Track Tension and suspension sag questions/concerns

[Destroyer]

Holy crap does polaris ever want the track tight! 1/2" sag, 16" from the rear axle with 10lbs pressure is TIGHT as a termite! Is there a reason they say to run them this tight?

I have the rear spring set at 10 5/8" length with no weight on the sled and it sure seems to sag alot when i set the sled down. It almost seemed to sag more after I tightened the track to speck.

Are the good ol' days of "track as loose as you can without racheting" and "belt deflection set so that the track slowly rolls on a stand" gone? There's no way I would set my belt tension to spin the track when it's set as tight as the manual says. The book says it would affect the handling of the sled if the tension is incorrect. Any Oppinions?

 

[MORSNO]

We've been using 3/8"-1/2" with 10lbs since the RAW chassis came out on the 2007 sleds. Not a problem for at least 6 seasons now.

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

A good part of the tight tension is two fold..one..loose track will drag on the tunnel..and kill power..two...a loose track will allow the paddles to fold over on these new single ply tracks, as well as cause the track to roll like a wave when full throttle in deep snow(again..killing power)..run it to spec..and the sled will perform exactly as it should...
And..just for those who think the track tension is ok..just a touch loose..roll your sled up on its side..take a flashlight and look right behind the drivers up in the top of the tunnel...see all the blackmarks on the cooler ends?..thats all your horsepower and track speed going to naught....when its adjusted right..the coolers will stay mark free....while you are looking in there..check the back side of both rear skid mounts coming out of the tunnel..is there signs the track has been rubbing on these mounts? bet there is...remove the skid bolts and slip 2 washers between the bracket and the rear arm so the tunnel is spaced out wider on each side.....

 

[mountainhorse]

Loose tracks do not perform better..

Just like AK said!!

 

[pura vida]

i run my at about 3/4" rather than the 1/2" stated in the polaris manual. although i hang the weight from each side and measure. are you "suppose" to just hand the weight from the middle of the track and measure each side at 1/2"? if so i'm guessing i'd be pretty close to that. yeah, lots of threads on proper track tension and the difference it makes. many talk about how they run combo drivers so they can run their track loose and justify it b/c it turns easier in the garage. big difference in the physics between how easy you can turn the track in the garage and throwing 150hp at it through the drivers.

pv

 

[pura vida]

since i brought it up...,

are you suppose to hang the weight from the middle of the track or on each side?


pv

 

[richracer1]

since i brought it up...,

are you suppose to hang the weight from the middle of the track or on each side?


pv

I do believe it's 10lbs in total weight, 16" forward of the axle bolt in the middle of the track. I adjust mine to have 1/2" gap without any weight.

 

[MORSNO]

since i brought it up...,

are you suppose to hang the weight from the middle of the track or on each side?


pv

Good question. I've always hung mine from the middle. I even just laid a couple of dumbbell weights on the track before. I guess I've never thought about it because I haven't had a problem. Either way, middle or each side should work.