What do you think

[ENDO1]

I owned a 2011 Pro RMK, put 2200 miles on it and not once did I have a bearing or shaft problem. I have been sledding for over 30 years and have not seen many issues with bearing or shafts unless the sled had high miles, little or no maintenance or had a back yard mechanic work on it to much. Yes I have seen a couple of early failures over the years but only a couple. I traded my 11 in on a 13 Pro RMK, I must say it is one of the best sleds I have ever ridden and yes their dose seem to be a big difference between the 11 and 13, the 13 seems to have more power on the top end. What I don't like is the bearing failures we are starting to see on both the drive shaft and jack shaft, I had the clutch side bearing on the drive shaft go at 800 miles, it had been going out fore many miles before that just took that long to find it. I know of four other sleds with the jack shaft bearing that has gone out on the QD drive side, and others with drive shaft problems. What is the cause of this? is it just because we can not grease the drive shaft bearing, is the QD belt so tight that the side load on the bearing is to much, Were not the jack shaft bearing's on the 11 a sealed bearing and have been for awhile? Is it a QC problem? I think it's funny how we seem to be willing to put up with these issues just to ride the best mountain sled out their, Just wished I had more confidence it won"t leave me stranded one day. For the Assault Riders, how do you like them, any Bearing problems?

 

[geo]

I don't think the bearings have changed. Still good quality Japanese NTN's.
The new QD system needs a few adjustments IMO.

Ones been covered already by Poo with the new torque spec for the top pulley bolt and may be added to the monthly checklist cause I think it will still need a retorque. This spot is not a bearing problem but a shaft-spinning-inside-the-bearing problem after torque is lost because of the way the items bolt up.
If it's kept tight I don't see this reoccuring.

The other spot (LH drive shaft bearing) has not been addressed by Poo yet. They took away the grease nipple here. When I regreased mine at 600 miles it needed new stuff for sure. It was water contaminated.
Water can freeze abit. Now we have an aluminum end there. Bearing is alittle stiff, aluminum shrunk abit from the cold, now this shaft can possibly spin on a very cold morning. Once it spins acouple of times the aluminum loses and we have a clearance problem.
I'll be drilling and tapping (on a lathe) that end, when I replace my bearings this summer (90% sure she's a keeper, first one in over a decade for me) and installing a 8mm bolt and washer to eliminate the chance that the shaft can turn without the bearing doing so too.

 

[geo]

You just want this to get moved to the drivetrain section don`t you Hawk lol.

 

[Hawkster]

OOPS , sorry my bad

 

[whoisthatguy]

I know of four other sleds with the jack shaft bearing that has gone out on the QD drive side, and others with drive shaft problems. What is the cause of this?

In all previous years, the sealed bearings on the QD side, were continuously cooled and lubricated from the chaincase oil. Now, any cooling comes almost entirely from just thin air.