Yogi_12
Extreme
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2012
- Messages
- 59
- Location
- Stephenville, Newfoundland
- Country
- Canada
- Snowmobile
- 2011 RsVenture
Been out of snowmobiling for about 6 yrs after the crank let go in my 1997 money pit Polaris Ultra touring (700 triple). Bought a new 2011 RS Venture in late Feb., and it is everything I wanted/dreamed of for my type of riding....80-90% groomed trails.
I've done lots of reading here and elsewhere regarding the idler wheels and hyfax. I will be doing something next fall regarding idler wheels, that's a given, just not sure how to approach it. Most of my reading shows owners replacing (or lowering) 6 idler wheels....but there is no mention of the two sets of inside idlers that have an axle shaft between them.
So my questions are:
1. Has anyone replaced all 10 idler wheels? I'm thinking all or nothing.
2. Pioneer Performance.....I see the kits for 6 wheels...but what about the two other sets.....as the axle also goes thru A Frame(brackets up to tunnel)...maybe they can't be lowered? If it could....that would be my preference....ie local dealer would have stock wheel if I ever needed it....but not an oversized aftermarket.
I also understand the need to machine the brackets if I choose a wheel with a wider bearing (Polaris or Ski-Doo). My existing 130mm wheels do have replacable bearings.
I have lots of friends who just went with 6 "X" wheels....didn't touch the two other sets inside the rails, and have had no issues, and much improved slide wear.
Just curious as to if anyone has done all 10 wheels, and if they used lowering brackets on all ten, or if they replaced all 10 wheels from 130mm to 135mm.
I've done lots of reading here and elsewhere regarding the idler wheels and hyfax. I will be doing something next fall regarding idler wheels, that's a given, just not sure how to approach it. Most of my reading shows owners replacing (or lowering) 6 idler wheels....but there is no mention of the two sets of inside idlers that have an axle shaft between them.
So my questions are:
1. Has anyone replaced all 10 idler wheels? I'm thinking all or nothing.
2. Pioneer Performance.....I see the kits for 6 wheels...but what about the two other sets.....as the axle also goes thru A Frame(brackets up to tunnel)...maybe they can't be lowered? If it could....that would be my preference....ie local dealer would have stock wheel if I ever needed it....but not an oversized aftermarket.
I also understand the need to machine the brackets if I choose a wheel with a wider bearing (Polaris or Ski-Doo). My existing 130mm wheels do have replacable bearings.
I have lots of friends who just went with 6 "X" wheels....didn't touch the two other sets inside the rails, and have had no issues, and much improved slide wear.
Just curious as to if anyone has done all 10 wheels, and if they used lowering brackets on all ten, or if they replaced all 10 wheels from 130mm to 135mm.
yamadoo
Yamadoo is a snowmobile ' aholic'.
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2003
- Messages
- 3,645
- Country
- USA
- Snowmobile
- 15 Viper STX DX red/white- GPS and KING AIR suspension 4kmiles
13 Apex XTX 45 anniversary RED/WHITE/BLACK 3K miles
10 Vector LTX Blue 9kmiles
11 Venture GT 4k miles
86 SnoScoot(2) for grand kids
Welcome back................enjoy the sledding again. I don't know the answers to your ?'s. I tend to like the idlers with replaceable bearings.
Yamadoo
Yamadoo
09nytro
TY 4 Stroke God
Check out Schmidt brothers he has wheel kits to
First are you sure you have a slider wear problem? Most people get scared and change them to soon as Yami's sliders tend to wear down quickly then stop and stay there for a very long time. I dont ride much trails at all and I have the same sled as you and my sliders are just fine after two seasons on them the first being only about 800 miles.
studdog
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
Best solution to Yamaha Hyfax wear is to run your track as loose as you can. This season I ran my 2012 Venture GT 3200 miles on original set.
Yogi_12
Extreme
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2012
- Messages
- 59
- Location
- Stephenville, Newfoundland
- Country
- Canada
- Snowmobile
- 2011 RsVenture
I have 1100km's since I bought it.....probably wore 1/2 down. I also have ice scratchers installed on running board.
Went out 2 weeks ago.....full day of heavy rain....then went to -10....so not much loose snow on trails....all hard pack and ice. My slides were great(scratchers)....skid full of snow. My friend with identical machine....pretty well cooked hyfax almost to metal...his skid was bone dry. All brands cooked slides that day.
I have my track fairly loose....about 1.25" sag with no weight.
Before that trip, I went about 40km on groomed trail..70-100km/hr...fairly good condition.....stopped for a smoke and to watch a moose....when I went to go...belt screeched/tiny bit of smoke. It did put a burn on belt ...just enough that starts are no longer smooth...so I put the spare on. That's when I also bought the ice scratchers. I'm thinking they shouldn't have parially cooked that day.
I've done two trips after that rain/cold snap....about 300km total (with scratchers)....abosolutely no wear in slides...plus I know the scratchers also help in keeping engine cooler.
So, my slides aren't worn out yet....I'm just a little nervous/paranoid about getting 100km in woods and not getting back out. It would also suck to spend approx. $350 replacing all wheels in skid on brand new machine. I do know it's an endless debate.....am I sure I need them...NO....would it give me piece of mind...most likely.
