Cracked rails

[WinderFab]

hey guys
Going through my sled this weekend as i usually change all rear suspension bearing before the start of the riding season and noticed both rails are cracked pretty bad at the front inner wheel mounts, anyone every had this happen before? Sled is a 13 nytro 120" with a star relocate kit which I put on at the beginning of last winter.
I felt like the rear front spring/shock was to stiff while riding last season, can that cause this?

Thanks in advanced

 

[Sevey]

Yes - this can happen.
My rail cracked due to impact I believe.....
I had upgraded the skid with Kimpex oversized idlers the last two seasons. They do a great job taking stress off the sliders but in the event of 'hitting things' - they make first contact and can flex the rail. I hit a sharp ditch last season and the inner idler cracked the rail where it was mounted.
Would this have happened with stock wheels - maybe - maybe not. Having that wheels that much lower than the rail meant it took the brunt of the impact which it was not designed for. Placing enormous strain on how it mounts to the rail.
I luckily finished the season. I just took both inner wheels off and replaced the rail this summer - $230 later.
MS

 

[WinderFab]

Thanks Sevey for the reply,

I also have the oversized wheels, funny part is both front inner idler wheel bearings where really gone bad compared to the rest of the wheel bearings in the skid, I may be totally wrong but by adding the star kit the bend in the rails are not positioned right causing more stress, I would love to know or ride a 120" nytro just to see how it is in stock forum compared to my nytro which has the star kit which makes it a 129" and moves the whole suspension back..

 

[Sevey]

I would have to see it, but the hinging geometry is different than stock for sure. I would think it would be better, but have not been close to one.
The inner wheels (especially the oversized ones) are under a fair bit of load up front so I am not surprised they are rough.

I didn't think ahead to realize that having oversized wheels means the load/impact etc is not distributed over a wide are but on those small contact points of the wheels. Everytime that 600lbs goes into the air and comes down, it is landing first on those wheel points, before the rails absorb the impact. They aren't made for it. For me, in the future, just keep it on the ground. lol.
MS

 

[WinderFab]

It is different, stock the bend in the rails are tucked under the frame as with the kit the bend in the rails is pushed back and looks out of place when you look at the sled from the side lol... well I have found a set of rails and I guess take it from there,
Thanks again

 

[Hooray!]

Totally makes sense Sevey, kicking the can down the street. My 144 came from the prior owner with 8 extra wheels, agree, keeps the track off the rails but at what cost? A rail on a track would be much more prone to loading down the rail vs. at wheel points... but reality is most ride trails so statistically likely better to have extra wheels and stay out of the hard ditches! Then again, with 144, I guess 129" at tip up (?) I have so much sled out back I'm not hopping like on my XTC, I am more like gliding over things, athletic, comfortable vs. hitting light and hard and bouncing.

 

[Sevey]

The funny part was - I was on a trail. The groomer likely drug snow over the ditch but it collapsed and left a very sharp depression. Not expecting that on the trail. If I hit it at normal speed would likely have written the sled off. Who knows what condition I would be in.
MS