Can ice scratchers contact your track and do damage?

[Killerk]

Just what the title says.
I rode a F-7 the past few years and put 3 different tracks on it... I assumed with the 13.5 track that I was spinning more and stressing the track plus I had to cut 2 of them down so then its not designed to run that way.
I had scratchers, and used them often.
Fast forward: I bought a M1000 153 this year... Didn't even put the scratchers on until last month... I have only used them twice so far.
I did some maintenence and my pre-ride inspection/service before I went riding yesterday and noticed a couple tears in some of the outer paddles... Inner paddles look fine... I have also noticed some fraying on the inner part of my track.
Could the scratchers have caused this?
I have always wondered if they could flex enough to contact the track as the support is on the rail and they extend out to the sides and are extremely flexible... I have tried to look at them while riding fast or accelerating, but I'm sure most have an idea of how that went... (way to hard to do)
I'm not sure how to know for sure, but I would assume if you slide sideways or hit a bump or off camber it could definately happen.
Just don't want to eat up a good track.

 

[pura vida]

i think that is exactly what happened to my 153 challenger extreme. track still works great but the outer paddles on both sides are chewed up. a number of ripped lugs. zero issues with any of the other lugs. i bent the scratchers out further and seems to have taken care of the issue but the damage was already done. on my 155 with scratchers i have seen zero issues.

pv

 

[Summitseeker]

I cannot comment on all types of ice scratchers but on the kind that I manufacture and sell, they should by no means damage your track providing they are not bent from the the way they come as new. I guess there is a remote possibility that a bent one could cause damage but I have produced and sold a lot of of rail mounted (spring type) ice scratchers and have never heard of any issues with the scratchers ripping lugs.

Please keep me informed if you do find that the scratchers caused the damage.

One more thing....would these scratchers happen to be mine? Over the Top Performance?

 

[Supplicate]

One of my holz scratchers broke early this season (december IIRC) and was rubbing causing some strange vibration. Pulled to the side of the trail, saw what was up with it, got out the hacksaw and cut it off. No damage, just some wear marks on the track. never did replace that one, I bet that hyfax is just about shot.

 

[R J]

Been using scratchers since 2004 and haven't seen any problems related to them. They would have to come off the rail and be running on the track for them to do damage. Holz brand that I use stick out a good ways from the track when going straight and only when slidding in a turn would I think they come in contact with the side of the track but since things are in a forward motion they would simply just slide on the side of it not really doing anything at all.

Could it be something on your sled, like up in your tunnel or around the front driver that is causing this? If it's the same on both sides I would think there is something else going on then scratchers.

 

[Killerk]

I took these scratchers off of my F sled and put them on my new M sled... They are at least 3 years old, so I'm not sure what brand they are.
I did notice at cruising speed they were 3 iches at least away from the track, but did sway side to side a little.
When I installed them they looked close, so I bent them outwards a little.
I will look at them more closely when I get a chance and see if I can line up the scratchers with the track to see if that is the issue.
The small tears appear to be clean, so I doubt it is from the scratchers, who knows though.
Since I installed them I have noticed some cord showing on the outer edge inside of the track, but only cords, no rubber damage I could see.

I ride over small trees and crap if its in my way, but I am usually really careful not to spin the track in those instances.
Its probably just coincidence that I noticed wear/damage soon after I installed the scratchers, but I just don't want to prematurely wear my track.

 

[NoSecondChances]

I thought about this too and I have "see through" running boards so I can watch them when riding (from which I end up with a face full of snow if I'm not careful), normally they don't touch on the straights but when cornering hard they will bend in, which could be causing them to touch your track underneath. I just grabbed mine and bent them out a little to help avoid this. If you have them down in really soft snow to the point where they sink in a lot, the upper part of your arms will rub on the "inside" of your track (flat side by the idler wheels) and may do some friction damage after a little while. I don't run mine enough to notice track wear, I only keep them down when it is hard.

 

[TracksCanada]

I bought a M1000 153 this year... Didn't even put the scratchers on until last month... I have only used them twice so far.
I did some maintenence and my pre-ride inspection/service before I went riding yesterday and noticed a couple tears in some of the outer paddles... Inner paddles look fine... I have also noticed some fraying on the inner part of my track.
Could the scratchers have caused this?

There are a few issues here.
1) The track that came on your M1000 are a "soft" compound. Many sledders are taking them off because they are "too soft" of a paddle to handle the power. I have seen many of these tracks that have "fray" marks. "Tears" in the outer paddles again "could" have to do with the "soft" rubber compound. We have seen more of it with guys using sled decks because of the loading ramps.

2) I just checked stock and out of 960 pair of ice scratchers we ordered last October I only have 5 pair left. Out of 955 sold pairs I only had one complaint of a scratcher breaking from backing off a trailer with the scratcher down. No one has ever complained of a scratcher contacting a track.
I'm not saying a scratch couldn't get bent and contact a track, it's just VERY unlikely.

Just my opinion and 2 cents.

 

[xcrash911]

My buddy decided to help me out and load my sled for me when the parking lot was ice, he spun the track on the ramp and I watched the outer lugs get sliced and torn before I could get him to stop

 

[Killerk]

My buddy decided to help me out and load my sled for me when the parking lot was ice, he spun the track on the ramp and I watched the outer lugs get sliced and torn before I could get him to stop

This is also a possibility.
I am usually very careful and try to ALWAYS load my sled myself.
However, I have spun the track on hard surfaces before... And once my dad backed out of the trailer and was spinning my track on the pavement.

I didn't get a chance to look at it last night, but I think it is a good possibility that it is because of the power and soft compound... Even in spring, when I climb I try to get the last few feet out of a pull... I'm sure low ground speed and high track speed cause more wear.

The small tears are clean... So It probably isn't the scratchers.

I will definately look more closely before each ride.

 

[aabbccddeeff]

scratchers all the time...

live in quebec and i use them every day... no choice in the matter..have to use the trail every day i ride.. never had a problem with the wifes or my sled.... but my son has bent them slidding in corrners..but other than that... they are great..

 

[whitefish]

I have sold hundreds of Slidekicks (cable style) and have not heard of any track issues. The only concern I have is if someone is using the carbide version and has port holes in the track outside of the rails. They could hook and destroy a track or scratcher. Haven't heard of it happening but it could.

 

[rmkboxer]

there are so many other things that can damage the track, I don't see how the scratchers could damage the track unless the scratchers are damaged pretty badly