New hyfax ruined after 10 miles with ice scratchers

[ride907]

Firstly, I did a search and couldn't find any information that helped me enough to warrant not asking a few questions.

Problem: Brand new hyfax worn completely out after 10 miles, with ice scratchers.
Sled: 09 MTX with a Timbersled Mountain tamer and Ice Age rails.

I just got this skid installed and dialed it in according to the guide. The track wasn't too tight, shocks aired to a proper amount for my weight, etc. My track is fully clipped as well. I burned up the hyfax pretty quick and decided it was time to get ice scratchers. Today, I installed ice scratchers and new hyfax and took the sled for a rip. The hyfax is just about toast after 10 miles of mostly trail riding. Also, it only wears in the front just behind the front shock. That's the only spot it wears with the old suspension, or the new suspension. Is that just a problematic spot for some reason?

The limiter strap is set on it's lowest setting, I don't know if tightening it would help any or not...

What the hell am I supposed to do? Install oil injectors onto my skid? Ok just kidding, but I figured with ice scratchers my worries would be over. Any ideas?

 

[lund]

Whats the track your running?
If your running the track you have showing, CE 174x16x2.5, that is nothing out of the usual or suprising. 2.5 and 3" tracks are not trail tracks, though the 2.5 is more forgiving then the 3", niether one fair well even with scratcher on hard pack trails.
They are specifically design for deep snow and yes they will wear the hyfax in very little miles, the 3" on hard trails will actually cause serious overheating with slidder wear.

 

[bholmlate]

Lund you are absolutely right however i think he is talking about the 09 sled with a 153" track but doesnt mention the paddle size. there is a misconception about what ice scratchers really do. they are mainly to help over heating issues not prevent premature wear on your hyfaxs They do help with hyfax wear but they were never designed to prevent it. If you are running a tall paddle track on the trail you need to pack the skid full of snow before you leave the parking lot which helps keep the hyfaxs a little cooler running down the trail and look for any soft snow to run through to cool the hyfaxs off. If you dont you will eat hyfaxs on any mountain sled really quick bombing down a hard packed trail. As Lund said the large paddled track will never live on the trail becaue they were never designed for that type of riding. the Large paddle raise the hyfax off the snow preventling them from getting any type of cooling from the trail. The hyfaxs on trail sled will last years because they are in contact with the trails the majority of the time and stay cool even on hard packed trails.
I was told to get a anti-stab wheel kit for mine and mount them right at the trouble spot that you are discribing instead of at the tip of of the rails where they should be mounted.. The approach angle on the NYtro is steeper then most which is why they will always have a problem in deeper snow AND you will have wear on your hyfaxs right where the track bends around the front of the rails. The mountain tamer suspension really helps but if you are bombing down a harp pack trail at 50 with a 2.5" or a 3" paddle track good luck keeping any sort of hyfax under it. I think mountain performance still sells the high dollar Hyperfaxs that withstand higher temps but they are $168 and i would be willing to bet they would not last very long either in those conditions

 

[Grimm]

Have you checked on the condition of your track clips?

 

[RIGIDONE]

Can you put the Excell wheels on your skid?? They work awesome on phazers and nytro shorties..

 

[MOUNTAIN VMAX4]

Hiperfax

You need to get the $224 dollar hiperfax hyfax!! They cost more but standard hyfax melts at 300 degrees hiperfax melts at 750 degrees nuff said!! I have run them on rx1 that had a skidoo skid for a long time lots of ice running going across lakes to get to the good snow 2.3 paddle track to. Also on Phazer that would go through slides in a ride or two not with hiperfax!! Get some!!

 

[MOUNTAIN VMAX4]

no wheels

Oh yeah and on rx1 only ran wheels at the bend at front of rails and the rear bogies no other wheels

 

[Jagos]

'I was told to get a anti-stab wheel kit for mine and mount them right at the trouble spot that you are discribing instead of at the tip of of the rails where they should be mounted.'

I had the exact same problem with my hyfaxes when riding trails in/out of the mountains and installed a Yamaha 3" wheel kit just behind the front skid shock in the same wear zone on the hyfax. Mounted the wheels inside the rails to keep them out of harms way and to hold the track off from rubbing the hyfax. They have completely stopped the problem so far after a few long rides. And I can continue using the much cheaper standard hyfaxes. Still must use the scratchers as well.

 

[Off Trail Mike]

I installed ice scratchers and new hyfax and took the sled for a rip

Ride,

You can't rip at high speed on a brand new set of Hyfax, or you can but they will burn up. Did 2 sets on my XTX in 50 miles.

Get your speed down for the first trail ride to the mountains to the point where they are not burning. They call it tempering slides, and it takes a few miles. If the conditions are boilerplate, you'll be going really slow. If mixed, it's probably under 45mph. The plastic needs to set up and harden before you can abuse it, otherwise it flows like melt water. I followed this on my 153 Nytro with AC skid and it has 2400 km's on the hyfax....good as new.

Took my time breaking in and after that I simply drop the scratchers while on the trail and go. I use the spring type and not the cable type as they don't work as well for paddles IMO.

May not believe it, but it works.

OTM

Oh yeah, all that burned up plastic on your clips from the old set has to come off too. It is like an abrasive.

 

[ride907]

Thanks for all the replies. This is on the 153" sled with the power claw 2.25 track, fully clipped. The hyfax wore out on the stock suspension, and this suspension, in the exact same spot every time, just behind the front of the rails.

My ice scratchers are the spring loaded types. Can you easily mount a wheel kit into ice age rails? It's -30F... I'm not going outside to look LOL. Hyperfax might get me the longevity I need, I don't know.

I bet a combination of hyperfax and a wheel kit installed at the trouble spot would fix all my blues.

 

[Off Trail Mike]

Are you saying right behind the tips of the rails? If yes, your limiter strap is too far out.

If you are saying right at the bend, then a wheel set @ the bend will help....any wheels.

There are two holes forward on the Ice Age rails (just back from the bend) which allow to run AC or POO idlers on the outside of the rails. I use one of the holes to attach my scratchers.

OTM