Alpha Sliders

[brendank69]

Anyone else with 200+ miles on their alpha? Noticed some pieces of slider stuck in the track clips on my last ride. I’ve been keeping a close eye on track tension because I know what new tracks do when they wear in. Before I left for the last trip, I had right on 2” spec for tension and now I have just a touch over 2”. Check out this slider. This is the front right where the slider curves down with the rail. It looks like the T clips are trying to climb out of their slot between the rails and in the process is chewing the sh!t out of the sliders. Going to try tightening to 1.5” tension with 20lb weight which is a bit tighter than spec.

Anyone seen this yet?

 

[eldereldo]

Track tension even on both sides?

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

I noticed the same thing while riding a rental alpha.
(Track inspections while getting unstuck)

Definitely the center clip riding out of the slot.

 

[brendank69]

There is only one adjustment bolt in the center. The sides cannot be independently adjusted.

But yes, it does appear to be perfectly centered on the rear wheels and the clips line up with the slot in the rail after letting the track come to a stop on its own in the air.

 

[slyrydr]

checked two alphas, one with 250 miles, the other 300....one moderately aggressive rider, the other very aggressive....both looked normal, no gouges or cuts....

 

[summ8rmk]

I gotta ask.
When did people start calling the hifax "sliders" and why?
Are we gonna start calling the clutches "spinners" ?

[emoji12]

 

[john6719]

I’m seeing a little of this on mine. A couple of the track clips have plastic from the hyfax in them. Something to watch for sure. With a front driver on a track, it will naturally slack in that spot even if you have the track fairly snug.

 

[brendank69]

I gotta ask.
When did people start calling the hifax "sliders" and why?
Are we gonna start calling the clutches "spinners" ?

[emoji12]

Everyone calls them sliders around here and I’ve been sledding for 20+ years.

 

[brendank69]

I’m seeing a little of this on mine. A couple of the track clips have plastic from the hyfax in them. Something to watch for sure. With a front driver on a track, it will naturally slack in that spot even if you have the track fairly snug.

I checked my front track shock and somehow it dropped from 80psi to 45psi over the course of 6 riding days. Track tension was perfect but I think the lack of shock pressure is the reason for what happened.

 

[summ8rmk]

Everyone calls them sliders around here and I’ve been sledding for 20+ years.

I got 30yrs and never heard the term sliders till this yr.
I see ur Canadian. Maybe that is what is different? Maybe it's east coast vs west coast?

[emoji12]

 

[john6719]

I checked my front track shock and somehow it dropped from 80psi to 45psi over the course of 6 riding days. Track tension was perfect but I think the lack of shock pressure is the reason for what happened.

80 would be pretty high for the front track shock. I’m sitting at 60 now I believe. Rode the first day at 70 and that was too high for me.

 

[slyrydr]

my front track shock is 55, the other alpha was 50...

 

[john6719]

Would you be able to post some pics of the track clips and the front of the hyfax? I’m curious if there’s any difference in design. The way mine is I don’t see any way the track clips wouldn’t gouge the hyfax. I think they need to build up the rail in front of the hyfax to guide the track clips between them better to not allow them to contact the front edge. They could also fill in the track clip so it doesn’t have the sharp edge that can scrape on the hyfax.

 

[1Mike900]

This is what I thought would happen when you only have the ctr. being the only guide! Either increase it's height or add some outside guides every other to help keep it in-line? You would need to increase the height beyond the rubber nub. This would also help with friction as some believe every-other will wear out the track, due to not being on the paddle,? Mike

 

[0neoldfart]

I got 30yrs and never heard the term sliders till this yr.
I see ur Canadian. Maybe that is what is different? Maybe it's east coast vs west coast?

[emoji12]

Maybe it's a canuck thing, but when Arctic Cat first released the rear suspension years ago in the days of bogies, they called it "slide rail suspension". I believe the name "hyfax" came several years later when every manufacturer jumped on the bandwagon...

 

[Dam Dave]

Cats have always like a loose track, not sure Alpha would be any different

you first time Cat guys should get used to loose is fast

 

[Motorbreath_]

I got 30yrs and never heard the term sliders till this yr.
I see ur Canadian. Maybe that is what is different? Maybe it's east coast vs west coast?

[emoji12]

East coast Canadian here, we call them sliders as well. I never heard "hifax" until I was introduced to the internet.

In any case, you would think they'd install two adjusters and a pivoting shaft so you could put more tension on one rear wheel than the other.. Hopefully everything is square and the track never side travels.. but that is a lot to hope for in my opinion.

 

[Matte Murder]

Is the hyfax on the Alpha the same as a twin rail setup? If you needed a replacement?

 

[gonehuntnpowder]

As I understand they are different. Have a buddy with an alpha. Dealer swapped them side to side and tightened the track supposedly cats spec was wrong too loose. New hifax available mid January.

 

[turboless terry]

I was told they are the same