WinderFab
TY 4 Stroke God
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2009
- Messages
- 1,877
- Age
- 47
- Location
- Woodbridge, ON
- Country
- Canada
- Snowmobile
- 2020 Sidewinder Ltx GT
Just surfing eBay and came across this, https://www.ebay.com/itm/Top-Gear-S...Yamaha&hash=item1ce1b7a9f1:g:iD8AAOSwxlBeHacy
I have only heard great reviews with the better quality material, wider bushing and tighter tolerances.


I have one in my sled right now. I bought. Will be removing it for inspection and track change this week. Oops not that one! The $30 one is what I have. Way to rich for my blood for a untested piece!
vodoo child
Expert
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2005
- Messages
- 464
- Location
- Palmerton Pa.
- Country
- USA
- Snowmobile
- 2018 Sidewinder LTX/LE 50th
Looks like he lowered his price! Over on one of the Sidewinder FB pages he had them listed for $350!!! I wished him well with his sale and stated I'll stick with the McMaster Carr bushing this year for 3 bucks!I have one in my sled right now. I bought. Will be removing it for inspection and track change this week. Oops not that one! The $30 one is what I have. Way to rich for my blood for a untested piece!
Have you inspected that bearing yet since you installed it?Looks like he lowered his price! Over on one of the Sidewinder FB pages he had them listed for $350!!! I wished him well with his sale and stated I'll stick with the McMaster Carr bushing this year for 3 bucks!
vodoo child
Expert
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2005
- Messages
- 464
- Location
- Palmerton Pa.
- Country
- USA
- Snowmobile
- 2018 Sidewinder LTX/LE 50th
Just got back from Michigan yesterday, 1,425 miles for the week and no issues! So do tell, whats wrong with the McMaster Carr 660 bronze bushing?Have you inspected that bearing yet since you installed it?
Contemplating just replacing the bushing in my spare top gear and i was curious how yours was holding up that's all. You don't happen to have the Part number on that bushing do you?Just got back from Michigan yesterday, 1,425 miles for the week and no issues! So do tell, whats wrong with the McMaster Carr 660 bronze bushing?
EDIT; got it from a quick search....McMaster carr #6381k563
WinterWolf
TY 4 Stroke Master
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2017
- Messages
- 1,102
- Age
- 56
- Location
- Connecticut
- Country
- USA
- Snowmobile
- "2018 Yamaha Sidewinder RTX LE 50th Anniversary Edition"
Is this the reverse top gear in the chain case you’re all talking about?
vodoo child
Expert
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2005
- Messages
- 464
- Location
- Palmerton Pa.
- Country
- USA
- Snowmobile
- 2018 Sidewinder LTX/LE 50th
The main top gear in the gear set JD. It's an over hung gear , witch means the teeth of the gear overhang the inner bushing on the inside witch in turn puts more pressure on the out side of the bushing. There's different opinions of witch bushing to use. Since I tear down the chaincase to drain and inspect every fall, I figured I'd go with the McMaster Carr 660 leaded bronze bushing for $3 bucks a piece!Is this the reverse top gear in the chain case you’re all talking about?
WinterWolf
TY 4 Stroke Master
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2017
- Messages
- 1,102
- Age
- 56
- Location
- Connecticut
- Country
- USA
- Snowmobile
- "2018 Yamaha Sidewinder RTX LE 50th Anniversary Edition"
The main top gear in the gear set JD. It's an over hung gear , witch means the teeth of the gear overhang the inner bushing on the inside witch in turn puts more pressure on the out side of the bushing. There's different opinions of witch bushing to use. Since I tear down the chaincase to drain and inspect every fall, I figured I'd go with the McMaster Carr 660 leaded bronze bushing for $3 bucks a piece!
Got it..Thanks Mike. That makes perfect sense!

PowderFalcon
Pinnin' it!
The main top gear in the gear set JD. It's an over hung gear , witch means the teeth of the gear overhang the inner bushing on the inside witch in turn puts more pressure on the out side of the bushing. There's different opinions of witch bushing to use. Since I tear down the chaincase to drain and inspect every fall, I figured I'd go with the McMaster Carr 660 leaded bronze bushing for $3 bucks a piece!
I wrote this on the upper gear thread, but in case you missed it...
Well, that didnt last long...
approx 800 kms on my mcmaster carr bushing and its toast.
Unfortunately for me it happened on a back pack trip. The gear let go at top speed and by the time it stopped free-wheeling, the reverse gear and gear had grinded to bad, they would no longer mesh. So i am in for a top gear, reverse gear, and 2 reverse fork pads.
chain tension 1.25 turns, 16oz amsoil chaincase oil.
Bushing details: Part 6381K563 - Multipurpose SAE 660 leaded bronze sleeve bearing for 1" shaft diameter.
Back to the drawing board!
GodSpeedSWE
Veteran
Try skf instead
Only got 300 mile out of a McMaster bushing. Some bushings can wear the shaft so becarful!I wrote this on the upper gear thread, but in case you missed it...
Well, that didnt last long...
approx 800 kms on my mcmaster carr bushing and its toast.
Unfortunately for me it happened on a back pack trip. The gear let go at top speed and by the time it stopped free-wheeling, the reverse gear and gear had grinded to bad, they would no longer mesh. So i am in for a top gear, reverse gear, and 2 reverse fork pads.
chain tension 1.25 turns, 16oz amsoil chaincase oil.
Bushing details: Part 6381K563 - Multipurpose SAE 660 leaded bronze sleeve bearing for 1" shaft diameter.
Back to the drawing board!
ClutchMaster
HUGE Member
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2016
- Messages
- 2,996
- Location
- tomahawk
- Country
- USA
- Snowmobile
- 2015 Viper 270 hurricane,
2002 Viper W/162 A.C. skid, SRX pipes &CDI, 780 BB
- LOCATION
- Wisconsin
Only got 300 mile out of a McMaster bushing. Some bushings can wear the shaft so becarful!
That’s crazy,
I ran the 660 three years ago and it lasted about as long as the stock bushing the year before that. I got 1500 miles out of it and I have a 270hp viper that gets turned up to 330hp on occasion.
Bought a new chain and ran it loose the last two years... over 4000 miles on the stock bushing looks new.
If you wore the 660 out in 300 miles you got serious issues.
Similar threads
- Replies
- 60
- Views
- 15K
- Replies
- 22
- Views
- 40K
- Replies
- 0
- Views
- 682
- Replies
- 1
- Views
- 640
-
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.