Let's talk about track clips again, please.

[munskindaddy]

Ok, I know this has been a topic before several times but I was wondering if anyone found a true fix for loosing track clips. I have an 06 apex RTX and had to replace most all the clips at the beginning of this season. Went to the U.P. and put on 515 miles and kept checking to see if they were still there. Saw one here and one there missing as the trip went on. Got home, thawed out on my lift, and noticed nearly all of them are missing again. I had the skid out this past fall and replaced the rivets with stainless bolt and nylock nut, also filled cavity with silicone on the end caps, they are tight. Then I noticed that I have some chew up marks on the outer sides of my sliders. Last fall the left side slider was actually broken in half about a foot from the front. Something just isn't right. Any ideas to correct the problem. The overall condition of the track is in great shape other than the missing clips, and the track tension is just right.

 

[thor452]

properly installed track clips wont just fall off they have to be installed with a proper tool that gets them tight. also are you certian they were the right ones for the sled? track clips are good for thousands of miles and when put on good and tight. if they were installed properly then you need to find what is hitting them and causing them to come loose. a broken slider is very rare do you have a cracked rail?are the clips hittin the drivers? had a second hand sled that had all new clips installed on the track and they were the wrong ones and chewed up the drivers big project had to replace drivers and remove and replace all of the clips good luck.

 

[steiner]

I have had to replace two tracks on different sleds due to track clips.
Each track had about 10k miles on it. I think the rubber deteriorates to a certain point to where the clips start to let go of the track. The first time it happened to me I installed the correct clips. They would last 500 miles or so and then I would notice a few missing here and there. Got tired of reclipping and installed a new track.

 

[Lonerider]

Measure from each side of the tunnel to see if drive sprockets are the exact same distance to center from each side? If you or someone has ever replaced any bearings on the drive or in the chaincase maybe they didn't ever know to check this when they got done. You must finish the chaincase side before tighten the set screw on the speedo side to get drive sprockets in the proper location. I have fixed your exact problem by doing this. Also check for a chip or burr on the drive sprockets when measuring them. As for the cracked rails, I use to break 2 sets a year ( ride hard ) I would break them at the rear pivot mount. So I just add a piece of 1/4 x 1 " aluminum about 12 " long - install longer bolts in pivot are & inner, back boggy wheel. I have not cracked a rail since I have done this. I even do it on new rails & it works. $ 10 fix , 1 hour labor .

 

[munskindaddy]

properly installed track clips wont just fall off they have to be installed with a proper tool that gets them tight. also are you certian they were the right ones for the sled? track clips are good for thousands of miles and when put on good and tight. if they were installed properly then you need to find what is hitting them and causing them to come loose. a broken slider is very rare do you have a cracked rail?are the clips hittin the drivers? had a second hand sled that had all new clips installed on the track and they were the wrong ones and chewed up the drivers big project had to replace drivers and remove and replace all of the clips good luck.

 

[munskindaddy]

Yes we changed the bearings. I checked the drivers and the are off towards the clutch side a bit and need to move towards the chaincase. How could this have happened without having the chain running crooked? So could you give me a detailed way to get everything lined up as easy as possible?

 

[Lonerider]

Remove gears and chain from chaincase. Leave back of chaincase housing installed with lower bearing installed. Loosen set screw on bearing on secondary side . Measure drive to see if you can get centered. Clean threads in driveshaft on chaincase side. Make sure there is not locktite stopping bolt from going all the way in. Reinstall gears make sure when installing bolt into driveshaft with spring that the coller fits into the journal when tightening ( bolt ,coller ,spring, journal , ). Do not tighten bolt all the way yet. Check drives for center. Then tighten set screw on secondary so driveshaft cannot slide to far . Then tighten bolt in chain case. Also apply locktite red in driveshaft befor installing gears. Good luck.

 

[TBay Sledhead]

Remove gears and chain from chaincase. Leave back of chaincase housing installed with lower bearing installed. Loosen set screw on bearing on secondary side . Measure drive to see if you can get centered. Clean threads in driveshaft on chaincase side. Make sure there is not locktite stopping bolt from going all the way in. Reinstall gears make sure when installing bolt into driveshaft with spring that the coller fits into the journal when tightening ( bolt ,coller ,spring, journal , ). Do not tighten bolt all the way yet. Check drives for center. Then tighten set screw on secondary so driveshaft cannot slide to far . Then tighten bolt in chain case. Also apply locktite red in driveshaft befor installing gears. Good luck.

As you said in post #4 all work must be completed in chaincase before you tighten the set scews on track drive brg secondary side. The track drive shaft will have to come out and move the drivers.