J&T stealth big wheel kit installation

[Vilas]

after reading many posts about the stock trihub issues, and reading thru the stickies, I decided to get the J&T stealth big wheel kit for my 2014 viper xtx. The problem with the stock setup is that it can lock the whole track up if a bearing seizes since both wheels are connected. Here is a picture of the stock trihub in the skid.

In addition, the stock wheels are actually too short which means the hyfax takes a beating and rolling resistance goes way up. I took my skid out and set in on the garage floor and tried to roll it and it just skidded on the hyfax on the rear. The purpose of the upgrade kit is to make the two wheels on the back of the skid spin independently AND the wheels are taller so rolling resistance and hyfax wear is improved. I upgraded the base kit and added 2 additional outside wheels in the back for a total of 4 wheels. See the picture below:

After it was assembled, I gave the skid a push and it rolled all the way across the garage. the next picture gives you an idea about how the bigger wheels prevent hyfax wear by extending below the hyfax.

The kit was very easy to install and the quality of the wheels and the machined aluminum axle and spacers was excellent. I should point out that the skid doesn't need to be removed to do this mod, but I had it out anyway which of course made it very easy.

I had a question about the kit so I called up J&T and spoke with the owner. He kindly answered my question and was most helpful. here is a picture of everything included. The bolts even have red lock tite pre-installed!

So in conclusion I am very pleased with this kit. Although I haven't ridden it in the snow, I'm convinced that it will be a big improvement over the stock trihub. Perhaps others who have this kit could share their thoughts on its real world performance.

 

[cannondale27]

Nice write Up! Thank you.

 

[NOS-PRO]

Have the same kit, works great!

Took my tri-hub as I used it for racing asphalt this year. After all the heat from the starting line and burnouts....my tri-hub was deformed. The 3 bolts that hold the halves together were loose. No more tri-hub for me.

 

[Vilas]

That's pretty cool that you were able to melt that thing down, you should hang it up in your garage as a trophy!

 

[Janne339]

Larger wheels (8,5") should increase the stress on the shaft ? Or think I'm wrong ?

Larson racing wheel-kit use 8,0"

 

[cannondale27]

Larger wheels (8,5") should increase the stress on the shaft ? Or think I'm wrong ?

Larson racing wheel-kit use 8,0"

Yes. Just angle the slide on a grinder for same results. Just takes a minute.

 

[Janne339]

Yes. Just angle the slide on a grinder for same results. Just takes a minute.

I'm not so good at English, can you explain better what you mean?

 

[NOS-PRO]

That's pretty cool that you were able to melt that thing down, you should hang it up in your garage as a trophy!

I should take a video of it rolling across the floor....LMAO!

Trophy shelf it is! Great conversation piece!

 

[NOS-PRO]

I'm not so good at English, can you explain better what you mean?

Janne339 - The 8.5 wheel shouldn't put that much more stress on the axle, but it will help with keeping slides from wearing at the rear of your suspension. Now, J&Tatv sells their 4 wheel kit with 8.5 wheels, but for asphalt I couldn't have 8.5 wheels and have the rest of my suspension wheels in the air so I had J&T substitute 8.0 wheels instead of 8.5. I paid extra for this so it was a custom order.....FYI

I think what Cannondale means is that if your grind your slides down with the 8.0 wheels, it will free up some drag from the slides?

 

[Janne339]

Janne339 - The 8.5 wheel shouldn't put that much more stress on the axle, but it will help with keeping slides from wearing at the rear of your suspension. Now, J&Tatv sells their 4 wheel kit with 8.5 wheels, but for asphalt I couldn't have 8.5 wheels and have the rest of my suspension wheels in the air so I had J&T substitute 8.0 wheels instead of 8.5. I paid extra for this so it was a custom order.....FYI

I think what Cannondale means is that if your grind your slides down with the 8.0 wheels, it will free up some drag from the slides?

Thanks!

 

[NOS-PRO]

Thanks!

Anytime

 

[Janne339]

http://www.jtatv.com/4th_Wheel_Kit_p/trihub-repl.htm

But if you only buy the 2-wheel tri hub replacement kit, the kit is available with 8 inch wheels? Not 8,5 inch? Why? Whats the different?

 

[cannondale27]

I'm not so good at English, can you explain better what you mean?

I'm not so good at English, can you explain better what you mean?

Using a grinder cut the area on slide below the white line. Or you could also cut slide short. Me I don't worry about slide wear. They last forever on this sled and who wants wheels always hitting surface first? I don't.

 

[birkebeiner]

I haven't searched for tri-hub issues, but I have seen lately that a few people are replacing the tri-hub, so are they really that bad, i.e. it's a MUST to replace them? Do they fail for everyone, or is it just that someone had an issue with it and everyone replaces them, just in case? My 2015 XTX with 600 miles on, I would expect them to last at least a season or two, right?

That said, if it must be replaced, what other options are there out there? I've seen this J&T kit, which seems reasonable, and OFT Racing with their billet axle and wheels, but that kit is over $400 (including three wheels, all on the inside). Any other?

 

[cannondale27]

If you add just the outside wheels it seems to really help the trihub. Stock they are lasting a season now at least. Problem is if it goes on one bearing the other is taken out at almost same time. This makes it less reliable than even two separate wheels.