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?

 

[trench]

Keep it tight, if you let it get too loose the track will ratchet on the center driver. Track will stretch a bit when new, so it needs to be tightened once or twice then it will take a set and not stretch any more. I read that Polaris has done some testing and they found that you actually loose some HP if the track balloons out and ripples around the drivers. It's easier to pull the flexible light weight 5.1 track around when it's tight. I like to set my belt deflection so the track will just turn at idle up on a track stand.

 

[pehmanndragon]

When the track is on the stand I have about a 1 inch gap between the track and the hyfax right in the middle of the track. Also when at idle the track should be turning ever so slowly. Thats what was told to me by my dealer.

 

[cs5]

When the track is on the stand I have about a 1 inch gap between the track and the hyfax right in the middle of the track. Also when at idle the track should be turning ever so slowly. Thats what was told to me by my dealer.

Your dealer is wrong and you will gain performance if you tighten it properly, believe what you want but this has been tested more than you can imagine.

 

[pehmanndragon]

Cs5<O.k. I see well I will tighten her up a bit, about how much sag should I have?

 

[HRT Offroad]

Cs5<O.k. I see well I will tighten her up a bit, about how much sag should I have?

Measure 16" forward form the center of the rear wheels...hang a 10lb weight at this location. After the weight is hung you want 1/2" of gap at this location between track and sliders for polaris recommended track tension.

 

[2010rmk800144]

when should you tighten up your track, after the first couple rides or what

Keep it tight, if you let it get too loose the track will ratchet on the center driver. Track will stretch a bit when new, so it needs to be tightened once or twice then it will take a set and not stretch any more. I read that Polaris has done some testing and they found that you actually loose some HP if the track balloons out and ripples around the drivers. It's easier to pull the flexible light weight 5.1 track around when it's tight. I like to set my belt deflection so the track will just turn at idle up on a track stand.

 

[d8grandpa]

when should you tighten up your track, after the first couple rides or what

when your track tension is incorrect! ( sorry I couldn't resist)

 

[bmacker]

2006 800 summit. That's what I have always done without any issues.

 

[kyle019]

just put a new 155x2.4'' 5.1 track on my assault, tension seems good but when i ride then let off the throttle and coast to a stop the sled seems like it coasts only a bit then comes to a dead stop. feels like it should coast a bit further but something is putting drag on the track. tried my dads summit 151 at about the same speed and it seems like it coasts further when you let off the gas before it comes to a stop. just wondering if someone can chime in and help me out.. seems like the track is fairly tight, maybe too tight or too loose??

 

[cs5]

If the track is brand new it will take some miles to break it in. Run it to the factory spec and you won't have any problems.

 

[kyle019]

Its damn close to factory specs, maybe once it's broke in a bit more it'll be better.

Maybe I over tightened my chain in the chain case or would that really have anything to do with my issue?? Maybe there's not an issue at all I'm just freaking out cuz we leave for valemount on Thursday and I'm thinking of stupid possibilities lol

 

[cs5]

A tight chain would do that for sure but you would hear it if it was that tight, they whine pretty bad when they are tight. Get someone to rotate your secondary clutch forward without actually moving the sled, this will put any slack in the chain to the adjuster side, then tighten the bolt as tight as you can using ONLY your fingers then back the bolt off 1/4 turn and lock it in place. That should get you pretty close unless the procedure has changed in the last few years.

 

[kyle019]

ok thanks. so the chain in the chain case isnt supposed to be super tight then?? its more than likely my chain, it hasnt made any whining noise but i did tighten it pretty good