What do scratchers do? And why/when/where to use them? 
What do scratchers do?
- Thread starter tom999p
- Start date
they are designed to help lubricate your slides and also help cool the engine
if you are on thin snow or hard pack you sometimes have an issue with enough snow and ice chips getting in the skid to lube and cool the hyfax.
this is also helps to kick additional snow and ice into the tunnel to cool your heat exchangers
there are scratchers that mount on the skis and also the skid
some are NOT made to be used in reverse and some can be
so they are a way to help keep the temps down and add additional lube to your hyfax
if you are on thin snow or hard pack you sometimes have an issue with enough snow and ice chips getting in the skid to lube and cool the hyfax.
this is also helps to kick additional snow and ice into the tunnel to cool your heat exchangers
there are scratchers that mount on the skis and also the skid
some are NOT made to be used in reverse and some can be
so they are a way to help keep the temps down and add additional lube to your hyfax
Hmmm, I've been riding for 35 years and never needed them before...now it seems like they're very important to have on your sled...
S
snowmobiler
Well-known member
scratchers are for sissys
S
snowmobiler
Well-known member
and poo riders)
)
scratchers are for sissys
Maybe, but we all know Gramma scratches your ......... for you.
Been using these for years for cooling when the snow is hard or shatty. Don't have to drill any holes, never broke one off in reverse, operate LH only, RH only, or both depending on conditions, adjustable on-the-fly (our group doesn't like to stop that much).
It is my understanding that with the development of taller lugged and longer tracks which raise the hyfax off the snow as well as add more friction, ice scratchers have become more important to have. If you only ride on 3' ft of fresh pow from your doorstep you probably don't need them. If you have to ride icy trails to get back into your riding area in the spring time you probably do
all the more reason to own scratchers if your group doesn't stop much...
trust me there needed with the taller lugs on mountain tracks
many of us drop extra bogey wheels out as well for weight
less bogeys more track on the hyfax .... no fresh or low snow and you can have heat
Ive been behind sleds that arent getting enough lube and cooling from the snow
smells like your in a ski shop from the hyfax melting
seen sleds stop after getting the hyfax hot and melting the track and hyfax together
always fun kicking a track free once they melt
the newer cable style are supposed to work good also and you dont have to worry about reverse ruining them
plus with the price of nice boots id rather not destroy them dragging my feet all day
many of us drop extra bogey wheels out as well for weight
less bogeys more track on the hyfax .... no fresh or low snow and you can have heat
Ive been behind sleds that arent getting enough lube and cooling from the snow
smells like your in a ski shop from the hyfax melting
seen sleds stop after getting the hyfax hot and melting the track and hyfax together
always fun kicking a track free once they melt
the newer cable style are supposed to work good also and you dont have to worry about reverse ruining them
plus with the price of nice boots id rather not destroy them dragging my feet all day
I've been riding for close to 30 years and didn't even know they existed until I moved out west. Went from averaging 100-500 mi per set of hyfax to never having replaced a new set since about 2001.
They are indispensable on ANY sled, IMO. If I moved back to the flatlands I'd even put them on my trail burner.
I'm not sure how someone can actually get by without them unless as stated above, you ONLY ride on soft snow. Yet, I end up following many sleds every year that are burnin up their sliders, people dragging their feet, pulling off in every untracked spot they can to cool down the heat exchangers and hyfax.
Git sum!
Well how about bare spots on the trail? My friend, by the end of the day, in addition to cooled hyfax and coolant, had clumps of dirt in his track. That can't be too good for the track & suspension either...
S
snowmobiler
Well-known member
never owned them.guess we never get rock hard ice off trail where you cant just gas it to cool off the smokin hot buttery soft hyfax.
I guess that means you grind your running boards down to prevent boot damage as well?
In all reality I was just trying to make a funny for the OP, but I'll continue my tried-and-true method of cooling my sled. 1 day on any newer sled running boards will negate whatever damage you could find by dragging your feet for an entire year. Running boards = true boot destroyers.
In regards to OP questions, I believe they primarily will help with kicking snow up to help cool the sled in low snow conditions. As far as saving hyfax, the placement of the scratchers misses the entire front half of the track where it contacts the suspension. If the only place for snow to enter is through the track holes and then slide down the rails providing lubrication/cooling I don't see how it is nearly as effective as it is for hitting the coolers with snow. Just my .02, but I do agree that certain sleds would benefit more due to cooling designs than others.
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M
mtsummitx
Well-known member
What do scratchers do? And why/when/where to use them?
The opposite of itchers.
Back scratcher, butt scratcher, nut scratcher, head scratcher.
