Rubbing sound at front of skid

[Yehaf]

But what have yamaha done or artic, If I have the skid in the upper hole the skid is hitting the wheels its not antistab that are the problem. Its like that the skid sits closer to the wheels

Lowered the skid today, no longer hitting. It was my drive wheels hitting the rails as well. Thanks for all the good info guys.

 

[johan]

Its the same part number on pivot 1 and as the xtx se and older vipers xtx have so the changes has to be on the rails or the chassi

 

[drumz11]

Went in back and quizzed the techs and read all we could find. According to the most recent Tech update book its only shown to be the 153 and 162 with the geometry changes. The front arm skid pivot is raised 1 inch and pullrod and idler arm changed along with rail profile this increases travel from 11.75 to 12.5. No mention of 141 geometry change. So we looked up Cat. Earliest change for cat 141 was in 13 they moved the skid to the upper holes. So really nothing concrete. May come down to having 14,15 skid out and side by side. I suspect the geometry change was also done to the 141's since if you all remember with the wheel hitting the Evol issue Hygear had to do some mods to make everything fit.And there were no issues before this. Chalk this one up to failure to communicate once again.

The Evol issue has always been a problem on the 141. Since the skid was introduced you couldn't run most shocks with a canister or else the idler would come in contact. Everyone just removed the idler or both unless you had a shock piggybacked or it was in a position where it wouldn't hit. They never came from the factory with anything but your basic spring shock or fox float on the 141 until now so it wasn't an issue unless you swapped shocks. They completely dropped the ball this year by putting those shocks in that skid with the canister in that location. It wasn't a geometry change. The update for the issue is to remove the idlers with the factory shock on those models if you don't mod the shock. Funny considering everyone had known this already since 2012 on that skid.

Its just so tough to see changes. Cat had a huge problem back in 13. They changed the rails and the drivers and kept skid in mid hole in front I believe. Anyway drivers hit and then they ended up putting in upper holes where they have been ever since. Its hard to keep track of all the changes but thats what that tech school was supposed to be for. They missed some things.

Are you talking about the 141" skid mounting relocation or the 129" driver and rail update?

The bulletin to move the skid to the upper holes on the 141" was due to Hyfax wear they claimed. You can actually run it in either location on those sleds and there are no issues.

The 129" driver and rail update was due to track ratcheting. You could get the update kit which got you Extrovert drivers that the those machines did not come with to stop ratcheting issues, but you needed to use the new rails for them to fit.

I'm still curious to know what was exactly the problem on the 2016 in this thread or if there is a change this year

 

[cannondale27]

Drums I was under the impression that Hygear had to change the arm AND relocate the evol to make shock work on the LE. As far as the cat changes back in 13 I saw drivers hitting rails on both 141 and updated 128's. The point and real problem there is how the heck do sleds get into consumers hands and then they find a issue? Same thing here. My bet is there is a geometry change just like 153 and 162.

 

[YAMMAROB]

cannondale, thanks for you research. I must add a few things here. First of all, I had removed my two idler wheels prior to even riding it so its not them. I have anti stab wheels and they don't seem to be the issue. My drivers are hitting almost the center of the windows. Second when the sled was sitting on the ground with the shocks at riding pressures you could take your hand and take the top part of the track and push it up against the tunnel with very, and I mean very little pressure. I tried it, Yamarob and Stingray and Justin witnessed it. These are three Viper owners although different flavors. You could not do this with any of theirs. One 137 and two 141's turned to 153's with extensions.

We tightened the track until there was next to no slack as well as putting 160 lbs in the front shock. All that happened was the sled rode like a rock and it made lots of noise although a bit less. We spent a whole day at Mesa playing with this. The only positive thing is that while Jacob and Norm were folding up their front ends on huge rocks boondocking, I was lying on my side working on this.

Nothing worked until I lowered the skid. Then it went away and I actually have some sag in the bottom of the track.

