New top gear & Drive axle on 2022 sidewinders

[1nc 2000]

I am running the Hurricane top gear with needle bearings this year.

 

[WinderFab]

I've no snow to test or run on yet, but Dave said he has sleds out there running them with many thousands of miles on and years of running them with no shaft wear or failures of any type, and he's never steered me wrong before. I can see why this roller gear works well with all the needles that are in there too, its not a like a wrist pin bearing with just a few needles in there from an old two-stroke, but a quality piece with no cage in it at all, so lots of needles taking and spreading the load, and IMO they rotate ever so slightly even while locked in forward so they will not dimple the shaft just sitting in one place. I like the looks of them and I also like the looks of the DMC bushing fix as well. Both good alternatives to fix the issue and anything is better than stock, even the tighter and longer aftermarket bushings.

The factory bushing is downright garbage and the reason for most of the chain case failures along with roller bolts backing out and sight glass's falling out. Fix these items and the chain case is as good or better than anything out there.

My local Yamaha dealer sells both the hurricane and dmc gear, hurricane gear does look like a quality piece.

 

[jonlafon1]

You tuned ? If not tuned run the stock gears 21/41,, Otherwise 22/41 is a nice option. Many opinions and ideas. Just giving you my thoughts. I like the 22/41. I’m running the DMC 22 top. TD max 17

 

[Upstater57]

Locally here there has been two 2022 sleds with chain case failures with extremely low miles.
There seems to be an issue with the top gears on these units. It seems like the reverse gear doesn’t mesh easily and ends up breaking the shift fork pads and stripping the top gear.

The issue seems to be in the jackshaft , the gears mesh fine in hand but with the chain tensioned properly you need to put a lot of force on the reverse gear to get it to mesh into drive.
Warranty obviously is covering both sleds.
Something to look for though.

I would love to see pictures of 2022 chain case failures with extremely low miles. Sad for those owners.

 

[STAIN]

The issue seems to be in the jackshaft , the gears mesh fine in hand but with the chain tensioned properly you need to put a lot of force on the reverse gear to get it to mesh into drive.

Are they from the same dealer?
When you say chain tensioned properly, do you mean just the spring pressure from the roller assembly? Or is someone using the bolt to tension the chain?
I ask because the manual chain tensioner does not really tension the chain in the traditional way that the old Yamaha chain case did. The spring on the roller assembly tensions the chain, the bolt just keeps the roller/chain from slapping under decell, reverse and non-load situations. The adjustment bolt does not actually touch the roller assembly under rest and/ or tension.
When the Viper came out in 2014 people were using the bolt to actually apply pressure to the roller believing that it worked like the Apex tensioner. Even though we know the bushing material is crap, tensioning the roller with the bolt makes wear even worse. I was one of those people and paid the price.
This scenario may not be the case in this instance, but it would be good to know if one dealer is setting the sleds up with excessive chain tension and causing a problem.

 

[Hammer70]

I've no snow to test or run on yet, but Dave said he has sleds out there running them with many thousands of miles on and years of running them with no shaft wear or failures of any type, and he's never steered me wrong before. I can see why this roller gear works well with all the needles that are in there too, its not a like a wrist pin bearing with just a few needles in there from an old two-stroke, but a quality piece with no cage in it at all, so lots of needles taking and spreading the load, and IMO they rotate ever so slightly even while locked in forward so they will not dimple the shaft just sitting in one place. I like the looks of them and I also like the looks of the DMC bushing fix as well. Both good alternatives to fix the issue and anything is better than stock, even the tighter and longer aftermarket bushings.

The factory bushing is downright garbage and the reason for most of the chain case failures along with roller bolts backing out and sight glass's falling out. Fix these items and the chain case is as good or better than anything out there.

I totally agree with you on this Mike what pads are you using for shift fork brass or stock ?

 

[KnappAttack]

I totally agree with you on this Mike what pads are you using for shift fork brass or stock ?

I use the stock shift for pads.

 

[jonlafon1]

View attachment 163526

Wanted to bring this back to the top! So I have 2021 arctic cat 8000 that needs a shaft. So I look it up and this part number is what cones up. This part number 3602-321 is what replaced the shaft part number on the 2021 part list. And one in the same shaft that was installed at factory on the 2022 sidewinders. It now says this “new” shaft is no longer available?? WTF is going on here. I can’t even get a replacement shaft from Cat? Not even the “new improved” one?? I know BDX offers one. SO they have a new part number for the 2022 sleds that is “ no longer available “. Something is up?

 

[Jefro]

Sounds like the new and improved version is getting improved.

 

[hibshman25]

Sounds like the new and improved version is getting improved.

Nice...so my 22 once delivered may have a 23 driveshaft! Ha

 

[jonlafon1]

Yea I put the old one in my cart at country cat and it says it was replaced and then when I agree to new part number it’s no longer available .

Sounds like the new and improved version is getting improved.

Maybe? Or they just want you to buy a new sled ? Lol

 

[jonlafon1]

Nice...so my 22 once delivered may have a 23 driveshaft! Ha

Hope so! Have them send two with yours! My buddy is waiting on a 22 also. I look forward to seeing the part number and taking brake assembly off

 

[Upstater57]

I've no snow to test or run on yet, but Dave said he has sleds out there running them with many thousands of miles on and years of running them with no shaft wear or failures of any type, and he's never steered me wrong before. I can see why this roller gear works well with all the needles that are in there too, its not a like a wrist pin bearing with just a few needles in there from an old two-stroke, but a quality piece with no cage in it at all, so lots of needles taking and spreading the load, and IMO they rotate ever so slightly even while locked in forward so they will not dimple the shaft just sitting in one place. I like the looks of them and I also like the looks of the DMC bushing fix as well. Both good alternatives to fix the issue and anything is better than stock, even the tighter and longer aftermarket bushings.

The factory bushing is downright garbage and the reason for most of the chain case failures along with roller bolts backing out and sight glass's falling out. Fix these items and the chain case is as good or better than anything out there.

Maybe Dave could come up with a needle bearing set up for the bottom shaft as well.

 

[hibshman25]

I did not mess with it much. Went 45 pounds. I’m pretty much done with this crap after this year if I have issues with this 22 spinning. Going to go the spray weld and pin in shaft to lock bearing. I have a 21 cat that has been a nightmare with shaft wear. It has 1300 miles on it. The shaft was trashed after 180 miles. I ran it straight from dealer up north for a trip. Did not have a wedge in it first 180 miles. BIG mistake.

I'm meeting with my machinist today to go over my next big idea regarding this drive shaft issue. Been really wanting a fix that will work on a worn shaft and I pretty confident I can do it. If you are not in a rush to fix your cat I could possibly send you some prototype parts once I have some made up.

 

[SumpBuster]

I'm meeting with my machinist today to go over my next big idea regarding this drive shaft issue. Been really wanting a fix that will work on a worn shaft and I pretty confident I can do it. If you are not in a rush to fix your cat I could possibly send you some prototype parts once I have some made up.

Great news Travis! And if you guys can actually determine what causes the axle wear, top gear bushing wear, that would be great. I have over 4000 miles and check every year, prick punch it just because, and has no signs of rotation. My top gear bushing looked good to,but we replaced it anyway. What is the root cause of these failures is what Id like to know. Tolerances? Materials? It would be easier if every one failed. Kinda like apex and vector oil tank seam leaks.
(ps...dont forget my BOP design super swaybar development!! lol)