New Dupont Hyfax?

[biffdotorg]

I think the question to ask about these is how far out the Vespel inserts extend on the mountain version.

The Standard slides for the 144" and below do not have the inserts all the way out. And we cut them short for our 121" skids. But on the XTX, we don't cut, but the last few inches do wear a bit more.

So do we ask the question, is it worth buying the mountain slides and cutting them down to 144"? My Dupont slides on my XTX are looking good at 2000 miles, so this is rhetorical as far as I am concerned. If I get 2000+ on this set and the next set, I will keep buying the 144".

 

[Sledroll]

I think the question to ask about these is how far out the Vespel inserts extend on the mountain version.

The Standard slides for the 144" and below do not have the inserts all the way out. And we cut them short for our 121" skids. But on the XTX, we don't cut, but the last few inches do wear a bit more.

So do we ask the question, is it worth buying the mountain slides and cutting them down to 144"? My Dupont slides on my XTX are looking good at 2000 miles, so this is rhetorical as far as I am concerned. If I get 2000+ on this set and the next set, I will keep buying the 144".

I just looked at my uninstalled Duponts yesterday .
It appears that most, if not all , of the hyfax where there are no inserts , is where the rails are tipped up , and have very little pressure and wear , unless you are always popping wheelies .

 

[biffdotorg]

That actually makes a lot of sense. I didn't think of it that way. Maybe I better concentrate more on keeping my skis on the ground. It may save me some time on headlight adjustments too.

Thanks!

 

[Sledroll]

That actually makes a lot of sense. I didn't think of it that way. Maybe I better concentrate more on keeping my skis on the ground. It may save me some time on headlight adjustments too.

Thanks!

Just remember , your carbide ski runners don't wear at all , when you are popping wheelies !
And carbides are more expensive than hyfax .
Wheelies are good , at the right time !

 

[Sasquatch]

I think the question to ask about these is how far out the Vespel inserts extend on the mountain version.

The Standard slides for the 144" and below do not have the inserts all the way out. And we cut them short for our 121" skids. But on the XTX, we don't cut, but the last few inches do wear a bit more.

So do we ask the question, is it worth buying the mountain slides and cutting them down to 144"? My Dupont slides on my XTX are looking good at 2000 miles, so this is rhetorical as far as I am concerned. If I get 2000+ on this set and the next set, I will keep buying the 144".

I can get 3,500 miles on a set but could get another 1,500 plus if the vespel went to the last idler. So yes is it worth while to cut down mountain duponts to get another 1,500 to 2,000 miles is in the end the question.

 

[Sasquatch]

I just looked at my uninstalled Duponts yesterday .
It appears that most, if not all , of the hyfax where there are no inserts , is where the rails are tipped up , and have very little pressure and wear , unless you are always popping wheelies .

The vespel inserts end well before the bend and are where they wear out first! Very annoying to have vespel insert left all along the length but have to change because the last few inches are very thin and almost to the rail. Once the vespel goes the slides don't last long.

 

[Winderallday!]

Quote;"The vespel inserts end well before the bend and are where they wear out first! Very annoying to have vespel insert left all along the length but have to change because the last few inches are very thin and almost to the rail. Once the vespel goes the slides don't last long."

FWIW, I have a bud that extended an Apex from 121 to 144 with tip up extensions and mounted the Duponts in reverse, drilled a new mounting hole at the opposite end and the vespel inserts seem to be in about the right spot where most of the weight would be on the slides for the 144" skid.

 

[Sasquatch]

Quote;"The vespel inserts end well before the bend and are where they wear out first! Very annoying to have vespel insert left all along the length but have to change because the last few inches are very thin and almost to the rail. Once the vespel goes the slides don't last long."

FWIW, I have a bud that extended an Apex from 121 to 144 with tip up extensions and mounted the Duponts in reverse, drilled a new mounting hole at the opposite end and the vespel inserts seem to be in about the right spot where most of the weight would be on the slides for the 144" skid.

Looked at reversing them but then there is no Vespel inserts at the front bend, basically for the first foot plus, so well past the bend. I also looked at cutting and adding a used section to the rear where the vespel is needed, drilling and adding a screw at the rear to hold the added section but the idea makes me nervous. If you reversed the Dupont and cut a foot off it the front bend would have vespel. Then added a foot section at the rear but that to me seems like a disaster waiting to happen even with a V notch instead of a straight cut.

I just wish they made 144 specific Duponts with the vespel inserts under the last idler. Basicly about 4 more inches. Buying the mountain duponts for 300 dollars a pair and cutting them down is an option but an expensive one.

 

[thor452]

my first set of duponts on my xtx wore out at the last two inserts one was gone and the other was thin and cracked. I got 2 seasons out of them around 3400 miles.

 

[Sledroll]

my first set of duponts on my xtx wore out at the last two inserts one was gone and the other was thin and cracked. I got 2 seasons out of them around 3400 miles.

Do you have the extender kit , or oversized wheels ?
That should not happen if you do .

 

[thor452]

nope stock as it came out of the box I have the prestudded track and put that first set on when i installed the track machine had about 500 miles on it at the time I'm not upset I got two whole seasons out of them and the part with no inserts was still good when i took them off.

 

[Sledroll]

nope stock as it came out of the box I have the prestudded track and put that first set on when i installed the track machine had about 500 miles on it at the time I'm not upset I got two whole seasons out of them and the part with no inserts was still good when i took them off.

Have you considered adding either of those wheel options ?
I added the Pioneer hyfax extender kit that includes an extra set of bogie wheels .
You really notice how much easier the sled glides .
Which means less friction , less wear , higher top speed , quicker acceleration , and better gas mileage !
I also bought a set of Duponts , and haven't even put them on yet , as there has been limited wear on the regular sliders after almost 2000 miles .

I have a 600 etec GSX , that I put on a pre studded 1.325 ice attack , that works real good .
I considered putting one on my Apex XTX , but didn't think it would be good due to the power of the Apex , and I believe you can only get a 1.22 inch lug pre studded track . Which pre studded track do you have , and how does it hook up , for both starting and stopping ?

 

[thor452]

I have the 1 inch as it reduces weight closer to stock and it is perfect in my opinion just enough grab without the heavy feelingI am also able to go anywhere off trail that i could with the stock 1.25 that was on it when new. my friend has the 1.5 track no studs and i am faster then him top end.fairly even out of the hole unless on ice then i walk him there too.