Hyfax Replacement, Again

[kcusscam]

Ok, I just got back from a ride today and checked everything out, my hyfaxes on both sides are gone right where the rubber stopper is in the middle. The Front, Back and everywhere else looks just like the day I installed them, mesured almost exactly the same. What the hell can be causing these to wear like this, I don't even have 600 miles on them yet, if I have to change them two or three times a year. The track is not to tight, no riding of bear or low snow coverage areas and they are not getting hot, I have checked periodically when we haved stopped. The problem really is that if I change them now I will be going on a trip next weekend that will be more than 800 miles and I will not be able to replace them in the middle of the trip. So here are my options, fix when the problem is or take my other sled. I just don't understand why the hell they are not lasting, I just replaced them when I got the sled. So at this rate if I ride 2500 miles in a season I am going to go through four sets, frig that. Sorry, I am just venting a little but I would appreciate any pointers on how to resove this.

 

[Bob Miller]

Check your track clips! As they wear they get sharp and at times actually cut into the Hyfax! It happened to me

 

[thinksnow]

Have you tried the graphite slides or even Hiperfax slides? They are more money, but usually last longer.

I had a problem on my Mtn Max when I had a 144" Camo track on it. The track clips were sharp and kept shaving small amounts all the time. I couldn't tell which clips were causing it so I decided to was time to go longer (159").LOL

 

[kcusscam]

I can understand the track clips but I went through them when I had the suspension out, and I think they would cause havic everywhere and the other thing is both sides are worn the exact same.

 

[Bob Miller]

Mount a set or two of marginal snow condition wheels in the high wear area.

 

[Eggman]

Make sure that you heat up the hifax good and then cool them down quickly, like on a plowed road and then soft snow. This hardens them and they will last alot longer. Also how far are they worn? Alot of times they will wear to a certain point and then stop. My friend has a viper with well over 2000 miles on it on the original hifax. The front of them look real worn but within tolerance, but they dont wear any more.

 

[Swiss Sledder]

I just got a little over 2500 miles on my last set of hyfax. Stock sled and I have not installed the marginal snow wheel kit. Here is what I do to get long mileage out of the hyfax.
1) I try not to exceed 50 mph on plowed roads that connect trails. Going above 50 mph generates more heat on the hyfax and they will burn quite quickly

2) When in low snow conditions, try to get off-trail and go over some loose snow about every 1000 yards.

3) When you stop trail side for a break, just kick snow onto your hyfax while the sled is just sitting there to cool them down. It will also keep the hyfax moist when you first take off too.

Like others have said, the hyfax wears very quickly for the first 50% and then it seems to take a long time for the remaining 50% to wear. I rode the last 1200 miles with the hyfax near the wear line but they didn't move any lower until we had to ride a 10-mile stretch of trail that was basically solid ice.

 

[RX1Jim]

hyfax wear

I suggest you get the kit offered by Pioneer. It moves the bogie wheels down below the hyfax by 1.5 millimeters. I did something very similar on my 2000 SRX and 2003 RX-1 and have several thousand miles of riding on the same sets of hyfax through all sorts of conditions. The kit does a great job. It is worth the peace of mind. Good luck!

 

[Yamadog]

It all depends on riding style and snow type. Last year with the upgraded mono shock suspension I was going through 2 sets in a weekend in the same spot. I added 2 idler wheels on each rail and now am getting over 1000 miles on a set.

i have broken 2 front arms on the suspension this year though and both times it caused the hyfax to get torn off so I think I am on my 6th set to date. I jsut got back from the UP last night and now I broke the rear arm at the pivot above the transfer rod & I did not even lool at the Hyfax to see what they look like. I do have over 3500 miles on it this year so far.

I have tried graphite, stock and the new wide ones and all seem to wear out the same. I burn them in and then cold bank them when new. I just can't seem to ride at those lower speeds.

 

[kcusscam]

Ok, now that I am a little less pissed that I have to replace them again I have been thinking about what I want to do about the problem. Here is what I need to accomplish and what I would like to do.

Replacing these things every 600 - 1000 miles just is not an option, as they measure like new in every place but under the little rubber stoppers near I believe that a set of something is going to be required.

The wear is happining where the stoppers are so my question is now what are these stoppers purpose, I would imagine that they stop something from hitting the rails but what I just can't seem to see.

I could install a set of marginal snow wheels but the last thing I want is a part that my local dealers don't carry or a part that I can't get after market within a day. My question is; is there a reason that I can't install a set of regular idealer wheels on the inside or outside of the rails just before or in the location of the stoppers (by before I mean right in front of), if so what outside or inside be the best option?

The other problem I can see is that the rails are not the same height in the wear location, as the rails are cut down slightly, and am not sure that enough material exists to mount the marginal snow wheels or the full height wheels, does someone know?

Thanks

 

[apltx08]

Make sure you have the track tension on the tighter end of the tolerance, I noticed that running a looser track tends to wear at the rear quicker and if its over tighten it tends to wear in the front curve part of the rails...you just have to find that SWEET spot!

 

[kcusscam]

Make sure you have the track tension on the tighter end of the tolerance, I noticed that running a looser track tends to wear at the rear quicker and if its over tighten it tends to wear in the front curve part of the rails...you just have to find that SWEET spot!

Thanks for the info, I will tighten it up a bit before I change them and see what it is going to do, I cancelled by long trip this weekend so I will ride some local trails and see if it eats through the back or starts to wear the rest.

 

[Sasquatch]

I installed Polaris wheels on my 05 Warrior they are slightly larger and hold the sled up a bit more off the slides. My track was every third window closed so I put a set of SLP slide savers on. Slides lasted thousands of miles after that.

You don't say what sled you have or track so all I can say is for my Warrior it fixed the problem. For your sled it may be different.

 

[YamaChris]

What measurement are they worn too? Minimum is 10 mm, what size open-ended wrench slides over the thinnest area? If you have a few mm left of wear left on them continue riding and see how fast they continue to wear.

Do not hurry to replace just because they wear quickly at first.

 

[kcusscam]

What measurement are they worn too? Minimum is 10 mm, what size open-ended wrench slides over the thinnest area? If you have a few mm left of wear left on them continue riding and see how fast they continue to wear.

Do not hurry to replace just because they wear quickly at first.

They are actually at 10mm in the worn spots.