I think that if you have a 2016 XTX-LE then drop the skid down. It wont affect the ride but will stop the noise which sounded like a truck going down hill and using engine brakes and missing the odd gear.

View attachment 113375

Ya but what you don't tell is I was on the other side in the same position as you

 

[drumz11]

Drums I was under the impression that Hygear had to change the arm AND relocate the evol to make shock work on the LE. As far as the cat changes back in 13 I saw drivers hitting rails on both 141 and updated 128's. The point and real problem there is how the heck do sleds get into consumers hands and then they find a issue? Same thing here. My bet is there is a geometry change just like 153 and 162.

I wouldn't be surprised if there is geometry change this year. Like it was mentioned in a previous post I believe, I remember reading how the Yamaha version of the mountain sleds had its own unique skid geometry that differed from the Cats. I don't remember what skid length it was.
I'm not sure of the Hygear fix on the shock issue. I just know that the stock idler position has never worked on the 141 since 2012 without a contact issue on most shocks with a canister. Remove wheels and they were fine.
Honestly I have never heard of any driver contact issues on 2013 141's or any other year with it in either skid position or anyone else with issues or even any online rumblings concerning it. I still have my 2013 141" in the stable. The skid and drivers have been the same since 2012 (though they come with the anti-stab kit now) on the Cat. I won't argue the point. It doesn't really matter or relate to the discussion here.
It is disheartening to see some of the issues that make it out the door to be dealt with by the customers. We all scratch our heads wondering how some of these things slip by.

 

[Robinmaine]

I took a measurement while I still had the sled in the air on mine and this is what I have and with the suspension totally relaxed this is as close as it gets. I did look in the tunnel while my skid was out and the protectors are black just on the flat section next to the drivers. I have the 1.6 track and I honestly cant imagine a 1.75 or 2 in there its tight . And the skid is in the top holes

 

[Happyhours]

Just got back from putting 320 miles on my 16 xtx. I'm having the same problems. Sounds exactly like it was explained earlier. I'm going to try and lower the suspension.

 

[InRBigness]

I put 150 miles on this weekend and no more rubbing noise with it in the lower holes.

 

[InRBigness]

You do not have to relocate the shock at all. I just purchased the HiGear 45 degree offset top cap and it will allow the Evol canister as well as having the idler wheels. Arctic cat actually has a bulletin on the rubbing noise. They say the skid should be in the lower holes.

 

[Allan]

View attachment 113698 You do not have to relocate the shock at all. I just purchased the HiGear 45 degree offset top cap and it will allow the Evol canister as well as having the idler wheels. Arctic cat actually has a bulletin on the rubbing noise. They say the skid should be in the lower holes.

Any way you can post a link to service bulletin or larger . canT read it . TKS

 

[InRBigness]

Not sure why the forum does that. It was a jpg on my computer. It is from HCS. http://www.hardcoresledder.com/foru...502050-2016-xf-8000-limited-high-country.html.

It basically says to lower the front down and go to the middle hole in the back.

 

[stingray719]

Not sure why the forum does that. It was a jpg on my computer. It is from HCS. http://www.hardcoresledder.com/foru...502050-2016-xf-8000-limited-high-country.html.

It basically says to lower the front down and go to the middle hole in the back.

Group of us riders figured that out at with you at Grand Mesa

 

[cannondale27]

View attachment 113698 You do not have to relocate the shock at all. I just purchased the HiGear 45 degree offset top cap and it will allow the Evol canister as well as having the idler wheels. Arctic cat actually has a bulletin on the rubbing noise. They say the skid should be in the lower holes.

Right. But when the Hygear links are added there is more involved than previous years. That must mean a geometry change at least in the 141 Le.
http://www.ty4stroke.com/threads/16-xtx-le-rear-evol-will-hit-idler.137209/page-7

 

[InRBigness]

There may have been. I just want to get my idler wheels back on and Yamaha/Cat's solution was to remove both of them and then put push pins in the holes that are left on the rail.