Wobbling rear idler wheel...

[Murph]

Just installed a Powerclaw and when spinning the track with the rear elevated I noticed that the one rear idler wheel wobbles (a little side to side) at low speed and then sort of settles into a smoother rotation as the track speed increases-- both axle bolts are torqued to spec, tension is set to spec and track is centered.

About to go take the rear axle apart, and see if I can find the culprit, anyone else notice this or have any insight?

Also, the PC with 3.0" pitch has a little bit rougher (more angular) bend around the rear idlers on the out side edge of the track when it is sitting there. Once it is spinning it smooths out and I didn't feel it on the short run down the frozen and chopped up plowed street.

 

[knoba]

idler wheel

Sometimes the bearing in the idler wheel does not seat flat and can cause a wobble also those are cheap bearing and when water gets in they dont last long had one go out on me this year.I would like to hear your views on the track change when you get some miles on it.

 

[Murph]

Update

Pulled the rear axle out.

Checked the bearings, both were good.

Re-assembled the axle wheels outside the skid.

Spun the wheels on the axle and the wheel themselves have a wobble in them.

Re-assembled the rear axle in the skid, re adjusted the track tension.

Wheels still wobble at low track speed but as the speed increases they seem to straighten out (or they are spinning so fast they become a blur) took it for another short ride and don't feel any adverse vibration.

Guess it's good to go.....

 

[DaveO]

Wobbly rear idler wheel

The rear idlers are thermoset plastic and get wobbly when overheated; my 700 RMK wheels were wobbly, replaced them both, wobble is gone. Keep the scratchers down on the hardpack.

 

[Murph]

Interesting if they overheated because the scratchers are down when needed and the hyfaxes still look brand new with 2000+ miles.

I'll keep my eye on them. Don't feel the wobble when I ride.

 

[DaveO]

wobbly rear idler...

Same with mine, but the rear wheels were clearly deformed & wobbly even tho bearings were fine. Probably not a big problem to run the wobblies, but it will stress the bearings a bit more.