Why are the idler wheels smaller on 2020+?

[twyztid]

Just picked up a new 2025 LTX LE EPS last Friday. While I was working on my 17 LTX SE, I was comparing the idler wheels. I found that the small idler wheels on the 2025 are only 5.5" while the 2017 are 5.63". Does anyone know why they would have gone to smaller idler wheels on the 2020+? I realize that the rails are different but are the mounts mounted lower than the 17-19 (kind of like what they did with the Mono II skid for the Apex)?

 

[Simplespeed]

check same for Arttic Cat on their sleds to see if its their little trick to make sure they run better than the winders.. Or is to sell more Hy-Fax or is to slow top speed, IDK but seems like not normal to me.. Good investigation….

 

[twyztid]

check same for Arttic Cat on their sleds to see if its their little trick to make sure they run better than the winders.. Or is to sell more Hy-Fax or is to slow top speed, IDK but seems like not normal to me.. Good investigation….

The newer Arctic Cats use the same 5.5" wheels.
This is the 5.5" wheel.
https://shop.arcticcat.com/4604-355#/s/ARC//4604-355//1/y

This is the 5.63" wheel that was used through 2018 for the Procross chassis.

5.63-in Idler Wheel (Black)

This Idler Wheel keeps your track in place while reducing potential friction on the hyfax. It measures 5.63-in for outer diameter, while it measures .787-in for inner diameter.

shop.arcticcat.com

 

[twyztid]

Anyone else have any input?

 

[timmyz06]

i can tell you, my 19 ZR RR have the 5.5 idler wheels! To my understanding, its that way for the 19 and plus+!

 

[twyztid]

i can tell you, my 19 ZR RR have the 5.5 idler wheels! To my understanding, its that way for the 19 and plus+!

I understand that is the way it is for those year. I am asking WHY they went to smaller wheels.

 

[idontknowjack]

I would think because of the silent track.

 

[twyztid]

I would think because of the silent track.

Nope. They have ALL had the silent track since 2017. I think even my 2015 Viper had the silent track.

 

[Simplespeed]

Sure would be nice to ask the Arctic Engineer why he made that change and whats the real reason for this change… Maybe the question should be does anyone know anyone that worked for Arctic Cat engineering department? Maybe they could answer this question.

 

[twyztid]

Sure would be nice to ask the Arctic Engineer why he made that change and whats the real reason for this change… Maybe the question should be does anyone know anyone that worked for Arctic Cat engineering department? Maybe they could answer this question.

I will likely have to measure how far past the hyfax on the new 2025 sled that the 5.5" wheels sit and then when it is time to replace the hyfax on my 2017, measure how far new 5.63" wheels sit past the hyfax on that one.

I was considering running Ski-Doo 147mm wheels on the 2017 once I need to replace my hyfax. Those would be 4mm larger than the stock 5.63" wheels. They would be 7.3mm larger than the 5.5" wheels on the 2025 which is likely too much if the smaller wheels mount lower.

I just found that the wheel mounts use different part #'s between the 2017 & 2025.
2017 uses Yamaha # 8JP-G7419-10-00 (Arctic Cat # 3604-899)
2025 uses Yamaha # 8JP-G7419-20-00 (Arctic Cat # 4604-652)

I guess I should remove a mount off each sled and compare them as well. It is possible that they hold the 5.5" wheels lower on the newer ones. Yamaha did this on the Apex/Vector when they went to the Mono II skid. They used the same wheels but used mounts that lowered the wheels.