FYI ....this help's with hyfax wear

[Sno Cat]

The hyfax are made from HDPE, a semi crystalline thermoplastic. The molecules cannot be realigned by thermal cycling. When a thermoplastic is heated, it flows which is why it's called a thermoplastic. HDPE cannot be tempered like metals. This is what I have observed after spending 20+ years in the plastics biz.

Can you tell us if there is any truth to running white slides compared to colored slides?

I had heard the theory before that the white ones will out last colored ones but never bought it until I actually read it in a Snowmobile magazine!

I have been using white ones since but with varying snow conditions and the like, it is too hard to tell if they last longer or not?

Unfortunately I can't quantify if white lasts longer. Titanium dioxide is the most frequently used pigment for white but I haven't seen it significantly affect the physical properties of plastic products.
PTFE has a much higher melt temp & much lower coeficient of friction than HDPE or UHMW, it would be interesting to see if anyone's machined a set of PTFE slders to see how long they'd last.

 

[Badger]

The hyfax are made from HDPE, a semi crystalline thermoplastic. The molecules cannot be realigned by thermal cycling. When a thermoplastic is heated, it flows which is why it's called a thermoplastic. HDPE cannot be tempered like metals. This is what I have observed after spending 20+ years in the plastics biz.

Can you tell us if there is any truth to running white slides compared to colored slides?

I had heard the theory before that the white ones will out last colored ones but never bought it until I actually read it in a Snowmobile magazine!

I have been using white ones since but with varying snow conditions and the like, it is too hard to tell if they last longer or not?

I would be very interested in the response here also I could use the help.
One more thing I know its off topic, when should I change my drive belt or how many miles till I change it? Sorry no sense starting a new thread on belts.

 

[langow]

The hyfax are made from HDPE, a semi crystalline thermoplastic. The molecules cannot be realigned by thermal cycling. When a thermoplastic is heated, it flows which is why it's called a thermoplastic. HDPE cannot be tempered like metals. This is what I have observed after spending 20+ years in the plastics biz.

Can you tell us if there is any truth to running white slides compared to colored slides?

I had heard the theory before that the white ones will out last colored ones but never bought it until I actually read it in a Snowmobile magazine!

I have been using white ones since but with varying snow conditions and the like, it is too hard to tell if they last longer or not?

Ti02 is used to pigment plastics white. I can't say for should whether it will make your slides last longer, but I know it's fairly abrasive compared to clear plastic and is harder (causes more wear) on plastic extruding equipment. If anything, white slides will cause more wear on your track clips. Probably not significantly though.

 

[Reverse]

On 2010 Apex; 1st set of sliders at 700 miles below wear line; now 2nd set at wear line and a little below at front curve at 500 miles. I believe that the speeds we run at have some to do with the wear but I run with some other guys doing the same speeds on Doos and Cats that sliders still OK so the combination of the speed and the Yama design is the problem. Switched all 6 wheels to the Doo 135's. My dealer says he has done this with 7 other sleds with success and GUARANTEES this will solve the problem. The wheels were about $21 each; well worth it in my opinion

 

[Super Sled]

Hey Sno Cat and Langow, I know you guys are plastics engineers and know your stuff, so I certainly mean no disrespect....

But I have to go with SJ on this one. Repeated heating/ cooling of the slides works for longer slide life in the real world. I don't know why, maybe it's just one of the unexplainable things. But enough guys have experienced longer slide life by putting new slides through this procedure to give it credence. I certainly have experienced it. And it's not a figment of my imagination, it really works.

 

[Badger]

On 2010 Apex; 1st set of sliders at 700 miles below wear line; now 2nd set at wear line and a little below at front curve at 500 miles. I believe that the speeds we run at have some to do with the wear but I run with some other guys doing the same speeds on Doos and Cats that sliders still OK so the combination of the speed and the Yama design is the problem. Switched all 6 wheels to the Doo 135's. My dealer says he has done this with 7 other sleds with success and GUARANTEES this will solve the problem. The wheels were about $21 each; well worth it in my opinion

Will they work with studs?

 

[Alatalo]

The hyfax are made from HDPE, a semi crystalline thermoplastic. The molecules cannot be realigned by thermal cycling. When a thermoplastic is heated, it flows which is why it's called a thermoplastic. HDPE cannot be tempered like metals. This is what I have observed after spending 20+ years in the plastics biz.

I am not a plastic engineer, but I seem to remember that this is one of the things they told us in a basic course covering plastic materials. Thank you for refreshing my memory.

 

[montanastick]

If you can't beet them join them!! Install 135mm ski doo wheels & new hyfax and the problem is OVER!

130MM wheel & no hyfax = 4mm difference
135mm wheel & new hyfax = 2 mm difference

 

[SledFreak]

On 2010 Apex; 1st set of sliders at 700 miles below wear line; now 2nd set at wear line and a little below at front curve at 500 miles. I believe that the speeds we run at have some to do with the wear but I run with some other guys doing the same speeds on Doos and Cats that sliders still OK so the combination of the speed and the Yama design is the problem. Switched all 6 wheels to the Doo 135's. My dealer says he has done this with 7 other sleds with success and GUARANTEES this will solve the problem. The wheels were about $21 each; well worth it in my opinion

Will they work with studs?

of course a wheel is a wheel...

 

[yamahahaapex]

Well added another 25kms to my 196kms on my 2011 apex xtx. At 196kms hyfax was not even touched, today we had cold conditions and kept the speed below 80km while dipping into powder every 1/4 mile my hyfax is burnt right down. Right to about 12mms, too funny. Here we go again!

 

[Sled Dog]

Richard quit changing them I have had mine on for three years straight now and they are not wearing any more just keep an eye on them and ride.

 

[langow]

Hey Sno Cat and Langow, I know you guys are plastics engineers and know your stuff, so I certainly mean no disrespect....

But I have to go with SJ on this one. Repeated heating/ cooling of the slides works for longer slide life in the real world. I don't know why, maybe it's just one of the unexplainable things. But enough guys have experienced longer slide life by putting new slides through this procedure to give it credence. I certainly have experienced it. And it's not a figment of my imagination, it really works.

Never said I was a plastics engineer. There may very well be some hardening of a thermoplastic caused by heating and cooling. I wont even debate that. I only commented that Tio2 is more abrasive than the polymer it is mixing with in a white slide polymer. That said, the biggest enemy of the polymer our slides are made from is heat. At elevated temps, they WILL soften! You can't get around the physics of that fact. When they soften, they wear more quickly. The only thing we can do is look for ways to keep them from getting too warm. Lube and/or less pressure to the track clips are the only real answers to this issue. I don't believe there is any other way around it. You need the slides to be softer than the track clips or you will simply wear the track clips away. It's part of the reason they are made from the material they are made from, and not a hardened steel.

 

[yamahahaapex]

Richard quit changing them I have had mine on for three years straight now and they are not wearing any more just keep an eye on them and ride.

yeah not going too on the attak. I left them like that for two years. Just a piss off