Time for....

[defysgravity]

...a new track.
After almost 6000 miles, I think it's time for a new track.
I'm thinking about putting a powerclaw under the ole 9...what do you boys think?
Or should I just go with a series 5.1.?

 

[mountainhorse]

I've got the PC in my 900 project... I'll be posting up some pics when I get a chance to edit/post the pics.

The drivers are the key... the beauty of the 900 is that you dont have the clearance issues that the RAW chassis does at the top... I WOULD recommend Getting a low-profile VanAmburg front-tunnel-heat exchanger for more clearance at the front.

You will need to change drivers for this track... inexpensve from Wahl Bros... 8 tooth involute drivers... unique on the 2005/06 chassis is that the clearance is there to run this with out it getting too tight. (An 8 tooth 3" pitch driver has a larger diameter than the one on your sled.

After 6000 miles... it is time for some other stuff around the track too... new bearings on the chaincase, new drive shaft bearing, new jackshaft bearing, new rear and upper ider wheel bearings, check for ovalizing of the suspension component holes/shafts, make sure that the bushings in the secondary are good/no slop, send the primary in to get it checked out...

The 9's only came with 144, 151, 159 or 166 tracks... the PC's only come in 153 and 162... so you will need rail adapters, or new rails to run the cat.

What size is your track now?

To put a Cat track in your sled... you are looking at tearing off about $1000 for the job even with a good deal on the track. (change in pitch and length costs some money)

 

[diamonddave]

IMO, the series 5.1 is the biggest pile of crap track there is. It is only good for one thing...very deep light fluff pow. In every other situation, it is garbage. I personally love the 2.4" tracks on the 06's or got to a Camo.

 

[defysgravity]

A worn out 159....my thought was the 162 would be an easy adaptation with the stock rails because there is still about an 1.5 of adjustment on the rear stock bogies and if needed, I could run a larger diameter bogie to take up a bit more slack...
All the other stuff you mentioned MH is on the list....She's been so good to me that I'll probably be the one to bury her when it comes time....lol

 

[guidoxpress]

sorry to hijack your thread but, but looking into the same setup pretty much!!

Any thoughts on a Camoplast Challenger Track, 3" pitch, 15 wide, 2.25" lug 162?

I have 159 rails to put on my 06 900, and they have 3" Avid Anti-Rachets on it..so i need to go 3" pitch track...

i was going to go with a Prototype Camoplast 166", 3" pitch, series 4 track..but the 162 is about $150 cheaper, i dont have to get longer railsa or a rail ext.

I am pretty sure 9" big wheels would be the way to go on a 162" track...although, i am sure an 8" would take up the minimal length??

any thoughts...

 

[IceCap]

I am still a big fan of the stock series IV 2.52 pitch 2.4" track.
Also Tracks usa will say the same.
The 2.52" pitch gives you aprox. 63 rows of lugs in one rotation and a 3.0 pitch track only gives you 53.
I also had a 159' 2.52 2.4"lug track on my 06 900 and I changed to a brand new 166" 2.52 X 2.4" lug and all you have to do is rail extentions ( I like the SLPs) no driver change.
A good running 900 with that track is hard to beat is the steep and deep.

BTW with a little more track and a new one on the ground I geared down one tooth on the bottom to keep the RPMs up.

 

[sw]

Short answer is it's financially cheaper to stay with same pitch & length track of choice. Last year I put a 153 PC on my '05 900 and it performs very well, but I had bent rails on skid, (switchback 144) so Ice Age hooked me up with 153 rails, then I bought an extra used drive shaft & put 3.00 drivers on, and away I went. Later on I also bought 144 rails. In average snow I run 1.25 144 track/rails, 2.52 drivers. Deep snow I swap out track/rails & driveshaft to 153 PC, 3.00 drivers. There's some technical issues along the way so, unless you enjoy working on sleds-some of us do! I would recommend stay with what you got. There are plenty of good tracks out there nowadays.

 

[05900]

Hmmm dealer has sold 9-10 166's to the 163 and less crowd this year and have seen this track on TWO Ski Dont's. I'm gonna stay with the proven combo as long as I can.

 

[MacDawg productions]

A take off of a 153 challenger track from arctic cat m8 is what I grabbed for mine. Great track for $250 bucks brand new shipped to my door!! I'm also running 3" drivers however to accept it. No complaints in pow, and is great breaking down firm snow. I too was looking at the power claw, but too expensive for my taste.