What bearings should i replace in drive train?

[JG231-]

So I've had my Attak just over a year now and finally rolled her over 5k. I've put just over 1700 miles on it and last year I flushed, cleaned and repacked the bearing for the tracks driveshaft that is under the secondary, It looked fine but got to reading about it being a good idea to do some pre issue replacement. I can get the bearing for 26 usd from Barn of parts and probably intend to, but are there any other bearings in the drive line I should replace>? It appears from me looking that the chain case bearing are constantly lubricated via being inside the case . Any other bearings or parts I should be looking at ?

 

[RobX-1]

I have close to 25k miles on my 08 Ape so you're 1/5th of the way there. Along with the drive axle bearing, don't forget the jackshaft bearing. Not as prone to failures as the drive axle but do require yearly inspection to ensure its properly lubed. One to thing to consider when replacing the drive axle is does one take that $26 and apply towards the Greaser that Travis sells (the one Jerry made but is sold via Travis and Rock) and then be a one-and-done where yearly greasing is a breeze?

As for the chain case side not too much there until you start to rack up some more miles; even then, as you mention, they are always under lubrication so unless one has considerable slop, probably not necessary. However, the only thing you may want to consider upgrading there, especially if you are going to keep your Apex, is to upgrade to the newer drive axle and chain case cover that was introduced in later years of the Apex as the drive axle is known to snap right at the chain case of the axle. The newer drive axle is thicker and extends further into the chain case side so as to make use of the extra bearing they added to the new cover; hence why you need the cover as well. Travis also sells the newer style drive axle and chain cover, albeit used, if that is something you might also want to consider.

 

[Stubbs]

Just because you install the “greaser” and lube this bearing regularly does not mean it is 100% safe against failure, bearings can and do wear out. It’s a cool product and all, but replacing this bearing is still a good idea on sleds with high mileage as a precaution. Also, if this bearing has never been removed from the drive axle it will be seized on there, and a total biotch to remove. In some cases the drive axle may need to be pulled out of the sled to get it off. For the low cost of this bearing I just throw a new one on my main ride with some never seize every fall and every other fall on my second sled during pre-season maintenance. Cheap peace of mind if you ask me and I’ll NEVER have to battle a bearing seized to the drive shaft.

 

[maim]

if you are inspecting bearings every year, the speedo bearing is the one that is the most problematic when it fails. if you had no rust when you clean and repack it, it should make 8-10000 mi before failure. the one on my 11 failed at just north of 11000 mi on the bearing at a ty ride. i replace it every 2 seasons when it has the metal seals as i always mangle those seals every time i try to pull them.

 

[JG231-]

I have close to 25k miles on my 08 Ape so you're 1/5th of the way there. Along with the drive axle bearing, don't forget the jackshaft bearing. Not as prone to failures as the drive axle but do require yearly inspection to ensure its properly lubed. One to thing to consider when replacing the drive axle is does one take that $26 and apply towards the Greaser that Travis sells (the one Jerry made but is sold via Travis and Rock) and then be a one-and-done where yearly greasing is a breeze?

As for the chain case side not too much there until you start to rack up some more miles; even then, as you mention, they are always under lubrication so unless one has considerable slop, probably not necessary. However, the only thing you may want to consider upgrading there, especially if you are going to keep your Apex, is to upgrade to the newer drive axle and chain case cover that was introduced in later years of the Apex as the drive axle is known to snap right at the chain case of the axle. The newer drive axle is thicker and extends further into the chain case side so as to make use of the extra bearing they added to the new cover; hence why you need the cover as well. Travis also sells the newer style drive axle and chain cover, albeit used, if that is something you might also want to consider.

I appreciate all of you taking the time to reply,

I'll inspect every bearing thats not inside the chaincase and get eyes on them, I'm of the opinion that I'd rather replace one than have one fail and really screw something up. I will look into changing the drive axle/cases out for the better one, this is the first I've heard about it.. dont plan on ever getting rid of this sled, I'd like to see it sitting in the garage with 100k on it in 20+ years to be honest.

As for "the greaser", I've spoken to Jerry via FB about it before and to be totally honest, I'd rather get eyes on the bearing and make a visual inspection, It takes like 5 minutes to get it in view and do the maintenance on it

 

[RobX-1]

FWIW, none of my Apex's have the Greaser as I too inspect/clean via parts cleaner/repack yearly but was just throwing it out there as a suggestion/shout-out to a TY vendor; hence the emoji. For some, they prefer using the Greaser's zerk to repack bearing vs using a pick to remove the bearing cover. As @maim pointed out, the cover can become distorted from being removed multiple times.

As for the drive axle, it has happened to me twice now and whether coincidence or not, it seemed to be around the 10k mi threshold; first one broke around 10k on odometer and the second one I purchased used off Travis from a low mileage Apex and that broke around 10k miles later. Travis did try to sway me to consider going the upgrade route the first time but I didn't heed his advice.

 

[Stubbs]

10k does seem to be the magically number on first gen Apes doesn’t it, I broke 2 about that mileage as well. Having said that I’ve never seen a broken second gen drive shaft, regardless of how many miles are on it.

 

[RobX-1]

Correct, I have over 10k on my 18 XTX and have not had a single issue with the drive axle.

 

[maim]

on my 11 i have 24000 mi on og drive axle and still going. i do run the track looser than spec though.