Rubber chirping noise from rear skid? - 06 GT

[mbarryracing]

OK rode my 06 GT for the first time this weekend, on alot of hardpack with little powder 10 degF (only 180 miles on sled).
After a 2 hrs I started hearing a slight chirping noise coming from what sounded like the front of the rear skid. Almost like the front idler wheel was rubbing in a rapid repeating pattern (rubber on rubber sqeak noise), and would increase with speed. After I rode in the powder or did a short WOT blast, it would go away but would eventually come back on the hardpack again even louder. Then it went away just in time to put it on the trailer...
I though it might be the hyfax not getting enough lubrication, but I never heard hyfax squeal before? The repetition is too fast to be a missing track clip.
Is this maybe ice buidup that everyone talks about? Track lugs rubbing? I didn't hear any grinding... Or do you think the track is too tight and the front idlers are making the noise?
This does have the stock track, is this a noise that the closed windows make if rubbing on the sliders? Lack of lube?
Track tension set at factory recommendation, front limiter strap tightened up 1 bolt hole from stock. 144 studs in middle.
Any thought? Thanks.

 

[sobfrogg]

Yes, That sounds like lack of lub. Rubber( closed windows) on plastic.

 

[mbarryracing]

I rode with a Skidoo Rev, Crossfire F7, and a Polaris SKS. Mine was the only one that sounded like chipmunks under the track...

Do the marginal snow little wheel kits help?

 

[Randy J Beyer]

Close inspection will tell where the noise was coming from ?

Check rubber on small wheels, check drive lugs, checks clips, check center shock for rub marks,
run sled on jack stand and listen while you watch the track go around.

You should see the results somewhere !

 

[Yamaha Man]

My brand new RTX does the same, at low speeds and when I turn...the track churps, like little birds are sitting on my rails, lol

 

[ROCKERDAN]

are they the stock original idler wheels?...those were known to WARP,so check all your idler wheels....they are garbage....

BTW,i used to live in Springville..built my first house there on transit line rd.....back early 90s....awesome area...gets alot of lake effect!

Dan

 

[BubbaGoFast]

Yes I found out the stock idler wheels are junk too. What do you recommend? I only have one bent or warped. But I found my wheels to turn hard so I took them all off took out the seals of the bearings (Damn wheels you used to be able to change the bearings in the wheels but now are one piece, the engineer of that one should be shot but they might of had a reason for it?) Put degreaser in bucket like simple green but I use SNB 130 form spartan and make sure you follow mixing instructions of degreaser. You don't need it that strong. Clean thoroughly blow dry with air nozzle. Then put seal in one side grease with grease needle from other until it slightly comes out other side of bearing (don't put too much grease in bearing as it will blow the seals back out when riding) then install second seal and you're all set, almost as good as new.

Anyways my point was I have seen the bearings in the idlers make a tremendous noise too, on several newer Yamaha's.

 

[mbarryracing]

I have only put 50 miles on my sled after that one ride, it now only has 200 total miles on it. Looked it over after thawing it out in the garage last night and found one of the inside idlers shredded.
What junk !
Also have hyfax melded to my track clips, but all the clips are still there and tight. Looks like the rubber on the closed windows was rubbing pretty good, too. Might have been the chirping.
Going to call a dealer today and see if those idlers are covered under warranty, 200 miles? Come-on... Better upgrade me to better wheels!
Going to try those Anti-Wear pads for those closed windows, see if that will keep the rubber away from the hyfax.

 

[mbarryracing]

BTW,i used to live in Springville..built my first house there on transit line rd.....back early 90s....awesome area...gets alot of lake effect!

Dan

Dan,

I actually live on Franklin Street, not too far from Transit Line. I wish we had more lake effect this year. I wouldn't be burning up hyfax, etc...

Mauri

 

[mbarryracing]

OK,
I replaced all the stock idlers with the spoked Yamahas (PPD) from the catalog. Installed the 2 small wheel kits from Full Power Performance. Still had a rubber chirping from the big rear wheels so replaced them with an aftermarket 7" from PPD.
Noise gone!

 

[BlkNytro]

It happens to me sometimes at low speed and my sled is leaning on one side more than another..for example when I am riding on the sled of an plowed rode.

 

[mbarryracing]

It happens to me sometimes at low speed and my sled is leaning on one side more than another..for example when I am riding on the sled of an plowed rode.

Stock rear wheels?

These aftermarkets must be mfg from a different rubber compound because they don't make a peep...

I need to post some pics.

 

[BlkNytro]

Yea there stock. If I'm not going fast and I can hear it when the sled is driving on the snow bank...

 

[mbarryracing]

Yea there stock. If I'm not going fast and I can hear it when the sled is driving on the snow bank...

I guess if it doesn't affect reliability and isn't a sign of something going catywompus, it's OK.
I got paranoid hearing that after burning hyfax and destroying idler wheels. My Vmax's never made track noise, then again they were so loud (2 smokes) that I couldn't hear anything if it was making noise...

 

[mbarryracing]

Here are some pics of the new spoked Yamaha replacement idlers I upgraded to (recommended from another thread here), along with the new PPD rear wheels that solved my squeal / chirp noises, and the Full Power Performance little wheel kits to help with hyfax wear.
What a difference!!!!