Alpha Sliders

brendank69 · Dec 13, 2018

Anyone else with 200+ miles on their alpha? Noticed some pieces of slider stuck in the track clips on my last ride. I’ve been keeping a close eye on track tension because I know what new tracks do when they wear in. Before I left for the last trip, I had right on 2” spec for tension and now I have just a touch over 2”. Check out this slider. This is the front right where the slider curves down with the rail. It looks like the T clips are trying to climb out of their slot between the rails and in the process is chewing the sh!t out of the sliders. Going to try tightening to 1.5” tension with 20lb weight which is a bit tighter than spec.

Anyone seen this yet?

eldereldo · Dec 13, 2018

Track tension even on both sides?

Sheetmetalfab · Dec 13, 2018

I noticed the same thing while riding a rental alpha.
(Track inspections while getting unstuck)

Definitely the center clip riding out of the slot.

brendank69 · Dec 13, 2018

There is only one adjustment bolt in the center. The sides cannot be independently adjusted.

But yes, it does appear to be perfectly centered on the rear wheels and the clips line up with the slot in the rail after letting the track come to a stop on its own in the air.

slyrydr · Dec 14, 2018

checked two alphas, one with 250 miles, the other 300....one moderately aggressive rider, the other very aggressive....both looked normal, no gouges or cuts....:face-icon-small-coo

summ8rmk · Dec 15, 2018

I gotta ask.
When did people start calling the hifax "sliders" and why?
Are we gonna start calling the clutches "spinners" ?

john6719 · Dec 15, 2018

I’m seeing a little of this on mine. A couple of the track clips have plastic from the hyfax in them. Something to watch for sure. With a front driver on a track, it will naturally slack in that spot even if you have the track fairly snug.

brendank69 · Dec 15, 2018

summ8rmk said:
I gotta ask.
When did people start calling the hifax "sliders" and why?
Are we gonna start calling the clutches "spinners" ?

Everyone calls them sliders around here and I’ve been sledding for 20+ years.

brendank69 · Dec 15, 2018

john6719 said:
I’m seeing a little of this on mine. A couple of the track clips have plastic from the hyfax in them. Something to watch for sure. With a front driver on a track, it will naturally slack in that spot even if you have the track fairly snug.

I checked my front track shock and somehow it dropped from 80psi to 45psi over the course of 6 riding days. Track tension was perfect but I think the lack of shock pressure is the reason for what happened.

summ8rmk · Dec 15, 2018

brendank69 said:
Everyone calls them sliders around here and I’ve been sledding for 20+ years.

I got 30yrs and never heard the term sliders till this yr.
I see ur Canadian. Maybe that is what is different? Maybe it's east coast vs west coast?

john6719 · Dec 15, 2018

brendank69 said:
I checked my front track shock and somehow it dropped from 80psi to 45psi over the course of 6 riding days. Track tension was perfect but I think the lack of shock pressure is the reason for what happened.

80 would be pretty high for the front track shock. I’m sitting at 60 now I believe. Rode the first day at 70 and that was too high for me.

slyrydr · Dec 15, 2018

my front track shock is 55, the other alpha was 50...

john6719 · Dec 15, 2018

Would you be able to post some pics of the track clips and the front of the hyfax? I’m curious if there’s any difference in design. The way mine is I don’t see any way the track clips wouldn’t gouge the hyfax. I think they need to build up the rail in front of the hyfax to guide the track clips between them better to not allow them to contact the front edge. They could also fill in the track clip so it doesn’t have the sharp edge that can scrape on the hyfax.

1Mike900 · Dec 15, 2018

This is what I thought would happen when you only have the ctr. being the only guide! Either increase it's height or add some outside guides every other to help keep it in-line? You would need to increase the height beyond the rubber nub. This would also help with friction as some believe every-other will wear out the track, due to not being on the paddle,? Mike

0neoldfart · Dec 16, 2018

summ8rmk said:
I got 30yrs and never heard the term sliders till this yr.
I see ur Canadian. Maybe that is what is different? Maybe it's east coast vs west coast?

Maybe it's a canuck thing, but when Arctic Cat first released the rear suspension years ago in the days of bogies, they called it "slide rail suspension". I believe the name "hyfax" came several years later when every manufacturer jumped on the bandwagon...

Dam Dave · Dec 16, 2018

Cats have always like a loose track, not sure Alpha would be any different

you first time Cat guys should get used to loose is fast

Motorbreath_ · Dec 16, 2018

summ8rmk said:
I got 30yrs and never heard the term sliders till this yr.
I see ur Canadian. Maybe that is what is different? Maybe it's east coast vs west coast?

East coast Canadian here, we call them sliders as well. I never heard "hifax" until I was introduced to the internet. :face-icon-small-hap

In any case, you would think they'd install two adjusters and a pivoting shaft so you could put more tension on one rear wheel than the other.. Hopefully everything is square and the track never side travels.. but that is a lot to hope for in my opinion.

Matte Murder · Dec 16, 2018

Is the hyfax on the Alpha the same as a twin rail setup? If you needed a replacement?

gonehuntnpowder · Dec 16, 2018

As I understand they are different. Have a buddy with an alpha. Dealer swapped them side to side and tightened the track supposedly cats spec was wrong too loose. New hifax available mid January.

turboless terry · Dec 16, 2018

I was told they are the same

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