Missing track clips....replace??

[Budweiser]

Guys,
I have an 06 Attak with 6000 miles. I have totally gone through it pretty well replacing or fixing things on it that need it and noticed its missing about 7 track clips. Track is in good shape, as is the hyfax. This sled is on its second or third set of hyfax and there is no reason to change them now. Should I be concerned about the missing track clips? And if so, how do I go about replacing them??


Thanks!

 

[tkuss]

I can't really offer any technical advice about if it will be fine or not. But last year at the end of year I had about 5000 miles on the track (ice ripper) clipped every third. Anyway the last ride of the year and I ate through my hyfax in 100 miles. I noticed most track clips were gone, as well as a couple idler wheels, but I believe the reason why the hyfax burned up so fast was because of the clips missing. So yes I think you should replace the clips now, it will only help with hyfax wear as well as keeping the track healthier longer. Someone else will have to tell you how to replace them, but from what I know, you have to buy about a 80$ track clip tool to bend the clips on. Your dealer could probably replace the clips for less.

 

[LJ 452]

Two years ago I was on a trip in the U.P. with a couple of friends. Normally I always got the best mileage out of the group, typically I would take about half of what everyone els needed for a fill up. At the time everyone else was on a 2 stroke. Well we got to Grand Marais and I was basically on fumes. Typically I would have 3/8+ left. Any way the next morning I was checking my sled over and noticed that I only had about one or two track clips left. My advice to you is change them all out as they are likely all worn enough that if your going to do it you may as well do them all.

How to, for the clips that have survived, you simply take a large flat screwdriver slip it between the track and the clip, were your hyfax would ride through. With a twist and pry motion the clip should pop right off. To install you'll need a press tool. Sno stuff has a decent one for about $80 I think. The clips seem to be the most difficult part to get, no one has the Camo ones or they order the wrong size etc. Hopefully your local shop is more helpfull than mine. I can tell you that there are only two shops between Detroit and Lansing MI that carry clips. So order more than enough, I ordered enough to do my sled twice. The clips for the Ripsaw are the narrower style, Yamaha, Marshall, and Polaris all make/sell them. I've used Marshall's and Polaris (they were out of anything else) and I can say it really did seem to be any different. The Polaris ones were about 4X the cost though.

I would pull the skid if you haven't already as it makes life easier and you'll want to inspect your rail caps. Make sure that they are relatively tight and not all gouged up. If they are you'll want to do the bolt mod to tighten them up. If they are toast, prepare to take it as they are about $20 a piece, hense the reason for inpecting before it's too late. I think there is an agreement from most on here that these caps if damaged or loose can cause the track clips to catch and be removed while riding. There's no point in changing all the clips just to have them ripped off within a hundred miles. I made a bolt system for my caps and haven't had an issue since, before I lost nearly all my clips three times.

Sorry for the long winded post but I hope this helps. Below is the rail tip mod I did. It's a piece of 1mm galv. steel bent to a C-channel then drilled, I put these on both sides of the cap to reinforce it. Then used a 10mm socket head cap and a nylock nut to fasten it down. Over 4000 miles and still tight and without losing a clip since.

 

[Bakemono]

I wouldnt worry about broken track clips. They are a wear item. Its not at all unusual to have to replace a few track clips every year.

 

[Yamadogger]

Replace Them!

You definitely want to replace the missing ones and check the rest because you will likely find more about to fall off. There is no question in my mind that the rail tips are the cause of this issue so you'll want to drill out the rivets and bolt the caps on as suggested above. The reason for my confidence in the caps being the cause is that I noticed my caps starting to get a little loose near the end of last season. I checked my wife's Apex and hers were tight. Unfortunately, I didn't think it was a big deal and continued to ride mine for a few more days and then I noticed I was missing about a dozen clips. I re-checked hers and the caps were starting to get loose but not as bad as mine was. Since I was missing clips and had another day of riding to do with a buddy who was up visiting, I took her sled for the last day and left mine at home. Midway through the 400 mile day I checked her caps and they were as loose as mine had been previously and her sled was missing a few clips. After getting home that night her sled was missing about a dozen. Either I have some uncanny knack for removing track clips as I ride or the loose caps are the cause. I have an old Viper skid in the garage and i actually took the caps off that skid and put them on my Apex becasue they looked a little beefier. They fit a little tighter and seem to transition into the hyfax better. I'll see how they hold up this season...

 

[Budweiser]

Thanks for all the replies! I will replace them. I didn't know about the end caps. Pretty sure mine are loose so I'll have to do some searching on how to tighten them up.

