track tightness

[Yamyguy]

This is my first crack at doing my own maintance, and I was wondering if you guys have any quick tricks to detemine that the track is tight enough. I checked the service manual and it say to use a spring, but I don't have one.

 

[FLYBOY]

My experience has been--You don't want it too tight. Don't know about the RX1 manual but all my Yamaha manuals which direct you to adjust for about 1 inch space when pulled with a 20lb force- cause it to be too tight.

Too tight-- too much drag-burns your hyfax and heats up your engine in poor snow conditions.

Too loose-- track will ratchet

Somewhere in the middle but I've generally found the manual spec to be too tight.

Hope this helps a bit

 

[welterracer]

i find yamahas spec tooo loose!!

start at yamaha spec.. if it ratchets.. slowly tighten it!

 

[Snowaholic]

I am not sure what you are riding but for 03 RX's Yamaha calls for a range of 25mm to 30mm from the track to the bottom of the sliders, for 04&05 they call for a range of 30mm to 35mm. This can be done by placing approximately 22lbs of weight on the middle of the track and then measuring from there. I run my track just about as tight as possible and find it works allot better(no slippage). You will find alot of useful info. on this site for maintenance and updates. Escpecially if you have an 03.

 

[jimmie d]

The older RX and Warrior had a bad rachet problem so you had to tighten until you got rid of the rachetting.

Jim

 

[Yamyguy]

Thanks! I really appreciate all the great info!

 

[grauser]

I bought a cheap fish scale. pull to 22lbs and measure. I've had excellent success with slider longevity. My orig track was terrible - - ratcheted like he##. I just lived with it. Converted to 136 and changed approach angle this year, haven't had it on the snow yet.

 

[LazyBastard]

How did you change the approach angle?

 

[grauser]

I used the Mountain Perf Extension kit (Option 2) when I converted to 136. Option 2 reduces the approach angle.

 

[LazyBastard]

Try something;

Completely remove both spring/shocks from the rear suspension and without lowering it to the groung, completely compress the skid. Monitor the track tension through the entire stroke.

 

[grauser]

Lazy, save me the trouble, do you know what I will see ??

 

[LazyBastard]

If you see what I suspect that you might see, then you will be taking it all apart anyways.

 

[BlueByYou2000]

 

[LazyBastard]

http://www.rx1.info/viewtopic.php?t=6968

Also check out page 2 of this thread:
http://www.rx1.info/viewtopic.php?t=698 ... &&start=15