hopefully buy the end of the weekend.

:rocks:

SLEDSTART · Mar 24, 2006

cool..Thanks!

Solution to Track Rubbing on the Shock

LJ 452

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