Better Ice Scratcher Solution?

[codingparadox]

My wife and I picked up two new RMK-Pro 800s this season, and disclaimer: we're pretty damn new to snowmobiling (I only had ~500 miles on sleds before we picked these up, and she had less than half that.)

We keep breaking ice scratchers, while going down trails (not when we're off in the powder), and not backing over them. We broke the end off one left side one a few weeks ago out on a trail ride, and then today broke the end off a right side one only a few miles into our ride today. The ground was still pretty hard-refrozen ice in the lower elevation before we got up higher, but I still wouldn't expect this fairly thick piece of hardened steel to snap like a twig.

Despite spinning the hell out of the track, in a lot of our packed refrozen trail conditions that we have to travel down to get to the higher elevation powder fields/bowls, you pretty much HAVE to have the scratchers down or the sleds overheat (or you have to just use 2x the gas constantly pinning it then slowing down again every 5 seconds, to try to get some ice up on the coolers, which isn't fun for anyone.)

So, I guess there's two questions:
1. Are we just retards and/or incredibly unlucky?
2. At 70$/pair, it's going to get real old, real fast. The pair kit comes with the full installation setup to replace the drive wheels with the scratcher kit. All we need are the springy metal bits. I can't seem to find anyone that just makes the metal bits, and not the full Polaris kit. Any ideas?

Thanks, all. Flamesuit ready to be donned!

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

Ice storm scratchers.

Or else poo sells the spring pieces individually.
Get the part # from the parts fische online.

 

[codingparadox]

Thanks, I'll look into the Ice Storm Scratchers!

I checked all the parts lists online, but it's all just the kit (2882028) with the two scratchers + installation kit.

 

[Wintertime]

I have had the same thing happen this spring first the left side than the right. We rode late one day and the snow really started to setup, overheating was an issue didn't know one was broke till I get to the truck was dark out( very slow long ride back). I have had good luck with the cable style in the past on my Cat's. Looking at options, the funny thing is my wife's sled didn't do it same terrain. I had extra ones on hand. These are getting changed over the summer, lots of options out there.

 

[NorthMNSledder]

I switched to the ice storm ones this year after being a cable scratcher guy for years. Been very happy with the Ice storms after a season. No issues with them at all and I bet I put close to 500 miles on with them down. And they kick up a ton of snow and ice for cooling.

 

[FatDogX]

Two words, and these guys have already said them!!

"Ice Storm" !!

 

[Murph]

Stock spring replacements are available individually from WPS.

Part # 15-6395L and 15-6395R. MSRP is $15.95 ea.

 

[Wapow]

The cable ones don't work on refrozen spring snow, and the ice storm scratchers will break just as easily (but work better than the OEM version). You have to baby them until you get to the pow, i.e., no carving when they're down and pull them up when you have to ride gravel or cross a creek bed. You can get individual replacements here: http://www.holzracingproducts.com/product/replacement-ice-scratcher-spring-2/.

 

[Solarguy]

With Pol pro or AXYS we always run our scratchers on groomed or set up trails until off trail for good. Keeps hi fax lubed and temps down. We buy the 15$ individuals and keep spares as we do break one or two a season (usually backing up).

 

[codingparadox]

Just to make sure -- the part numbers listed above are STA-COOL scratchers. The attaching hardware is different from the factory Polaris stuff. The scratchers themselves work as drop-in replacements on the factory Polaris hardware, though? They look very similar from the crappy ebay pics, but I'd just like to confirm before picking up a few.

 

[Murph]

Just to make sure -- the part numbers listed above are STA-COOL scratchers. The attaching hardware is different from the factory Polaris stuff. The scratchers themselves work as drop-in replacements on the factory Polaris hardware, though? They look very similar from the crappy ebay pics, but I'd just like to confirm before picking up a few.

correct. springs will mount to OEM mounts.

 

[jhurkot]

What about the doo scratchers? Do they fit on the polaris rails nicely?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Summitseeker]

Thanks for all the good words on my Ice Storm scratchers guys! They definitely do work well and throw almost twice the amount of snow than anything else on the market.

Codingparadox, if you decide to buy the Reversible Ice Storm Rail or Ski Mount scratchers and you do happen to break one, I will cover it under warranty for up to a year after your purchase providing you have your original receipt from your dealer.

 

[sledhead9825]

The Ice Storms work great and don't break like the OEMs.

 

[cmcgillis]

Doo scratchers work great. Can reverse and drive up ramps no problem.

 

[Timbre]

Doo scratchers work great. Can reverse and drive up ramps no problem.

I have seen these in action and they doooo work very well.

 

[2013 M1100 Turbo]

I use OEM Arctic Cat scratchers. My last set lasted longer than the sled. I had 1500 miles on the sled (hit a rock in Cooke this year). I took them off and have them as spares for my new sled. I even backed up with them down a couple times and they still didn't break. I would estimate my last set had over 1000 miles on the scratchers as I put them down on the trail and just leave them down all day riding in powder. Oh and my buddies hate following me on the trail....they throw snow like a MoFo.

 

[Merlin]

Ice Storm!

As already mentioned multiple times, the Ice Storm scratchers kick up significantly more snow / ice than stock. So much, in fact, that you don't want to be riding anywhere near a machine running them on the trail or you'll get blasted with debris! LOL

From my experience they are also far more durable than stock.........

 

[AkRider217]

What about the duraflex ice scratchers?

 

[Jbgough123]

Never was a fan of the cable style and the oem ones didn't last me half a season, But I picked up these and they're amazing. Only regret was not getting them day 1 when the sled was brand new cause now my powder coating is chewed up on the rails. Ice storm scrations with the brackets to hold them up and literally you can ride all day with these down regardless of hardpack or powder or rolling the sled or jumping it and you never have to worry and it's nice to be able to not have to put them up to reverse. Even the hardest hits and some jumping they never pop off the holders either! money well spent imo and these will go on any sled I ever own asap. The amount of snow these things kick up is also pretty unreal, Wouldn't recommend getting close to anyone with these down lol, My best riding buddy that has them I can't even get near or i'm being pelted with ice chunks haha

http://www.sourceinnovations.ca/product/reversible-scratchers/