Slider wear. My 2006 MXZ 600 SDI Andrenalin wears sliders bad in one area just in front of the front outside idler wheel. I have played with different settings for troubleshooting with no positive results. Just wondering if I should change my 141mm wheels out for 147mm wheels to gain extra clearance. My wife runs 147mm wheels on her 06 GTX and her sliders look great. I figure I would gain 3 mm of extra clearance by doing this. I can't help but wonder why the difference in wheel size on hers. I thought maybe the 136 inch track had something to do with it but some other 136" track models run with 141mm wheels. Any thoughts?
Slider wear
- Thread starter pawz
- Start date
Sure, makes sense. Make sure your track is tightened properly. Sounds like the track is 'folding' a little bit as it comes off of the drivers, causing it to hit the slides rather than just skim across them, then the wheel puts it back flat again. Maybe just a little more tension would take that out. Thinking about it now, perhaps the bigger wheel won't help it. But it's worth a try. If nothing else, switch the idler wheels for a trip, put on new slides, and see what happens to both sleds.
miaferominka
New member
Sounds like track tension problem
sounds pretty normal, they wear in front of the front wheels the most as this area gets less lube than the rear, unless you are riding in all the deep snow we have this year. Does Indiana have any good trails?!
You can try the larger wheels, but hyfax is not that expensive and changing them out once a year is not a big deal.
You can try the larger wheels, but hyfax is not that expensive and changing them out once a year is not a big deal.
You raise an interesting point. Never thought of that. Always considered looser is better but you may be right. Track never ratcheted though so I figured it is not so loose to fold back on it self. Must say though, that you sound like you know a few things. Tell me more.
Ok, but I wore the new ones down in about 10 miles to almost the wear line. That does not give me much room for ****ting trail riding until I might be into the aluminum.
sledheadjoe
New member
Same Problem
I too have had the same problem this year with my wifes '05 GSX. Put on brand new sliders at the beginning of the year and have only ridden about 400kms. They are now worn almost to the rails along the whole length, but moreso near the back idlers rather than near the front where they typically wear quicker. My wife is about 120lbs and rides very easy. We have only ridden in good snow with very few road crossings. I did not make any changes to the suspension and the previous set of sliders lasted about 3500kms. The track is as loose as possible without rachetting.
Has Ski-Doo changed their slide material? I purchased OEM sliders because I was told they would last longer than the aftermarket Kimpex ones...
Thanks,
Joe
I too have had the same problem this year with my wifes '05 GSX. Put on brand new sliders at the beginning of the year and have only ridden about 400kms. They are now worn almost to the rails along the whole length, but moreso near the back idlers rather than near the front where they typically wear quicker. My wife is about 120lbs and rides very easy. We have only ridden in good snow with very few road crossings. I did not make any changes to the suspension and the previous set of sliders lasted about 3500kms. The track is as loose as possible without rachetting.
Has Ski-Doo changed their slide material? I purchased OEM sliders because I was told they would last longer than the aftermarket Kimpex ones...
Thanks,
Joe
I put an old carbide stud in the back inside corner of my ski and that helped me with my wear on the slides! just drill a hole put a lock-nut with a washer! do it on the garage floor to make sure the stud sits up about a quarter inch off the floor!Its sprays a nice "v" of snow back into the skid! It works better than my scratchers!
Plus your track could be too tight??
Scottiking OUT
Plus your track could be too tight??
Scottiking OUT
Oh, don't claim to know all that much, just try to help out with ideas. I'm an amature at best....
The best set up for the track is as loose as you can have it without causing problems. Too tight is bad. I think the standard is about 1 inch to 1.5 inches of sag with 10lbs of weight on it. Not sure if the Doo's have a different spec, but that's typical for Poo anyway. Just check the tension on the track first. Remember to look at the simple things first.
I have seen some sleds just be prone to funny track slap on the slides, and there just was nothing that anyone could ever figure out to do to fix it. Probably a combination of several factors, like the drivers grabbing a little more and hanging on, track tension, suspension set up causing the skid to sit a certain way under certain conditions, etc. Hopefully that's not your situation, and you can figure it out. Keep in mind, that maybe once initially worn, it won't go any further. Don't know if you let it go long enough to wear to the rail or not.
zr500rider
New member
10 miles and they're wore to the line already!!! Makes me wonder if u broke them in and what conditions where these 10 miles. Slides need to be broke in. Ride till u get them good and warm then pull into some nice deep snow and let them cool off and this will sort of "temper" them. The plastic will get harder after cooling then it will wear longer. If you don't do this it will just continue to eat them up as the plastic stays soft and wears away. Have never gotten any less than 1500-2000 miles on a set of slides.....Unless riding in total ***t or grass.
anonomoose
New member
Hey, that is way too short a wear life....something is definitely wrong there.
