2010 M8 Diamond Drive bearing replacement

[newtrout]

Update

I have about 500 miles on the 4203 bearing now. That's right about when my stock 6203 was coming apart. I pulled it apart to check it again, and it seems to be holding up great; still nice and solid and smooth.

There are about 15 of these out there, now. If anyone else has pulled the cover to check on this bearing, please give some feedback.

Has anyone got one from the US distributor yet? I think it was Consolidated Bearing or something?

I got another batch and currently have 4 of the UK spec bearings left if anyone else is interested. $35 in the lower states, $36 in AK, and $40 in Canada shipped USPS.

 

[Stack]

I have the consolidated 4203 and and a really really nice SKF 5203 sitting on my desk at work. I got both of these through my Motion Industries rep.

Consolidated will only sell through distribution, so it is best to check their website for your local distributor.

My thought is that the 4203 is still a heck of a lot better than the OEM Cat bearing at taking side loads, no matter where it is made. My SKF 5203 is like gold, the best 5203 I could find, and the price complements the quality of this piece. Consolidated has said their 4203 is an ABEC 1 (Hey ABEC ratings aren't everything, but it helps!) and I do have the MFG information at work.

Bottom line I am comfortable with the Consolidated 4203 or the SKF 5203

John

 

[tne4]

I would take one of those bearings if still available. 605 553 2348

 

[bgreen776]

I have noticed that on the 2010 there is a 1.5 mm difference, but on the 08 and 09 the bearng fits flush with the end of the shaft. The difference on the 2010 is that the spacer is a bit thinner. So in theroy the 5203 on the 2010 fits exactly the same as it would on an 08 and 09. I put another 5203 on a 2010 today and had a really close look at all components and measurements, I am very confident that there will be no issues running this bearing in the 2010's. I guess time will tell.

The real question is: Why did Arctic Cat make the spacer 1.5 mm thinner but not put a double wide bearing on the end of the shaft instead?? Maybe next year!

Not all the 2010 shafts are the same, so be carefull what you say here. My 2010 M8 shaft required machining the shoulder back quite a bit. One sled is not the same as the next.

 

[TalkAK]

I ran a 4203 for about 100 miles then checked it, it felt a little rough, once I pulled it, it felt fine? Put a good 6203 on for my last few rides. Will go with the 5203 after the season is done.

The 4203 bearings from consolidated are not angular contact, not the ones in their product list. The 5203's are angular contact and will take more side load. The only 4203 angular contact bearings I can find are odd balls from China, and per their specs, they are indeed angular contact. But not a name brand.

I am going to do what it takes to get the 5203 on when time allows. The 4203's are however probably better then what they come with. Which is also a deep groove bearing. Enjoy these last few weeks. Pray for a short summer.

 

[killerrf]

i finally got the 5203 bearing installed along with new bdx gears. i found the cover still didnt go on but much closer than with the stock cat gears. i found before i did any grinding that the sun gear wasnt in full contact with the planet gears. i could have taken the driveshaft out and machined some off but the way the planet gears are running in the ring gear it would have not been flush with the driveshaft moved over 0.050" or more. so i just grinded down the bearing stop on the bottom gear so that the 5203 bearing sat around 0.065" lower than flush. now the sun gear is pretty much in full contact with the planet gears and the cover goes on and doesnt spring back or wobble at all like it did with the bearing flush on the shaft. even with 0.050" or so grinded off the cover was basically all the way on but it just felt like it still had wobble. grinded a little more off and it seemed to work perfect. i never even thought.. a guy could have used the drain and fill holes in the cover to check to see how much play back and forth the bottom gear had. before installing the 5203 i was on my 3rd 6203 bearing. everytime i took the cover apart at around 300 or so miles the bearing was busted. this last go i trimmed down the spacer then put on the bearing. took it out at 150 miles on and it was all together but was starting to get a little rough. so im sure there was side pressure from the cover right from the get go. not much but enough to put preload. one more thing my stock cat gears had way more gap in the cover when trying to put it on with the 5203 bearing than the bdx gears did. so not all gears are machined the same i guess.

 

[Lake Cle Elum]

Quick question: For those on 2010's with bearing issues, why not just do a warranty claim? I just bought a 2010 M8 SP with 303 miles......Live close to Newtrout and should buy a bearing to have on hand?

 

[bgreen776]

• The manufacturers RARELY fix the root cause, they will replace the broken parts, which will then break again and I will be stranded 100 miles from the truck.
• They also drag their feet, taking days if not weeks to complete the "repair". I can get the repair done in a few hours or a day or two if parts are available.
• I don't have to take time off from work to deliver and pick up my sled for a warranty repair.
• I trust myself to find a root cause, make a complete repair, and never cut corners. And if I don't, I have nobody to blame but myself. There is no fighting with the dealer or the manuf. if its my own fault, this makes it MUCH easier to move on, the the thing fixed, and get back in the back country.
• Repairs, for me, are about getting to spend more time outdoors, not about saving money. If I could buy sleds without a warranty I would, even if it only saved me a few hundred bones.

 

[White Rad]

Quick question: For those on 2010's with bearing issues, why not just do a warranty claim? I just bought a 2010 M8 SP with 303 miles......Live close to Newtrout and should buy a bearing to have on hand?

because they will probably put the same sh!tty bearing back in, and it takes less time than loading your sled to take it to the dealer to press on a new one....

 

[newtrout]

Quick question: For those on 2010's with bearing issues, why not just do a warranty claim? I just bought a 2010 M8 SP with 303 miles......Live close to Newtrout and should buy a bearing to have on hand?

I did mine because I don't want to have to worry about being 30 miles back on the ice cap, or on day one of a four day trip and having issues. The repair is the easy part. The reliability and the downtime is my concern.

 

[kane13]

I have noticed that on the 2010 there is a 1.5 mm difference, but on the 08 and 09 the bearng fits flush with the end of the shaft. The difference on the 2010 is that the spacer is a bit thinner. So in theroy the 5203 on the 2010 fits exactly the same as it would on an 08 and 09. I put another 5203 on a 2010 today and had a really close look at all components and measurements, I am very confident that there will be no issues running this bearing in the 2010's. I guess time will tell.

The real question is: Why did Arctic Cat make the spacer 1.5 mm thinner but not put a double wide bearing on the end of the shaft instead?? Maybe next year!

How did you get that bearing to fit on a 08? there was no way it would fit on mine without machine work, i went with a way better than stock skf 6203 mine was still in good shape but the seals really suck on the stock bearings so i thought i would change it out anyways, i have also heard that these bearing weren't as much of a problem on the 08's compared to 9-10's, AC also has a gasket kit out for the 07-08 i found this to be a bonus made for a nice clean job compared to not having it (like before) but it required adding two shims but the kit comes with everything you need.