2013 Drive Shaft Poll

YADA · Dec 3, 2012

WHAT do you think about fixing the shaft in that way on the picture?
If the main problem is glue quality, so drive shaft crash is inevitable! It's just a matter of time! No one fixing item like http://www.2strokeheads.com/CLAMP.htm will do nothing good! I propose to fix the shaft cover with a screw through the whole body of the shaft with 2 screw nuts!

In that way the cover won't move! Any useless glue will no longer needed (sorry for my grammar, I'm russian, huh. Kamchatka peninsula).

So what do you think about that idea? We are all here frightened with that problem! We have already several issues here with that damn drive shaft. So we need to resolve this problem as soon as possible.

YADA · Dec 3, 2012

Maybe it will be more informative to add 2 more parameters to the poll:
Blew with less than 50 Miles with fix
Blew with more than 50 Miles with fix

...to understand would that fix solve the problem or wouldn't!

whoisthatguy · Dec 3, 2012

YADA said:
WHAT do you think about fixing the shaft in that way on the picture?
If the main problem is glue quality, so drive shaft crash is inevitable! It's just a matter of time! No one fixing item like http://www.2strokeheads.com/CLAMP.htm will do nothing good! I propose to fix the shaft cover with a screw through the whole body of the shaft with 2 screw nuts!

In that way the cover won't move! Any useless glue will no longer needed (sorry for my grammar, I'm russian, huh. Kamchatka peninsula).

So what do you think about that idea? We are all here frightened with that problem! We have already several issues here with that damn drive shaft. So we need to resolve this problem as soon as possible.

In my opinion, the wrong 4 screws/bolts are shown because they are not fully threaded and do not have anything to keep them from backing out, and the thickness of steel cap is not enough to engage a sufficient amount of threads, in order to hold the screw/bolt. Neither the steel cap nor the aluminum axle will have adequate edge distance to be able to get the proper size self tapping TEK screw in there, due to the limitations of the tiny 1/2" depth (that Polaris engineers no doubt developed after extensive testing and research, ya right). This driveshaft appears to be virtually impossible to repair with mechanical fasteners alone.

bubba94 · Dec 4, 2012

Just talked to my sledding partner and he said there was 5 Pros waiting for shafts at polaris in Chilliwack BC, talked to Spectra a couple weeks ago and they said they had done 3 already to, I hope Polaris gets movin

Steelman · Dec 4, 2012

bubba94 said:
Just talked to my sledding partner and he said there was 5 Pros waiting for shafts at polaris in Chilliwack BC, talked to Spectra a couple weeks ago and they said they had done 3 already to, I hope Polaris gets movin

You and I both. I have not rode mine yet. It has been warm and no snow. Was wanting to get some miles on it here on the flatland before heading west.

sleddread · Dec 5, 2012

give your source please

Big D rmk700 said:
Just got confirmation last nite that they did not run this drive shafts in there demos.

confirmation from who and if they were not in the demos were they tested?

RMK935VA · Dec 5, 2012

Not true about Polaris not using the 2013 driveshaft in the proptotypes. All of them had the new style driveshaft. All of those sleds were flogged hard! I rode one that had 1,700 miles on it for a day in early May. It had been abused but there was never a driveshaft problem. It is a manufacturing problem, not a design problem.

winter brew · Dec 5, 2012

YADA said:
WHAT do you think about fixing the shaft in that way on the picture?
If the main problem is glue quality, so drive shaft crash is inevitable! It's just a matter of time! No one fixing item like http://www.2strokeheads.com/CLAMP.htm will do nothing good! I propose to fix the shaft cover with a screw through the whole body of the shaft with 2 screw nuts!

In that way the cover won't move! Any useless glue will no longer needed (sorry for my grammar, I'm russian, huh. Kamchatka peninsula).

So what do you think about that idea? We are all here frightened with that problem! We have already several issues here with that damn drive shaft. So we need to resolve this problem as soon as possible.

Yada, as someone who does structural destructive testing for a living, I don't think there is enough material thickness for threading to be effective. You would be limited to very low torque, not enough to be effective.
The only way a bolt-type fix MIGHT be effective would be to drill a 5/16" hole on every flat of the hex through both pieces, then remove the insert, deburr all pieces, weld 6 high grade nuts to the inside of the insert and then you can re-bond and bolt tight. Another issue would be ensuring the insert is installed so it runs true....which shouldn't be difficult.
At this point, the encapsulating collar seems to be the best bandaid until Polaris has a replacement.

PowderMiner · Dec 8, 2012

How do we change our vote?
I voted for no failure under 50 and now at 140... still no failure.

BGYDOP1 · Dec 9, 2012

Poll

I want to see pictures of the reported Failures with Fix.

rmscustom · Dec 9, 2012

BGYDOP1 said:
I want to see pictures of the reported Failures with Fix.

I dont think there has been a failure with a fix...

SnotNose · Dec 9, 2012

5 shafts failed in Cooke City today

BGYDOP1 · Dec 9, 2012

With Fix

Collar/ no Collar?

rmscustom · Dec 9, 2012

I dont think polaris has any collars installed yet, and I haven't seen any reports of failures with aftermarket collars. Please post if i'm wrong.

Scott · Dec 9, 2012

73 miles so far, no failure.

tomx · Dec 10, 2012

~150 miles now, 4 rides, last two days was in 3-4ft of Prime Northwest Pooohtatos. She's a dirty dirty whore who loves a good powder pounding and has had no complaints about the shaft. She did request I stopped ramming her against trees though, she doesn't want her new party dress ruined.

prorider13 · Dec 10, 2012

75 miles with the collar and no probelms, hard riding deepsnow no mercy break it if I can but could not.

phatboyfilms · Dec 11, 2012

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1355209264.268067.jpg

Brother & I have new Pros. Today was our first ride(Yakima, Wa), his driveshaft broke at 11 mi. No collar installed.

1Mike900 · Dec 11, 2012

If you have a collar there is no way it will break there, you have too much cross sectional area! With it clamped there is probably up to 1000 lbs. of clamp load depending upon bolt torque, as long as it is not designed to bottom out against itself at a specified dia.. The only way it could possibly break is right behind the collar itself if it does not have a proper radius. As long as the collar transmits some of the load thru the internal webbing all will be good! It is just the outer edge where the web is removed that the trouble will begin! It is all based on cross sectional area, applied loads and tensile strength of material I won't even go into fatigue cycling! Remember you have 95+ ft.lbs. of torque at the primary clutch, then multiply by at least 3 to 1 starting out, then multiply by gear ratio and that is your highest load the shaft should see besides shock load which is at least double that. I bet people that are smooth with the throttle and don't torque snap the throttle to test responsiveness will have way less problems! Can anyone tell me the thickness of the aluminum extrusion, I would guess .083 to .095w? I am sure they will make the steel endcaps deeper for future with proper interference fit! I hope the Polaris collars are deeper than the internal contact area of the fitting? Mike

throttlejockey · Dec 12, 2012

My new pro

First ride in revy this year... Bout 5 hours of riding in lots of snow. 130 miles on the sled. Does Po cover chopper ride out?? (Jk sorta... But would be nice) lol:brokenheart:

2013 Drive Shaft Poll

2013 Drive Shaft Failed/Not Failed Poll

Over 50 Miles, No Problems

Under 50 Miles, No Problems

Over 50 Miles with Fix

Under 50 Miles with Fix

Blew with less than 50 Miles

Blew with more than 50 Miles

Have no ridden yet

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