Sidewinder Top Gear

[ROCKERDAN]

I just ordered in my new 21T top gear since I change it out every year. The new one is the updated version and has 3 oil holes drilled right through gear and bushing. Will be interesting to see if it helps at all.

Interesting.....part number?

I wonder if its same part number as the '18 but just updated?

I will check parts fiche.

Ok according to parts fiche, both 18 and 19 have same part number.

8KC-E769A-11-00

Dan

 

[yamaha06]

Interesting.....part number?

I wonder if its same part number as the '18 but just updated?

I will check parts fiche.

Ok according to parts fiche, both 18 and 19 have same part number.

8KC-E769A-11-00

Dan

Ya that’s the correct part number Dan. My LTX LE is a 2017 and had the top gear with no oil holes drilled into it.

 

[ROCKERDAN]

Yeah the 17s we all know had NO HOLES....My 18 had ONE HOLE, not drilled thru.....So the new ones going out have same part numbers but have 3 holes all drilled thru? That is GREAT!.....This is an area of wear we have all seen, so good on them(cat or yam) to do this change. Just odd the part numbers are not updated.

Great info brother, and thanks for posting

Dan

 

[yamaha06]

Yeah the 17s we all know had NO HOLES....My 18 had ONE HOLE, not drilled thru.....So the new ones going out have same part numbers but have 3 holes all drilled thru? That is GREAT!.....This is an area of wear we have all seen, so good on them(cat or yam) to do this change. Just odd the part numbers are not updated.

Great info brother, and thanks for posting

Dan

Ya that is correct, new gear has 3 holes and they are drilled right thru. We shall see if it helps with the life of this bushing!

 

[KnappAttack]

I have a brand new 21 here with 3 holes thru the gear, but not drilled thru the bushing. Cat quality for you. Will have to drill thru the bushing myself.

 

[ROCKERDAN]

Ya that is correct, new gear has 3 holes and they are drilled right thru. We shall see if it helps with the life of this bushing!

A few of us have found this odd from the get-go. The top gear, only spins on the Jshaft at that bushing when sled is put into reverse. Otherwise when sled is in forward, that bushing does not spin on the Jshaft, as the top gear is meshed in with the sliding reverse gear.

What I believe happens is there is some play when in forward as the top gear is being driven by the reverse gear when meshed into it from the side. Im sure this is why these holes were never felt to be needed initially. But for some reason that bushing gets worn, and so it must be due to the side mount of the reverse gear, and then the play gets worse over time.

Sure cant hurt having holes....Just funny the 18s had one hole that was never drilled thru completely, almost like it was a screw up.


Dan

Top gear shown without reverse gear/sliding fork installed.....the small teeth on outside are where it meshes into the reverse gear/sliding fork to go in forward direction

This is the reverse gear and sliding fork, which sits right beside the top main gear.....shown in forward direction/meshed into top gear

The reverse gear/sliding fork below slides left(forward) or right(reverse), meshes into top gear(left/forward) un-meshes(right/reverse)

One oil hole not drilled thru...stock'18

 

[ROCKERDAN]

I have a brand new 21 here with 3 holes thru the gear, but not drilled thru the bushing. Cat quality for you. Will have to drill thru the bushing myself.

WTF! grrrr....

you going back to 21 mike?

 

[KnappAttack]

WTF! grrrr....

you going back to 21 mike?

Picked it up with the intentions of going back, but you know the stuff I'm planning to test first. I like to have parts on hand as we know how this backorder stuff goes from Cat!

 

[sabrecat]

Dan, the pads on the shift fork seem like a good idea to you? Mine broke off last season causing the gears to pop into a neutral like position. But could hear the sprocket gear rubbing up on the reverse gear making a nasty grind noise. Now I don.t trust it.

 

[**sj**]

Dealer installed a 22 tooth top gear in my sled. I believe its a 13 wide. I believe they have 15 wide gears. When I questioned this I was told they do it all the time and have no issues with it. Any thoughts on this?
The reason for this is they ordered the wrong gear for it and had these in stock.
Thanks

15w only is recommended and Ive been saying since this machine was out...you dont want to go up on that top gear...especially if you have good traction , a bigger lug track or tuning up if you are in and out of the happy flipper....belt doesn't like it...

 

[fatchance]

So which sprocket is better, the OEM or the Borg Warner? Anybody notice any difference on bushing wear?

 

[ROCKERDAN]

Picked it up with the intentions of going back, but you know the stuff I'm planning to test first. I like to have parts on hand as we know how this backorder stuff goes from Cat!

Yes smart Mike....I feel like I need to take a zillion parts north with me, so I can test all winter and not wait. lol

Dan

 

[ROCKERDAN]

Dan, the pads on the shift fork seem like a good idea to you? Mine broke off last season causing the gears to pop into a neutral like position. But could hear the sprocket gear rubbing up on the reverse gear making a nasty grind noise. Now I don.t trust it.

I have had mine apart twice now, the design seems to work well for me so far....Unlike the 2012s with all their issues.

The key to those ones that may pop into neutral is.....you need to read the manual closely when installing the actuator and reverse solenoid. Basically you want to be turning that solenoid motor Counter clockwise as you are trying to install the 3 bolts. Turning that solenoid motor CC is pushing that fork/reverse gear to the left, which keeps that reverse gear meshed into the main top gear. As soon as that pops out to the right, its neutral.

The grinding is the small teeth(inner) of the reverse gear and main top gear trying to mesh.

Dan

 

[ROCKERDAN]

15w only is recommended and Ive been saying since this machine was out...you dont want to go up on that top gear...especially if you have good traction , a bigger lug track or tuning up if you are in and out of the happy flipper....belt doesn't like it...

Agree Brother....after a season(2 total) now with these winders....Its becoming clear what setups will eat belts pretty much instantly. Big traction and tall gears while turned up over 270hp will pretty much take ANY belt out in a few miles when flipper is whacked. And for guys like me in tight trails, corner to corner the belt issues arise much faster the wide open trails.

Im pulling back on gearing(back to stock 21/41, but considering a 42 lower too for a 123gps top speed) which alone should help me. I also lowered my offset late last season hoping for some help there too.....Also going to run another Ultimax as the cat guys swear by them(similar to the 112 cat belt for life) and also going down to a slightly less steep helix to keep consistant tension down low on belt.

If this yr is not much better, I will slap a TEAM(cat) primary on for next yr which will allow the wide 1.5" cat belts then.

Dan

 

[ROCKERDAN]

So which sprocket is better, the OEM or the Borg Warner? Anybody notice any difference on bushing wear?

OEM is Borg Warner 17 and up....

Bushing wear not good, so its nice to see Yam/Cat taking interest, and adding 3 holes now for 19s.

Dan