Thanks again!

 

[apex yooper]

Spanky's has a good price on clips, and tools. I got the clamp type tool, which is time consuming. I would look at the long handled plyers, to save time.

When you repair the skid tips, put some Goop in the tip before installing. It will stop movement.

 

[LJ 452]

Spanky's has a good price on clips, and tools. I got the clamp type tool, which is time consuming. I would look at the long handled plyers, to save time.

When you repair the skid tips, put some Goop in the tip before installing. It will stop movement.

I'm not positive on this but I remember reading on the description of the plier type tools that it has to be done from inside the track. Which as long as you plan to pull your skid I guess it really doesn't matter. I used the press style without removing my skid and did the whole track in about an hour. Not too bad in my eyes. Plus you can bring it with you in your tool box just in case something happens during a trip. Also I should mention that I use an impact gun when reclipping. I wouldn't want to do a whole track by hand, but if you had to you could it would just take longer.

 

[Bakemono]

I use the press style too and I do it by hand. Yeah, it sucks and yeah, its time consuming but I only have to do 2 or 3 clips per year, so its not that bad.
I think I definetly might have to look into getting an impact gun though, sounds like it would make the job A LOT easier!

 

[**sj**]

I wouldnt worry about broken track clips. They are a wear item. Its not at all unusual to have to replace a few track clips every year.

I dont think it to be normal or a maintenance item to relace track clips...

I believe it is a defect in the overall design..in fact I believe the skid is a couple of inches too far forward causing a poor attack angle and an un-natural curve of the track off the drivers...the caps are hit by the clips causing the caps to progressively loosen and heat is built into the clips...poor snow conditions (lack of lubrication) and closed windos (rubber on plastic doesnt mix...more friction)these super heated clips stick to the plastic slides...

I have fully punched my ripsaw and added speed clips while on the machine with the skid installed with a "bolt cutter" type clip crimper...and I was amazed at the improved bending ability of the track, roll of the machine etc...

I will be installing anti stab drivers to the front of the skid to help the rail cap situation..

lucky seven...Id like to see/know a better desription of your fix...smart idea..

 

[Bakemono]

I wouldnt worry about broken track clips. They are a wear item. Its not at all unusual to have to replace a few track clips every year.

I dont think it to be normal or a maintenance item to relace track clips...

Maybe you're right, but I ride with people who own all different brands of sleds and they all have a few track clips break every year.
I think that for the most part it depends greatly upon the conditions you ride in.
I ride on trails that get a lot of traffic, so they are packed down rock-hard, icy and even a little bare in some instances, so no doubt the conditions I ride in are harder on track clips than someone who rides in near perfect snow conditions.
A few broken track clips a year really doesnt concern me much. So what if I have to spend half an hour every summer removing and repressing clips. Not a bid deal, IMO.
Of course, Im more than open to listening to any fixes that would make me not break track clips.

 

[**sj**]

fixes IMHO would be: first for the rail tip contact I believe the anti stab wheels will help....

also...any ice scratchers or snow throwers that mount to your skis will help a lot..
I ride simmons skis and have some snow throwers mounted which throw snow into the skid...

If you ride in the conditions you state , a track with lower lug would help and you arent needing that extra lug height ....in fact in the frozen stuff that extra lug height keeps you away from lubrication....

but at the very least all windows should be open and if possible fully clipped...

 

[ahicks]

As far as the track clips requiring replacement, wether that's "normal" or not, I've been riding in Mich. for just about forever (37 years) and can honestly say I've never replaced a track clip. Tracks yes, but never a clip. Track clip wear is not normal....

 

[Blue Dave]

I have owned about a dozen or so Yamaha's from the '87 Exciter to my '07 Apex including almost every top performance model in between. I have ridden tens of thousands of miles in every type of surface condition that you can imagine.

Over the years I have had many pulled out studs, ripped lugs, a couple of completely destroyed tracks, but never ever have I lost even one track clip. Track clip replacement is absolutely not normal maintenance IMO.

 

[THKSNOW]

As far as the track clips requiring replacement, wether that's "normal" or not, I've been riding in Mich. for just about forever (37 years) and can honestly say I've never replaced a track clip. Tracks yes, but never a clip. Track clip wear is not normal....

I agree - but only if you're in and out of the "Virgin Snow" as you ride. If you're on hard pack or low snow conditions, you can fry hi-fax and clips in a hurry, some riders don't have a clue and don't pay any attention and ride like they rented it...