sled clicking/laid down front track shock

[sledneck_03]

i was riding and noticed a clicking noise coming from my sled, and i would slam on the brakes and it would give off a loud thump noise from my track. checked the suspension thought it might be ice. then checked the idlers and one was on the edge of rough but this isnt a idler noise..............then it hit me is the track ratcheting? then.........well i was thinking why now is it ratcheting? but I laid down my front shock for a trip out west..........would this really make the track looser that much? i guess if it was on the edge but ill tighten it tomorrow and see if it goes away

 

[sled_guy]

No, moving the shock does not affect track tension.

What is the noise exactly and when do you hear it?

sled_guy

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

No, moving the shock does not affect track tension.

What is the noise exactly and when do you hear it?

sled_guy

check your hifax real close..last season I could hear clicking coming from the guys sled in front of me riding down the trail on the way to the trucks..turned out his hifax was worn away to the rails....

 

[tahoermk]

same wierd sound

Mine (09 D8)makes a ratcheting/ clicking sound too under hard breaking in wet or heavy snow. I am wondering if it is the center cog on the drive line when the track is loaded up with snow, could the track be slipping on this cog? I can't seem to figure out what it is, my friend cut his out when he had to replace his whole drive line on his 08 D8, and...strangely no noise. Any ideas out there? Thanks!!

 

[ak49er]

Did the lower shock mount/coupler "spin" over-center during your swap? This will beat on the track when the skid compresses if so...ask me how I know.

 

[sledneck_03]

I really noticed it when i was loading the sled into my truck i needed to get it about another foot in and needed alot of throttle and it was clicking bad and ive checked it out if the shocks hitting the track and its got lots of clearance. and i couldnt have put the lower mount off center because the aluminum sleeve has a grove in it and this has to be a certain way or the bolt wont go in.

and anyone else notice that the 08 rmks dont have the center driver???? was it just on the dragons??

i am thinking its laying down the shock because the shock is more horizontal than vertical not and its putting less pressure on the front of the skid so if the track tension was right on the edge of ratcheting and by laying down the shock it gave less pressure making the skid general outer track distance smaller this would make the track looser.

 

[sled_guy]

The suspension is designed and mounted in to the chassis so that through it's travel the track does not change tension. Assuming you didn't move the mounting spots in the tunnel or in the rails then the track tension won't change. If this wasn't the case, when you compressed the track the suspension would either loosen way up or over tighten. Yes, there have been sleds where this was the case, but not on the Polaris.

Is the tension on the track correct? Maybe it's just generally loose.

sled_guy

 

[GKR]

Check track tension to confirm but also check chain tensioner in chaincase, you might have a very loose chain.

 

[Zrider]

SN 03:

I know it's a PIA, but consider moving the shock back to the top hole and see what you get. Other than the clicking noise, are you having any issues with the sled's performance since you made the change?

 

[sledneck_03]

no change in performance. chain tension is good im going to check the track tonight.

on another note....i was running 64gram weights pulling 8100-8200 max 8300 rpms blew a belt........put on the top of the line ultimax and now getting 7900 rpms and max 8100???

also........after typing this i wonder if there is any junk left in clutch area..... but its a damn click noise only when driving.... i got to get home from work and get this figured out. 3 more weeks till blue river.

 

[deepdiver]

track ratcheting makes more of a thumping noise than a clicking. Check your chain case. also check your track for loose clips. You can ice up the inner drivers pretty easy in heavy snow or if you are snow loaded and stop and the snow melts and refreezes.
When I ran a loose track I would ratchet this pig all day long with ice build up till it drove me crazy. Tightened the track to specs and sprayed marine grade dry lube on the drivers...no track ratchet since and i have been in some wet arse Cascade Crud!

 

[sledneck_03]

track has 1.25-1.5 inches of sag about 16in in from the rear of the skid........so i dont know i understand your track stays tensioned throughout its suspension travel but i dont know??? track had decent tension not 1/2" before but not that much so it must have been on the edge of ratcheting and some how this put it over the edge

 

[sledneck_03]

i tightened it to 1/2-5/8" gap....no sound that i could hear. marked the bottom of the bolts with marker turned bolts equally went for a rip track was perfect no need to re adjust! niceee

thanks for all the help guys