Barn of Parts Tri Hub Delete

[hibshman25]

I made and sold this kit for a real short time early on as on of my options from J&T Products.

We did not reuse the tri hub but sold new wheels with the kit.

I quite selling it because it is worse than the trihub kit as far as durability. I didnt want the negative posts and unhappy phone calls.

The bearings is the problem being that there the same bearing that is used in the boggie wheels.

If you want to use the stock trihub you just should buy a 4th wheel kit and it will last longer.

This post is not to discourage people from trying to improving there sleds but I know the outcome of this design.

I agree 100% that a tri hub delete should not be used unless a 4th wheel kit is being used. I have no intentions of promoting just a tri hub delete.

You mention the bearing is the problem. Why do you say that? Yamaha has been running 6004 bearings forever in rear axle wheels.
A bigger diameter wheel does not necessarily mean it has to have a bigger bearing. Bigger wheels yield lower revolutions, which is why a smaller bearing could be adequate to meet design criteria.

(1) complete revolution of a 129" track yields the following bearing rotations:

5" wheel 8.2 revolutions
7" wheel 5.8 revolutions
8" wheel 5.13 revolutions

 

[XP123]

I'm thinking you either buy a complete 4 wheel kit or leave the tri hub alone and add the two outer wheels with the 4th wheel kit. Then just repack the bearings every year.

 

[Mighty]

3

You mention the bearing is the problem. Why do you say that? Yamaha has been running 6004 bearings forever in rear axle wheels.

Cat makes the tri-hub. What bearing do they use?

 

[hibshman25]

3

Cat makes the tri-hub. What bearing do they use?

I took his comment regarding the bearing to mean that its not sized correctly. If one opts utilize 16+ tri hub wheels the bearings can be upgraded to a better bearing easily. Only 14-15 tri hubs were throw away wheels with non replaceable bearings.

You got me thinking...maybe I will offer an option with better bearings for guys that want to upgrade bearings right away when doing the modifications.

 

[Mighty]

I took his comment regarding the bearing to mean that its not sized correctly. If one opts utilize 16+ tri hub wheels the bearings can be upgraded to a better bearing easily. Only 14-15 tri hubs were throw away wheels with non replaceable bearings.

You got me thinking...maybe I will offer an option with better bearings for guys that want to upgrade bearings right away when doing the modifications.

That's a great idea. I would have gone that route and added the outside wheels Yamaha offers if this would have been an option

 

[Shagnos]

Buy a $15,000 sled and then worry about a few hundred bucks??

 

[sabrecat]

I agree 100% that a tri hub delete should not be used unless a 4th wheel kit is being used. I have no intentions of promoting just a tri hub delete.

You mention the bearing is the problem. Why do you say that? Yamaha has been running 6004 bearings forever in rear axle wheels.
A bigger diameter wheel does not necessarily mean it has to have a bigger bearing. Bigger wheels yield lower revolutions, which is why a smaller bearing could be adequate to meet design criteria.

(1) complete revolution of a 129" track yields the following bearing rotations:

5" wheel 8.2 revolutions
7" wheel 5.8 revolutions
8" wheel 5.13 revolutions

As far as our axle being a bigger diameter we have had guys bend the stock axle with very high output turbos. The bend was closer to the middle of axle so a larger diameter alxe will prevent this even with the ends turned down to fit the adjusters.

The trihub issue is because of small bearings being used. If you run 4 small bearings it will last longer but will still fail earlier than you would want. How do I know. The old Firecats used just two inner wheels on the first two years models. Was very little problems with this set up. They would last more than 10,000 miles with just two wheels because they used the larger 6205 bearings. The 05 and 06's went to a 4 wheel factory set up with the small bearings. Same as the trihubs. These sleds would not last 10,000 miles most of the time because of bearing problems. Like I said owners should try to improve there sleds. But I have seen the end results. And we will not sell anything that I can not stand behind. Been selling kits for this skid since this 2012 when this set up came out. Thousands of happy customers in last 7 years. I'v seen a thing or two.

 

[Mighty]

Buy a $15,000 sled and then worry about a few hundred bucks??

Buy a $15,000 sled and you would think they would use quality bearings

 

[cannondale27]

Buy a $15,000 sled and you would think they would use quality bearings

They know what they are doing. Making $. All the race sleds and old RR's/LE use 2 wheels with 6205 bearings.

 

[Motorhead]

I'm thinking you either buy a complete 4 wheel kit or leave the tri hub alone and add the two outer wheels with the 4th wheel kit. Then just repack the bearings every year.

Yes, for the guys who do not want to spend the money on the stealth 8.5” 4 wheel kit like I did, a 4 wheel kit comprised around the original hub, for less money, would sell and make more sense then your first cut up hub idea.

Nice to see that your wheels are turning though! Lol. You have had some good creative inventions, and with that comes intervention and ideas at times by others, so keep up the good work Travis and I am sure you will find that alternative you are looking for.

 

[XP123]

Yes, for the guys who do not want to spend the money on the stealth 8.5” 4 wheel kit like I did, a 4 wheel kit comprised around the original hub, for less money, would sell and make more sense then your first cut up hub idea.

Nice to see that your wheels are turning though! Lol. You have had some good creative inventions, and with that comes intervention and ideas at times by others, so keep up the good work Travis and I am sure you will find that alternative you are looking for.

I was being sarcastic about cutting the tri hub and running my 6.9 Pilots through the table saw. I find much of the info on this forum to be very entertaining

 

[Motorhead]

I was being sarcastic about cutting the tri hub and running my 6.9 Pilots through the table saw. I find much of the info on this forum to be very entertaining

I realized that when I saw it.
Also think that if he left the tri hub alone and sold wheel kits to go with it, they would sell and be a cheaper alternative.

Cheaper 2 ways when comparing to the stealth kit though.

 

[XP123]

I realized that when I saw it.
Also think that if he left the tri hub alone and sold wheel kits to go with it, they would sell and be a cheaper alternative.

Cheaper 2 ways when comparing to the stealth kit though.

I hate changing things just for the sake of change. When I read all the hate for the tri hub last year I had to check it out for myself. When I changed my track I pulled the tri hub to have a look at it. I didn't see a problem with it and just figured I would add the 4th wheel kit and pack the bearings every season.

 

[Motorhead]

My first Cat chassis in many years. Have seen many older models with a TriHub setup, first from CAT and then from YAMAHA. Always thought it was a weak link designed more for weight savings in the racing industry, and after reading about the past problems on the older style hubs and the fact that I have added some HP to my winder, and the way I ride. I have added what I thought was "piece of mind". Time tells all in most cases.

 

[hibshman25]

What many of you have to remember is that I started out as a used parts business. My longest standing customers are people that wanted affordable used parts. My expansion into building aftermarket stuff for new sleds has obviously created a sector of customers that are not on as tight of a budget. Moving forward I have to continue with both groups of customers in mind. For those that would never dare to recycle tri hub wheels I will have brand new wheels available for you. For that 20 year old in college with a used viper I will sell him some spacers and talk him through how to utilize his existing wheels so he can save a few bucks.