Did you jump the sled? Those skids can bend pretty easily and or if you hit a stump or knock the skid a tiny bit cockeyed, it will put extreme wear on the sliders then for sure. Only way to find that out is to drop the skid and lay a straight edge on them to see if they are out of whack.
Loose is good. and since the track is prone to roll "wide" as it comes off the driver, I would NOT worry about the track bending in to cause this. Also the heat exchanger is in the front so actually the whole track should be getting plenty of lubrication from snow, so that isn't likely to be it either.
I suspect that the bigger wheel will help, but only because you will be taking the pressure off the slider at that point and because the rail is very likely banana shaped from hitting something or bending the rail.
Bigger wheels are cheap so I don't see why you couldn't try it to see what happens.
But I am betting it is a bent rail and that could mean more damage on the rest of the skid and a good tear down and look see is in order for safety sake if nothing else. Better to catch it before total failure than to wait and have it self distruct and cost you a new track/skid parts etc.
15 miles on hyfax is way too premature, even if you don't temper them.
Did you jump the sled? Those skids can bend pretty easily and or if you hit a stump or knock the skid a tiny bit cockeyed, it will put extreme wear on the sliders then for sure. Only way to find that out is to drop the skid and lay a straight edge on them to see if they are out of whack.
Loose is good. and since the track is prone to roll "wide" as it comes off the driver, I would NOT worry about the track bending in to cause this. Also the heat exchanger is in the front so actually the whole track should be getting plenty of lubrication from snow, so that isn't likely to be it either.
I suspect that the bigger wheel will help, but only because you will be taking the pressure off the slider at that point and because the rail is very likely banana shaped from hitting something or bending the rail.
Bigger wheels are cheap so I don't see why you couldn't try it to see what happens.
But I am betting it is a bent rail and that could mean more damage on the rest of the skid and a good tear down and look see is in order for safety sake if nothing else. Better to catch it before total failure than to wait and have it self distruct and cost you a new track/skid parts etc.
15 miles on hyfax is way too premature, even if you don't temper them.
15 miles on hyfax is way too premature, even if you don't temper them.
Totally agree with this statement ! We normally run 2 years on new Hyfax 2000-2500 miles depending on snow conditions in Michigan.
But.. If you don't go you won't know.
Rode on some snirt this year, lot's of snow last 2 years.
Sounds like to me sumtin not right. 1-1/2" again with a 10 lb weight for tension.look thru track from rear holes and ensure track is riding square between track clips. For that fact could you have a cple of bad clips wear'n the slides? Jack the back of the sled up, Sit behind sled and pull the track by hand and inspect the track as you pull.
Keep trying things...can't see ya replacing slides every 10 miles..
BR
Totally agree with this statement ! We normally run 2 years on new Hyfax 2000-2500 miles depending on snow conditions in Michigan.
But.. If you don't go you won't know.
Rode on some snirt this year, lot's of snow last 2 years.
Sounds like to me sumtin not right. 1-1/2" again with a 10 lb weight for tension.look thru track from rear holes and ensure track is riding square between track clips. For that fact could you have a cple of bad clips wear'n the slides? Jack the back of the sled up, Sit behind sled and pull the track by hand and inspect the track as you pull.
Keep trying things...can't see ya replacing slides every 10 miles..
BR
sno-busters3
New member
My 06 MXZX has always had the same problem. I've tried all sorts of supsension adjustments, decreasing track tension, increasing track tension....always wears the same. I've never gotten more than 1,500 miles out of a set of hyfax - even while riding in the best of conditions. In 2006-2007 they ran one less idler wheel on the outside on the SC4 suspension compared to the SC3 in years earlier and SC5 in years later. My hyfax on sleds with those two suspensions last forever. I've chalked it up to the design and have since gotten real good and changing hyfax quickly. You could add an extra idler wheel in the problem area. It will probably help some.
sledheadjoe
New member
I also thought this would be the best place to start inspecting... some bad track clips with sharp edges would act as a scraper and actually scrape the material off the slider. However, it would be a huge coincidence that you have a bad clip on both sides (assuming both sliders are wearing at the same rate).
I checked mine and was not able to find a bad clip. Any other suggestions for slider wear near the rear of the skid would be appreciated.
scottiking - adding a stud on the back of the ski is an awesome and inexpensive idea. Great alternative for ice scratchers too. Do they ever catch on the trailer guides or other surfaces when in reverse?
There is no room for an extra idler wheel in that area. That is why I thought of just putting 147s on for 3mm of extra clearance. Going out today with new sliders to test out my theory.
Yes it may not wear any farther at that point but I just don't like the idea of lack of room for wear if conditions are crappy. I have never worn them right down to the rails and don't want to be there.
My 2006 600sdi does the same thing. They wear to that point and then stop. I changed them the first year because I thought they were worn. I took the old ones and drilled a hole in each one. I still had a 1/4 in of plastic material. I do pull the skid out every year and check bushings and wheels. I haven't changed the slides for the last 2 years. This is riding in southern Michigan too.