And I absolutely love the machine, it's what I wanted since the first one came out.
Went out 2 weeks ago.....full day of heavy rain....then went to -10....so not much loose snow on trails....all hard pack and ice. My slides were great(scratchers)....skid full of snow. My friend with identical machine....pretty well cooked hyfax almost to metal...his skid was bone dry. All brands cooked slides that day.
I have my track fairly loose....about 1.25" sag with no weight.
Before that trip, I went about 40km on groomed trail..70-100km/hr...fairly good condition.....stopped for a smoke and to watch a moose....when I went to go...belt screeched/tiny bit of smoke. It did put a burn on belt ...just enough that starts are no longer smooth...so I put the spare on. That's when I also bought the ice scratchers. I'm thinking they shouldn't have parially cooked that day.
I've done two trips after that rain/cold snap....about 300km total (with scratchers)....abosolutely no wear in slides...plus I know the scratchers also help in keeping engine cooler.
So, my slides aren't worn out yet....I'm just a little nervous/paranoid about getting 100km in woods and not getting back out. It would also suck to spend approx. $350 replacing all wheels in skid on brand new machine. I do know it's an endless debate.....am I sure I need them...NO....would it give me piece of mind...most likely.
And I absolutely love the machine, it's what I wanted since the first one came out.
studdog
TY 4 Stroke Junkie
I also run ice scratchers on the running board. Although we ran in good conditions most of the season.
agaguk
Extreme
New ventures does"nt have hifax issues to my knowledge I did replaced mine at 9000 miles just because i had to removed the skid for another issue but they were still good for a couple of thousand miles. that been said i installed the new yamaha white hyfax i think that they will now last forever 
Stephfg
Veteran
it'll take a while the see the return on investment on $350 in wheels when you're replacing $40 sliders. Plus replacing wheels will not stop the sliders from sticking, the track from heating up and the engine from overheating. I think your ice scratchers (which I still need to install on mine) are doing more good than replacement wheels would.
I have 4000 kms on my sliders and there really isn't much wear. I run my track as loose as it can be without ratcheting (which really isn't that loose on the Venture) and I make an effort to get snow in there whenever possible.
I have 4000 kms on my sliders and there really isn't much wear. I run my track as loose as it can be without ratcheting (which really isn't that loose on the Venture) and I make an effort to get snow in there whenever possible.
at beginning of season,i checked my sliders,they were worned close to the line,decided to see how long they could last,i rode 4000 km on worn slides,so i thought,i checked them after every ride,could never feel aluminum,so i kept riding,
shed
Extreme
same story for me
changes sliders at 8000 miles
as the skid was out
totally smoked the brand new ones
in 2 miles
the track was so stuck i beat on the track with the back of an axe to get going
had to roll the sled on the side,
no jack out on the lake
since then i put on 4400 miles
and i am not going to change them
changes sliders at 8000 miles
as the skid was out
totally smoked the brand new ones
in 2 miles
the track was so stuck i beat on the track with the back of an axe to get going
had to roll the sled on the side,
no jack out on the lake
since then i put on 4400 miles
and i am not going to change them
VectorLTX2012
Expert
I was cautious like you are when I bought my Vector last fall. I put on the marginal snow wheel kit in the front and added snow scratchers. I put the scratchers down for a part of one day. The other days the trails had more than enough loose snow to keep thing going. I put on 1600 miles and I can tell you that the only wear on the hyufax is between the marginal wheels and the next set (larger). I've only lost about 1/16" in that area and the rest of the myfax seems to be as new. I do run my track on the loose side with about 1.5 to 1.75" of sag with no weight.
BombaPolaYama
TY 4 Stroke Master
Hi, wondering how you have your track adjusted to be as loose as possible?Stephfg said:
thanks,
Yogi_12
Extreme
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2012
- Messages
- 59
- Location
- Stephenville, Newfoundland
- Country
- Canada
- Snowmobile
- 2011 RsVenture
Ice scatchers are awesome for spring riding. I bought machine end of Feb. And have almost 1700 km. On it. Slides still good....semed to wear so far and then stop...still lots left on them.
Thinking I'll stick with original wheels....explore the dupont hyfax when replacement time comes.
I also took most of tension off front slide shock and tiightened limiter strap. No abnormal wear on front curve...and I like the handling better.
Thinking I'll stick with original wheels....explore the dupont hyfax when replacement time comes.
I also took most of tension off front slide shock and tiightened limiter strap. No abnormal wear on front curve...and I like the handling better.
BombaPolaYama
TY 4 Stroke Master
Yogi_12
There is also a supplier (not sure right now the name) for replacement mounts that lowers the original wheels to give them the same effect on the hyfax as bigger wheels would. That may be a better option (and cheaper) because some say that using larger wheels with the original mounts puts extra strain on the rails.
BTW, do you have the newer type Venture with EFI or the original carb version? Also, how do you have your ski shocks set up?
thanks,
There is also a supplier (not sure right now the name) for replacement mounts that lowers the original wheels to give them the same effect on the hyfax as bigger wheels would. That may be a better option (and cheaper) because some say that using larger wheels with the original mounts puts extra strain on the rails.
BTW, do you have the newer type Venture with EFI or the original carb version? Also, how do you have your ski shocks set up?
thanks,
