I was wondering if anyone has tried these and what they thought of them before I spent the 70 dollars on them. If they work I might try them, but the scratchers are cheaper and I know they work.
Alex
Alex
Slide Kicks, Anyone tried them?
- Thread starter aueland
- Start date
The old scratchers did work but they also break. The new design looks pretty promising and I'm putting a set on this Weekend. I'm thinking they will be more than worth the difference in price. Dan
slidekicks
I put a set on mine too. Haven't gotten to try them but the fact that you can replace the tips and go in reverse is what sold me on them. One time forgetting them down and backing up and the old one's are junk! I'm wondering if you need to use locktite on the tips or if the jam nut is enough. I think they will be coming out with a carbide replacement tip in the future if they haven't already as well.
I put a set on mine too. Haven't gotten to try them but the fact that you can replace the tips and go in reverse is what sold me on them. One time forgetting them down and backing up and the old one's are junk! I'm wondering if you need to use locktite on the tips or if the jam nut is enough. I think they will be coming out with a carbide replacement tip in the future if they haven't already as well.
Locktite isn't necessary but I would recommend it. They are working on the carbide tips as we speak. I don't think they are needed unless you ride on excessive ice. I'm a dealer, so feel free to ask any questions.
K
kmo
Well-known member
OK, question for you. The "old" design had pretty good spring tension, forcing the tip down into the trail surface for a good ice "spray". The only concern I would have is this.....will this new cable design have enough downward force pressure to significantly penetrate the trail/ice surface for a good ice/snow spray for lubrication?
Here's the long version....
Traditional scratcher designs like the Holz version perform a "drag" function. This is due to the low mass enertia which allows the tip to quickly follow nearly every change in the passing terrain. This "drag" action takes a lot of tip pressure to create an ice spray because the tip can only spray ice crystals if it partially penetrates the surface and redirects the ice crystals around it at different angles. Otherwise, the tip only flings what rubs under it.
Still with me?
With the Slidekicks, the tip pressure is about half of the traditional style (which helps relieve the tendency for trailer and shop floor scratches). The wear-tips are made of zinc-coated hardened bolt-stock stainless steel, harder than the spring steel traditional scratchers are made of.
Slidekicks work to create an ice spray in a slightly different way than the traditional design;
The body of each Slidekicks has much more inertial mass than the single wire arm, therefore it is less reactive(slower in the spring-action dept.) to the passing terrain, therefore it causes the wear-tip to strike the frozen surface, which in turn performs like an axe to "chip" the ice and create spray.
When the rear skid is airborne, the Slidekicks stick straight-out to the side and down at a 45 degree angle away from the track..this is their natural position.
It is the drag of the tips against the passing terrain that pull and twist the Slidekicks into their running position. The Slidekicks are always trying to get back to this natural repose every time they leave the surface, so basically you get two spring actions performing one chipping function. This combines to produce a heavy ice-particle spray every time the tip strikes the frozen surface, not just a consistent small spray.
What we found during testing:
The Slidekicks obviously didn't break when we backed-up.
They were impervious to side-slide breakage.
They never hung on the track like the traditional design had a tendency to do.
We kept the Slidekicks down in every snow type because there was no need to hook them up on the rails anymore, ..also wear was a now non-factor because they have replaceable tips and therefore no unneccessary worry that you're wearing out a $60 pair of scratchers.
Ice-spray performance was more than adequate on medium to hard snow, good on can't-stomp-your-heel-into-it-snow and not adequate on glare ice(frozen, glassy surface).
The "chipping" action of the Slidekicks is made clearly evident by a close comparison of the marks left from use on the bottom of the wear surfaces of both designs. The surface of the traditional ice scratcher design wear point is smooth and shiny, this clearly indicates a "rubbing" action. The surface of the wear points on the Slidekicks, however, are knicked and scarred like they've been banged against rocks. This wear pattern clearly indicates the more effective "chipping" action described herein.
So basically put, yes, Slidekicks work as designed.
The moral of this story,
PUT THE SLIDEKICKS ON AND FORGET ABOUT 'EM!
These take only one hole for mounting, right??
Mounting Hole
These only need on hole for mounting, right??
These only need on hole for mounting, right??
Actually two. One for the scratcher mount and one for the tip holder.
www.firstplaceparts.com they also have a free online number to call them
T
Trinity Taz
ACCOUNT CLOSED
The carbide tips are coming along, just a little more time to test for durability and cost effectiveness.
In just a few days now , SLIDEKICKS.NET will be up and running for online orders but it is still recommended that you purchase the Slidekicks from your local dealer for his expertise on installation and set-up.
In just a few days now , SLIDEKICKS.NET will be up and running for online orders but it is still recommended that you purchase the Slidekicks from your local dealer for his expertise on installation and set-up.
Anyone around the spokane, Wa or CDA, Id a dealer?
W
wildchild
Well-known member
Has anyone tried these yet?? Any video showing how they work maybe?
I just can't see enough downward force created on icy conditions like the spring style does. How much force is under the tip if you put a scale under it?
Probally be fine with a bit of snow on the trail.
I just can't see enough downward force created on icy conditions like the spring style does. How much force is under the tip if you put a scale under it?
Probally be fine with a bit of snow on the trail.
