Item to add to fall prep list/tool-kit

[TT670]

Most of those sealed bearings have a horribly small amount of grease in the from the factory. If you dont mind the effort its not a bad idea when brand new to pull them, both axle and idlers. The use a pic or sharp pocket screwdriver to pop out the seals and but a decent amount of lubricant in them, the seals will pop right back in. Ive been doing it on my last few sleds and havnt had a bearing failure since.

 

[sledheadgeorge]

I smoked one this year on my drive axel. Was not fun. Snapped my drive shaft and damaged chaincase and gears on other side. My Polaris's always had grease fittings over these bearings.

Can you here us Yamaha

 

[4Fighter]

If you get to it before it fails it's easy to replace, but If you try to replace it after it disintigrates (4450 miles on mine) you may just find yourself pulling the entire drive axle to get the seized inner race off, and having to replace the speedo pickup too. You cannot get a gear puller to fit to work it off either unless you pull the axle out completely.

My Yamaha - I spent 8 hours pulling my axle and rebuilding the chain cases, and busted my gear puller, and darn near ran out of propane trying to get that Mutha 'F-er off The gear puller drilled into the threads before it moved the cherry red collar 1/4" then broke. Even if I get the collar off, I'm still looking at re-tapping the threads, and replacing 1 drive wheel cause of the heat induced by the torch.

If anyone has a spare axle handy - please PM me (see my post in the classifieds.)

 

[yamadoo]

I agree with all the maintenance rec's but don't think this is a 'Yamaha 'problem, I disintegrated my 800 xcsp's drive shaft bearing last year and found huge #'s of posts on this with the same complaints. I think our new levels of horse power are exceding the capabilities of the bearings and so all brands are seeing failures. Oh yea also on my XTC600 so replaced on the 700 just to be sure

Yamadoo

 

[4Fighter]

I agree with all the maintenance rec's but don't think this is a 'Yamaha 'problem, I disintegrated my 800 xcsp's drive shaft bearing last year and found huge #'s of posts on this with the same complaints. I think our new levels of horse power are exceding the capabilities of the bearings and so all brands are seeing failures. Oh yea also on my XTC600 so replaced on the 700 just to be sure

Yamadoo

That's a good point, however, I never experienced this sort of set-back with any of the 3 Polaris' I had, including an Arctic Cat - LOL the Arctic Cat couldn't make enough torque or HP to break anything, not even a trail.