How are the new chain cars holding up?

[TrivanovicRobert]

How many miles are people getting out of their chain cases on these new sleds? Just picked up a used alpha with 1500 miles and trying to figure out what all I need to worry about. Are these sleds self tensioning? Do they have weak chains or gears or are these holding up well with proper oil changes?

 

[Old & slow]

How many miles are people getting out of their chain cases on these new sleds? Just picked up a used alpha with 1500 miles and trying to figure out what all I need to worry about. Are these sleds self tensioning? Do they have weak chains or gears or are these holding up well with proper oil changes?

I would be inspecting, AC uses an aluminum bottom gear. It is most likely pretty worn by now. BDX makes a nice steel replacement.

 

[Live2ride777]

I had a 2019 high country that lasted 300 miles. I’m sure there was manufacturing flaws that caused that but still makes me uneasy. That machine also caught fire but that’s a different story

 

[kiliki]

Did the break get locked?

 

[Live2ride777]

In the chain photo that somehow got posted twice, there’s one link that broke and it slung around like a chain saw chain.

 

[Octanee]

I have 3k km on mine, so approx 1800 miles, and Just had my case apart , Will re-run the chain for another season, Everything looked great, yeah theres some wear with the aluminum sprocket but its got plenty of life yet, the aluminum gear has that initial wear in and it gives way to the chain, Yeah sure we may not like seeing the oil turn silver almost immediately But it is an extremely fine shaving and aluminum is soft, if it was such an issue I'm sure cat would not of done that.

 

[richardderkevorkian]

Just pulled mine apart with 1500 miles. Everything looked fine. It only takes about 20 mins to pop the cover and look

 

[MI1M600EFI]

Wife knocked the bottom out of the case last year and rode the sled about 10 miles back to our cabin, including some play along the way. Chain was pretty hot when we got there, but I reused it as it was tighter than the ebay chain that I bought from some guy who went to a belt drive. I think the setup is plenty strong, and certainly not new tech, but if you ride in rocks at all, I'd recommend a skid plate of some sort for the 2017+ Dropped case...

 

[sno*jet]

pretty bulletproof if they changed oil out after break in, and then maybe once again in that 1500 at least. easy to drain with the plug. theyre on the 5th year of that case, and 8th year of same basic components i believe

 

[madmax]

Chaincase disassembly. I’d at least pull apart and check the chain and tensioner.

 

[jeeper8650]

~3,000 miles on my 2019 alpha chain case, changed the oil once a season (3x so far). Not issues at all.

 

[Octanee]

~3,000 miles on my 2019 alpha chain case, changed the oil once a season (3x so far). Not issues at all.

Are you on the stock track still or did you have to swap it out? Did the rubber wear down/out on the "unclipped" windows?

 

[jeeper8650]

Stock track. Just replaced the hyrax. No wear in the windows that worrisome. Tore a few lugs (partially) but I think those were my fault hammering down stuck on a log or rock.

I think the people have issue have to ride a lot of trail getting to their zones. I literally ride zero trail, so maybe that's why mine as held up so well. I honestly have been super impressed with the sled and its reliability. I ride a lot and its been flawless. Photo was a few weeks ago, sled still runs like new with no work minus replacing a few belts (they looked good just did it for the hell of it once a year), hyfax, and steering bushings.

I picked up a ski doo turbo to try this year. Hoping I like it as much as the Alpha...

 

[thump426er]

I had 3600 km on my 18 for the season I rode it, changed oil after first ride, then every 500km. No issues. Went to C3 belt on my 20 though

 

[Octanee]

Stock track. Just replaced the hyrax. No wear in the windows that worrisome. Tore a few lugs (partially) but I think those were my fault hammering down stuck on a log or rock.

I think the people have issue have to ride a lot of trail getting to their zones. I literally ride zero trail, so maybe that's why mine as held up so well. I honestly have been super impressed with the sled and its reliability. I ride a lot and its been flawless. Photo was a few weeks ago, sled still runs like new with no work minus replacing a few belts (they looked good just did it for the hell of it once a year), hyfax, and steering bushings.

I picked up a ski doo turbo to try this year. Hoping I like it as much as the Alpha...

Thanks for feedback, and glad to hear you've had good luck with yours so far, the ski doo turbo will be a blast but monorail makes a big difference, it's funny I like to think I'm a ski doo guy and I'd be on a doo but got a smoking deal on the alpha and I don't think I'd go back.

 

[bgraff1]

install a belt drive and never worry about it again. seen too many trips ruined from the chain cases exploding

 

[Frostbite]

Speaking of belt drives, I am in the middle of installing a TKI belt drive kit on my 2020 Alpha One with 349 miles. I just pulled off the stock chain case and will no longer have a use for the chain case, chain, gears, tensioner, etc. if anyone may need replacement parts. I still can't believe they made the lower gear out of aluminum!

 

[Mn_Mtn_Cat]

I had 3600 km on my 18 for the season I rode it, changed oil after first ride, then every 500km. No issues. Went to C3 belt on my 20 though

What do you think of the C3 Belt Drive?

 

[hansenmac]

I had a c3 on a 15 pro climb i blew 4 belts. got the installation instructions and it said DO NOT SHIM well it was out of alignment so i shimmed it and it held for one trip.

 

[kiliki]

had a tki on my 16 with a 900 and run it hard for 2k mil and when I change it it was time.