Hyfax / Slide Issue on 2011 Nytro XTX - Track Clips

[Seismic]

Hi all - I have a few questions for you and I've linked some pics below. Last weekend I was riding my 2011 Nytro XTX (still under YES warranty) and when we stopped I noticed my hyfax in the wrong place - ugh. It was wrapped around the track. I checked to see if the screw was still in the skid/slide frame and it was. Apparently the slide ripped right through the screw. I was running aftermarket cheap hyfax and have since ordered some OEM ones. Obviously I want to prevent this from happening again so I also ordered a new screw for each side. It appears this item number has been updated so I hope the screw is has a bit larger head. I've also learned these screws are supposed to be torqued to 1.8 ft/lb. That is the lowest torque spec I've ever seen! You're also supposed to use loctite on the screw. I assume many things could have factored into this issue but one of them in particular is I tightened the phillips head screws as much as I could with a large screwdriver.

I don't know how long it was off and so far I can't see any damage to the remaining clips or to the slide frame. I have to get it up in the air for further diagnosis.

Has anyone else had this happen? I was thinking about tossing a washer on the screw for extra bite and since that part of the hyfax won't wear nearly as fast as the rest I didn't think it would ever come in contact with the track clips. I was also considering drilling and tapping an additional hole in the skid frame and throwing one additional screw in each side.

While trying to get the hyfax out of the track I noticed at least a few track clips (window clips) missing. The stock track has one every 3 holes, I believe. Do I need special tools to install a few of these? Can I install them with the track on the sled or must it be removed? I assume the missing clips could have also contributed to the hyfax being torn out since this would increase drag on it.

Thank you in advance for your replies!



http://s1057.photobucket.com/user/Seism ... %20Uploads

 

[canoehead]

I'd say you got the clips hot and you stopped. The hyfax then welded itself to the clips and you took off. If you look at the hyfax you can probably tell where the clips were fused. A bud of mine got his welded on both so tight after running a river that the machine wouldn't budge after stopping. You can replace the clips but you need a tool that squeezes them on. Can be done without removing the track no probs. You should remember to run through some snow before stopping if you're running lakes or roads with low snow.

 

[Seismic]

I'm almost certain it wasn't because the track, frame, clips or hyfax were too hot. I understand what you're saying however the conditions were good. If you look at the pics my whole skid frame was full of snow. There was loose snow all over where we were riding. No road, lake or river riding at all.

 

[herndonp]

I would recommend the Dupont slides from Yamaha. Put locktite on the screws and forget about them for along time. I have over 1500 miles and they don't even look like they have worn down at all. Break them in properly(heat up then drive in deep snow to cool quickly) may take 1-3 times of doing this, but your hyfax will last a lot longer. Also if driving in low snow conditions use a ice scratcher. Alot of guys running scratchers report over 5k on there sliders.

best of luck.

Pete

 

[Dr. FeeLGooD]

Maybe your track was too tight? I think they got hot too.

 

[nitris223]

Do worry about cheap sliders. Where do you think the factories get them from and mark them up.. I have only bought 2 sets from the dealers only because aftermarket didn't have the length I need for one and they were out of the graphite for another. I usually run the graphite slider on any sled I own or replace for a customer.

White sliders will last the longest because that is virgin material, colored ones are just that , color added to white to get the desired color but that makes them weaker. The DuPont ones are working great for guys but only if you want to spend that kind of money. Proper sized wheels on a Yamaha suspension cures a lot of slider wear only if Yamaha would pull there head out of you know where and do one of 2 simple things. Lower the mounting hole 2.5 mm or supply the sleds with 135mm idler wheels. Yamaha sled owners have been putting Polaris and Ski doo wheels on Yamahas for as long as I can remember.

If you had all that snow in your track and it was like that for the day , I would think that one of your clips broke and snagged the slider ripping it off. If there is hardly any damage to your rails and you didn't notice it until you stopped then it probably just happened moments before. No slider on one rail and you would destroy a rail if you went any distance. What does your rail tip caps look like. Any damage there.

 

[Tyloooor]

White sliders don't get as hot.....

 

[Seismic]

Do worry about cheap sliders. Where do you think the factories get them from and mark them up.. I have only bought 2 sets from the dealers only because aftermarket didn't have the length I need for one and they were out of the graphite for another. I usually run the graphite slider on any sled I own or replace for a customer.

