2005 RS Venture track noise

[yank]

Here's an update on track howl,

After extensive experimenting w/ a fix for this maddening noise, I finally settled on the following solution:

I replaced all 6 wheels w/ polaris (the older, smaller ones). I installed 116 woody's signature(flat topped) 1.325" studs in two rows, between every bar, in line w/ the inner wheels, w/ a 1" thin washer under the head of each one (inside the track) causing them to protrude approximately 1mm above the track. This basically mimics cat's patented "quiet track", which uses the molded in rubber wedges to support the wheels in the inter-lug area, thereby reducing the vibration caused by the "washboard effect" of the wheels slapping the fiberglass bars in the track. The stud heads stiffen this interlug area & support the wheels, reducing the vibration.

Here are the results of my experimenting:

DEAFENINGLY LOUD- stock plastic wheels, especially after the slides wear slightly, putting more pressure on the wheels. Earplugs aren't much help since the low frequency sound travels right through the skull.

QUIETER- Installing polaris wheels. Many have had decent results doing this.

MUCH QUIETER!- Adding the studs as dicussed above. Note: simply adding the studs w/ out the washers will probably make the noise worse, since they countersink slightly, causing the wheels to dive even deeper between the lugs. You need the washers to raise the heads.

QUIETEST- Removing all 6 wheels. I did this and enjoyed the silence for about 300 miles. Of course you have to stay in the powder for the slides.

So far so good after a couple thousand miles.

Sure would have been nice if Yamaha would have addressed this issue. Hopefully this info will save some peoples hearing. Great sled overall.

 

[robertallen]

if you look at the track when its sitting on the floor those nubbs sticking up the drive wheels use to drive the track the rear side of those nubbs hit ALL THE WHEELS that is what keeps your track alined if you take a die grinder and put a small 45deg angle on the side of the nubbs(only on the rear) it will help gude the them around the ilder wheels and bee much quieter

 

[vecRStor]

if you look at the track when its sitting on the floor those nubbs sticking up the drive wheels use to drive the track the rear side of those nubbs hit ALL THE WHEELS that is what keeps your track alined if you take a die grinder and put a small 45deg angle on the side of the nubbs(only on the rear) it will help gude the them around the ilder wheels and bee much quieter

Sounds like a great idea! Could you please provide some pictures.

 

[Gregory J]

As many of you may have read before , the RX-1's have the same track
howl, even with 121" tracks. We have 2 - 2004 RX-1's and changed the rear
suspensions on both to M10's. The track howl did not change one bit. My
conclusion was after changing the entire suspension to another brand , the
problem has nothing to do with idlers,sliders, more or larger idler,etc., it is
the track itself & nothing will solve the problem except another
type of track. I would think the Arctic Cat Quiet track would be the
best , and maybe only solution.

 

[maddogjeff]

As many of you may have read before , the RX-1's have the same track
howl, even with 121" tracks. We have 2 - 2004 RX-1's and changed the rear
suspensions on both to M10's. The track howl did not change one bit. My
conclusion was after changing the entire suspension to another brand , the
problem has nothing to do with idlers,sliders, more or larger idler,etc., it is
the track itself & nothing will solve the problem except another
type of track. I would think the Arctic Cat Quiet track would be the
best , and maybe only solution.

I tend to agree with your assesment, I put a closed window 1.25" Ripsaw on my Viper and started getting the howl. But you don't need to replace the track, just modify it. Do any of the following. 1. Cut out closed window, some have also clipped all the ribs after cutting the windows out. 2. Use SLP anti-wear pads. 3. Use oversized idler wheels.

What these all do is they get the closed window away from the hifaxes, it would seem that all that rubber ends up vibrating against them creating te howl.

 

[towing]

My 2 cents...

I had just replace my Ripsaw by a Predator on my RsVenture and guess what... The howl is even worse than it was with the Ripsaw

I had done a lot of things( for other reasons than chasing the noise) including opening the track window, clipping the track, trimming the ripsaw 1,25" lugs to 1" without real improvement

This year, i install a Predator (9873), open and clipped the track before install it and rubberized all wheels. I kept with original wheel size because i already have problem with rail cracking and had to reinforce them.

The only thing that change is the noise pattern and at which speed it happen. Actually, the worse spot is at 35mph ...it was around 45 with the Ripsaw...

At this point, i don't think i will ever succeed to get rid of it .... :ORC

Bye
Alain

 

[Glock30]

Personally I have had good luck with the following:

1)After first year of stock operation I burned through my hyfax quickly and encountered the howl.

2)After the season was over, I replaced the hyfax. I also replaced the wheels with oversized rubber wheels.

3)My track noise was reduced by at least 60% but probably more like 70-80%.
I am now on my 3rd season with this set of hyfax mentioned above in item 2 with very little to no weatr showing.

My conclusions:
-Hyfax wear greatly contributes to track howl. (I am not smart enough to know why)
-Oversized wheels greatly reduces/eliminates hyfax wear.

Regards,

 

[acpantera]

Just my 2cents here, but one observation I made when I had my venture was that the font limiter stap had no adjustment like the short track rs/rx models have. This may be the reason why some other models have the howl and others don't(personal suspension adjustments). I always thought that the noise came from the front of the rails....actually from the track clips slapping the rails as the track meets the rails, this may be why the noiseis more pronounced when the hyfax is worn(the angle where the track meets the rails becomes sharper). Try to pull up on the limiter strap one hole and see if helps your howl.......... you can really hear the clips hit the forward portion of the rails when you raise rhe track off the ground and run the track...It's the worst noise of it's kind of all the other sleds I've known.

 

[hondo]

Today, I just had my track replaced with another 144" Ripsaw track.

The original track had 15,953 miles on it.

It was time for this track to be replaced.

Lugs were missing, cut, and chunked. Inner chord of the track was showing due to chunks of rubber missing. Track was "bubbling" and delaminating as well.

I have the kimpex oversized wheels which were installed to reduce track howl in 05.

I don't know why, but this new track is much quieter than the original.

This is a good thing...

The track almost made 16,000 miles!

 

[Grimm]

Hondo, did the tracks differ at all?

I noticed on my brother's 07 Venture, that the track is clipped every third, all open windows, and that the windows were larger as well.

 

[hondo]

Every third window is clipped, not all windows are open.

I'm riding up to my dealers tomorrow.

I'll ask, and check out in more detail both tracks.

 

[hondo]

It's the same track. I don't know why this one would be quieter.

Maybe it's just me or just internet hype... LOL...

 

[Artie]

Was there ever a fix issued for this problem? I am considering a used machine at this time but don't want to purchase a problem as well.

Thanks,
Artire

 

[4strokeluvr111]

Was there ever a fix issued for this problem? I am considering a used machine at this time but don't want to purchase a problem as well.

Thanks,
Artire

My answer is NO. Many, including me, devoted a great deal of time and effort to reduce the howl.......not concrete answer was found as far as I know. To me it's a resonance issue between the track/frame/exhaust/engine. It's a resonance because no matter what earplugs or whatever you use, you still FEEL it in your skull. Different tracks don't help....different skids don't help. I've tried sound deadening materials in several places...no luck.

I just learned to live with it...and try now to ride at the speed it most often occurs. For me it's about 35 mph.

 

[Artie]

Thanks so much for getting back to me, sorry to hear that the manufacturer has not stood tall on this.