2 Tracks, 60miles. What's the cause of this?!

[PS94]

Bought a Sled off a friends dad. He was at his wit's end with it.
Backstory - He bought a mint looking, low mile, 1999 Powder Special 600, to bomb around and ditch bang. Within 30miles, it poked the suspension slider right through the track. He purchased a new track, made sure all was straight, etc, and re-assembled. the sled didn't make it another 30miles before the RH slider ruined a brand new track.

So, I bought this headache, and am looking for some Advice...

Edit - It did have the plastic transition piece on the front of the slider.

 

[Murminator]

Front shock siezed or pounded out?....not soaking up the bumps

 

[Iron Horse Racing]

Several things could be out of adjustment, the front limiting belt, tension on the front suspension, the shock. Any modifications made to the original setup , track length.

On the older sleds a lot of guys that ride in powder all the time used to lengthen the limiting belt to allow the front of the skid to push the front of the track deeper into the snow, but ride on harder pack or run over something and it pushes the track up in front of the skid and rails come out.
Also check to see if there is any hyd action left in both shocks but especially the front or center shock.

Check for the proper amount of defection in the track……


Down load a service manual Downloads

Good Luck.....

 

[PS94]

Thanks guys, at least I'll have a place to start and get back to you...Just gotta get the other sleds outta the garage for this old gal!

 

[glengine]

Also you could look at puttin a set of anti-stab wheels on it to help stop that. But everyone has had good idea's for yah so far on this one.

 

[TROLLCAT]

my 98 powder spiecal had a knoched paddles for the heat exchangers I see no knoches in that picture might have something to do with the problem 'ouch'

 

[win]

I would bet the limiter strap is busted , seen this happen before, stab kit would prevent this happening for sure.

 

[PS94]

Update -
Got the track out, and skid.
Edit - the stab through wasn't an instant occurrence, as EVERY clip was peeled off the left side of the track...

Limit straps are not broken, they were just loosened to the point where the nylock is 1 thread away from the end of the adjuster...so, essentially, inoperative.

Needs new chain and gears...as there's cracking on the drive gear...
found an old Ski-doo track off my Formula, it's only 1.5" paddles as opposed to the 2" that's on there now, but I'm going to run it for now, to ensure I have the "Stab through" issue resolved. (it's free, and I can keep my eyes peeled for a better track)

As far as pushing the front of the skid farther into the snow, arctic cat has a brace plate on the inside of the tunnel, with 3 holes drilled in it, but not the tunnel...The current setting is on the centre hole. Is it acceptable to drill the lower hole, and move the entire skid assembly down, front and rear, or is that going to cause more issues again?

 

[TROLLCAT]

you can drill holes out I have did this wears the front half of the sliders off quicker steering sucks under power in low snow conditions , the paddles are't rubbin on your heat exchangers ?

 

[rusty]

i have an idea.. maybe a trip to the dealer for a parts fiche. i think there is a component missing or broken. go through this with a fine tooth comb. you will find the issue. its only nuts and bolts there is a reason for this. it was built..albeit a long time ago and many rocket scientists may have been tinkering.

 

[PS94]

Nothing is missing...

Track is on, cranked the limiters from fully slack, to halfway... It goes around and around...back end is still hanging from my hoist..Have to wait till tomorrow and a bit warmer temps to take it for a test ride...Luckily there's a big lake about....100m from my front door..
If this freebie track lasts the season with no Stabby, i'll buy her a good track next fall...

Edit - Would the suspension being too SOFT also contribute to this?! The front shock is backed off almost all the way, and with minimal body input, I can bottom out the suspension...I'll stiffen this up tomorrow...Still just looking to make sure the root causes of this condition are alleviated...Sled only has 1400miles...

 

[firecat99]

Ive had this happen also and from your picture your missing the black piece on the front of your rails that will deflect the track from causing a stab!! I to have gone through two tracks from these falling off!! EXPENSIVE!!

 

[firecat99]

look right at the front of your rails there should be a piece there made of the same as your sliders, i to have done this but I got a face full of sled after I hit a 20footer, VERY EXPENSIVE SO LOOK INTO IT!!

 

[PS94]

The rail fronts(black pieces) were there during the incidents in question....No issues yet...Bought a proper Powder Spec track for it...if the crappy one I have on it makes it a few more miles, I'll put on the Pow Spec track and see!!!

 

[ZRrrr]

With all the clips being worn off it makes me wonder if the rail cap didn't come off first, then the stab happened. Have you confirmed with a skid drawing that everything is mounted where it should be? Tightening up the lmiters defeats the purpose but I understand why you need to. Has someone moved the skid back too far so there is too much space between the drivers and rail tips....allowing the track to balloon inwards and catch the rail.

 

[PS94]

OK...I'm lost.

Sled is working good so far, no stab....
Suspension is filthy soft...so I stiffened up the front shock...and that didn't help...Is there a pre-load I'm missing, on the rear spring? my 110lb girlfriend can get this sled to almost bottom out just lightly bouncing on it...It seems the rear end is almost 100% compressed before the front end starts doing anything?!

 

[TROLLCAT]

the rear shock at the bottem has to be flip up when u toke it out it flip down take bolts out of the suspendion the rear two only , loosen springs first , the shock is now loose flip it up away from the track bolts back in , tighten springs good to go

 

[PS94]

Umm, I don't quite get what you're saying? Something moved when the skid was unbolted?

Also - Does someone have a pic of the side of their Powder Spec? According to the manual posted earlier, my skid is improperly mounted into my tunnel...

Pic - The rear is mounted, ABOVE the running board, where the manual claims is for the Bearcat.
There's 4 holes, (not drilled) BELOW the running board, where the manual claims the Powder Special and ThunderCat mounts....

 

[glengine]

Umm, I don't quite get what you're saying? Something moved when the skid was unbolted?

Also - Does someone have a pic of the side of their Powder Spec? According to the manual posted earlier, my skid is improperly mounted into my tunnel...

Pic - The rear is mounted, ABOVE the running board, where the manual claims is for the Bearcat.
There's 4 holes, (not drilled) BELOW the running board, where the manual claims the Powder Special and ThunderCat mounts....

So none of the holes on the bottom are drilled out? If that is where it is supposed to mounted and it is so high up it could very easily account for why it is spearing tracks because it would tip the tip of the rail down to far and it could easily spear the track.

 

[TROLLCAT]

location of the rear shock the bottem of the rear shock brackets are up