White sliders will last the longest because that is virgin material, colored ones are just that , color added to white to get the desired color but that makes them weaker. The DuPont ones are working great for guys but only if you want to spend that kind of money. Proper sized wheels on a Yamaha suspension cures a lot of slider wear only if Yamaha would pull there head out of you know where and do one of 2 simple things. Lower the mounting hole 2.5 mm or supply the sleds with 135mm idler wheels. Yamaha sled owners have been putting Polaris and Ski doo wheels on Yamahas for as long as I can remember.

If you had all that snow in your track and it was like that for the day , I would think that one of your clips broke and snagged the slider ripping it off. If there is hardly any damage to your rails and you didn't notice it until you stopped then it probably just happened moments before. No slider on one rail and you would destroy a rail if you went any distance. What does your rail tip caps look like. Any damage there.

Thanks for all the replies guys...

I'll check the caps tonight and link a pic. I believe they're still in good shape.

 

[lukesju]

Worrying about slides when your out riding is a horrible feeling. My brother bought a 2012 nytro and the slides looked thin so we replaced them the night before our MI trip with high performance slides. They lasted 150 miles and were completely worn down to the rails. We ended up replacing them in the parking lot of local Yamaha dealership with borrowed tools! The snow conditions were pretty decent too! When we got back he ordered the Excell wheel kit and DuPont slides. He now has over 1,000 miles on this set up and the slides have barely worn down. This is definitely the ticket but you will spend some money. But on the plus side you won't be worrying about your slides when your out riding. In my opinion it's worth every penny!

 

[nitris223]

I changed the 4 outer wheels on our MTX 162 and 153 to 135mm wheels. Same as excel. $30 each and run regular graphite sliders that I buy from Rec Supply and have 1000 + miles with very little wear. Expect to get another 2000 or more.
Some guys will claim the larger wheels will put undo stress on the frame rails and crack them. It's not the wheel that cracked the rail , it's what ever they hit the wheel with, will crack the rail. 2.5mm is not enough difference to put major stress on the rails. Every other manufacturer runs the right size wheels with no problems.

Some will also claim that you will get uneven wear if you only do the outside wheels. I didn't feel like doing the inside wheels and just did the outside wheels. Slides are wearing even , not beveled to the inside at all.
We also run cable scratchers down all the time. I have no time to hook and unhook scratchers, I want to ride the dam thing and not worry about sliders or breaking scratchers. All of our spring scratchers broke going forward. Never lasted long enough to break them backing up.
Lots of times there are horror stories about this and that caused their problems but I bet they are not telling the full story or missed adding some critical information.

 

[ViperTurboPete]

I think the slider let go from the screw for some reason which then snagged the track clips and ripped the slider out of its channel and into your track. Maybe the screw hole was counter sinked in pretty deep not leaving much material for the screw head to hang on to or the screw hole was defective in some way.

 

[Seismic]

Thanks again for all the replies! I added new pics to the link in my original post. The OEM hyfax has a much better taper to the hole AND it wasn't nearly as deep as whatever brand I had on there. I think by some miracle I lucked out as the clips and the slide frame don't show any additional wear. That side looks and feels identical to the good side. ALSO the missing track clip(s) turns out to be just one missing clip on the side that DIDN'T rip off! This is the OEM track with a clip every third window. I'm going to have the one missing clip added tomorrow. Got the new hyfax on tonight and hope they stay in place!

 

[nitris223]

Most likely it happened just before you stopped. That's good there is no more damage. Don't go nuts on tightening that slider screw. Good and snug is good enough. You could put a small dab of blue Loctite but not to much. I never use any but it could be loose threads. I find about 1/2 later you could check that screw and it will have to crack loose with out having Loctite. Steel and aluminum don't really like each other and they tend to form there own Loctite.

 

[toyota4runner]

There's a really good mod in this thread for the slider screw. Much better than trying to find those threads everytime
http://www.ty4stroke.com/viewtopic.php? ... t=#1099510

 

[bmazbnytro]

Mine did the same thing. Just installed new aftermarket slides from Shadetree and they ripped out from the screw. I thought they felt cheap but holy _hit were they cheap! I didn't even have 30 miles on them and luckily I was at home and not on a trip when it happened. I just happened to have a pair of Polaris Fusion sliders on the shelf, white in color also. Put them on as I noticed the profile was almost identical and 600 mi later they still look like new. They were thicker then standard Yamaha slides and the quality compared to the aftermarket was night and day. I will put these slides on from now on.