track clips & tool

[PowderFalcon]

I have a (Kimpex?) press type clip tool- never really liked it, had to grease or antiseize the h#ll out of it to make it work properly. This time around I bought the SPI lever tool from Spanky's.
I love it, you can put a clip on in 30 seconds- but you have to modify it after it breaks-and it will break!
When you buy the tool, go to the hardware store and pick up a couple of 1/4" hardened bolts 1 1/4" long OR 1/4" hardened dowel pins-so when it breaks you can fix it quickly.
Mine broke on the 2nd clip, simply punch out the old pin pieces, drill out the holes in the crimping head to 1/4" and tap in the hardened pin. This took about 10-15 minutes. You're half done!
The other side broke on the very next clip, just repeat the process and you're golden! Do not try to fix it before it breaks, its way easier to do it this way...
I put 6 more clips on with no problems. It takes longer to roll the track than to put on a clip! Glad I tried this tool!

Good advice! Thanks!

 

[steiner]

One thing to keep in mind. Once you start reclipping a track you might as well do all the clips. Once the track is old enough to start throwing a few clips it will through them all.
I replaced 15 clips on my old track. When for a 200 mile ride and found another 12 missing. Replaced those and 100 miles later needed 5 more. Gave up and ordered a new track.

 

[PowderFalcon]

One thing to keep in mind. Once you start reclipping a track you might as well do all the clips. Once the track is old enough to start throwing a few clips it will through them all.
I replaced 15 clips on my old track. When for a 200 mile ride and found another 12 missing. Replaced those and 100 miles later needed 5 more. Gave up and ordered a new track.

Also a good point. My track is only a year old. Lost one of the plastic end caps (nose piece) off my skid rail last season and thinking that's why I lost the 7 clips. Used the crimping tool (plier type) to install them. Wasn't totally impressed with how tight they crimped down, but did the best I could. Will see how they hold up.

 

[03RX1-ER-LE]

I re-clipped the factory track on my wife's sled three years ago and still going with over 6k miles on the OEM track. Just order all new clips and you will get many more years out of the track.

 

[viper7mi]

How do you use that tool for clips that match up with a track lug? seems to me it would work fine on ones that do not have a lug, but will not work when the track lug is present. i am in the midst of installing a few clips i lost last season and it seems only the plier/crimper style will work for this. correct me if im wrong!

The tool that I have is for 1 1/4" lugs. It crimps the clip but does not crunch the lug. WD40 the bolt thread helps the process.

 

[03RX1-ER-LE]

Yes, make sure you use WD40 on tool threads! I have done many clips over the years and not one concern with the Sno-stuff crimping tool.