Difference between plastic and rubber idlers?

[Mooseman]

I now have this "new to me" '09 Phazer that I am fixing up for my son for the upcoming season. Have the rear suspension skid out to check the idlers and whatnot. A few are shot but what I don't understand is the use of hard plastic only idler wheels in some spots. The front outers are plastic only, front inners are the usual plastic with the outer rubber ring, large top idlers are plastic only, rear outers are plastic/rubber and the rear inner is plastic.

I have to replace both front outers, one of the upppers, both rear outers and I want to add a fourth rear inner. Would it be bad if I used all plastic/rubber wheels? I don't want to use the stock wheels with non-replaceable bearings.

My Venture MP has all plastic/rubber wheels so I don't get it with these plastic ones on the Phazer. They seem to be normal stock wheels according to some pictures of other Phazer skids. And the plastic wheels I have are in really rough shape on the contact surface as if they were run on gravel. All other sleds I have ever owned had rubber wheels.

Thanks.

 

[Groomer08]

I have a thread going too about the rear uppers. i want plastic with rubber.
no one has told me dont do it, but im having a tough time locating some.
i know the bearing, but not the wheel diameter, and shade tree wants a ID of the bearing.
guess i gotta tear it apart.

 

[yamahas]

-Mooseman, I saw your post about the Excell Wheels, are they for this sled?

All my wheels except for the rear axle are all plastic. When I put my sled together I will be using Excell's with the rubber and replaceable bearings.


-Groomer I posted the Wheel Diameter yesterday, I can post the other dimensions in your thread right now.

 

[Mooseman]

Yeah, the Excells are for the Phazer. Seems to be inconsistent as to the types of wheels used from one sub-model to the other. Or a previous owner replaced some of them.

Here's a surprise. Was checking for my options on replacing one of the upper 7" idlers (currently plastic). The Yamaha replacement is $52.00! Must be some kind of special plastic. Then remembered that my MP uses the same rubber idler as the rear middle idler. Yamaha's price: $23.95. Kimpex can't even beat that!

 

[Groomer08]

port yamaha has it for 47.
but whats the story on the mp idler? you think that it will fit in the upper location on the phazer? did u check bearing diameter? inner Id is 30mm on the upper iddler and the rear i think is smaller.

 

[Mooseman]

I am an id10t. It was late last night when I was looking at this. The wheels don't use the same bearings. The rear axle wheels use 6004's. The top idlers use 6006's, totally different so ignore what I was saying about using the MP/VL idlers. Too bad since I'm not a fan of these plastics.

On another note, would it be bad if I continued to use this idler with the rough wear on the contact surface? The other one is new but this one I could just replace the bearing if it won't damage the track. Is this normal? It looks like it was run in dirt or something. The outer plastic idlers are the same but I'm replacing those with Excells.

 

[yamahas]

Mine look like that as well. If it is still round and true I would leave it in.

I am just replacing the bearings in mine for this season.

 

[Mooseman]

As usual, thanks Justin

 

[Groomer08]

ya, thats fine...just roughed up from sand and grit going around in the track.
guess im going stock. port yami is gonna love me.