Track alignment question

[ecopter]

The manual graphic description is awful. If you're behind the machine (with the snow flap in your chest) and the track needs to be adjusted with more space on the left, do you loosen the left side or tighten the left side? I realize that you can also make an adjustment on the right side, but I want to keep this simple (for my purposes). Anyone?

Thanks,
Jon

 

[grader]

you tighten the left. think of the rear axel as a rolling pin that you are holding in your hands and the track turning. as you pull back on one side (tighten) the track moves over to the other side.

 

[ecopter]

But in my example above, I need more space (track) on the left. If I tighten the left, you're saying that it will add more space to the right side, no?

jf

 

[yamahas]

If the track is too far to the right you would need to tighten the right side. If making the right side tighter makes the track tension too tight you would need to loosen the left side insted. This is just from memory, i can not open the service manual from where I am at right now.

I hope that helps.

 

[ecopter]

That helps. Thanks much.

jf

 

[theCATman]

If the track is too far to the right you would need to tighten the right side. If making the right side tighter makes the track tension too tight you would need to loosen the left side insted. This is just from memory, i can not open the service manual from where I am at right now.

I hope that helps.

Yep!!!

Tighten the side it's running to, or loosen the other side.

 

[Super Sled]

The best way i've heard described on this site to make sure your track is straight (applies to all Yamahas) is to do as follows:

First remove the nuts from both sides off the back completely, from both rails. Then put them back on and count the turns of your socket as you put the nuts back on. Make sure you have equal turns on each side. The more turns you make turning the nut in, the farther the rear axle will be back and the tighter the track will be. It's backwards from what it seems.

The key is equal turns -- equal turns means your axle will be straight. Way better than "eye balling it" so to speak to be sure your track alignment will be correct.


editted: The more you turn in the two nuts at the back of the rails, the tighter the track will be.

My bad!

 

[sleddog66]

The best way i've heard described on this site to make sure your track is straight (applies to all Yamahas) is to do as follows:

First remove the nuts from both sides off the back completely, from both rails. Then put them back on and count the turns of your socket as you put the nuts back on. Make sure you have equal turns on each side. Then less turns, the farther the rear axle will be back and the tighter the track will be. The key is equal turns -- equal turns means your axle will be straight. Way better than "eye balling it" so to speak to be sure your track alignment will be correct.

This is not always a perfect alignment, but a good starting point. There are too many variables that may not be perfect. Bulk head to tunnel alignment, skid alignment, driver alignment. I have never seen a sled that was perfect, so you may have to fine tune a tweek from this point

 

[sledneck22]

And another word of advice, after you think you have the track aligned, jack or hang the back of the seld in the air so the track is off the ground and run the machine. Spin the track a few times around and it will naturally go to the loose side. From there you will be able to either loosen the side which has the most track to tunnel clearence or tighten the side that has the least track to tunnel clearance.
I now have an mtx with the stock 16" wide track so I have done this a few times because there is very minimal clearance and I hate it when I take a tight turn and can hear the track rubbing on the tunnel.
It was 32 degrees this morning and I have some baddddd redline fever.

 

[Super Sled]

bump for a good post about track alignment and my own edit, lol!