Front Track Arm Cracked

[goridedoo]

I see my FTA is about to let go.

Anyone ever see this? Should it be warrantied?

I’d like to have it back together ASAP, thinking about ordering and replacing myself- $232.

2019 850

 

[d8grandpa]

This just happened to my buddy’s sled. It’s a 2017-163. I am waiting for him to take it out and will have a look at it to decide if I can re weld or get new.

 

[Reg2view]

Check the cross shafts for wear when you pull it - good time to replace them while it's out if needed.

 

[damx]

Weld it up, and go ride tell the warranty one comes in.

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

5 minute fix with the mig welder and some spray paint, dont let it ruin riding for you.

 

[Murph]

I’ve broken three of those. Weld it up, weld in an additional plate (like the short tracks) and go rip.

 

[HECKS]

Yes and Yes, welder is your friend.

 

[goridedoo]

Sounds like that $232 should be put towards a welder ?

 

[ecut]

Yes mine totally broke off this weekend on both sides, had to tow to the truck

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

Part of my pre ride checklist.

Spare in the garage. (For buddies)

Welded in braces on my personal sled.

 

[goridedoo]

Also sounds like something Polaris should address in 2022.

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

Also sounds like something Polaris should address in 2022.

It’s been this way since 2011.

Not likely to change.

 

[ecut]

Any thought on the best way to weld in a brace?

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

Any thought on the best way to weld in a brace?

Here’s my 2011 pro with triangle braces on the lower end.

Mirrored this on the top. (Both ends equally likely to crack)

 

[goridedoo]

So the cross shafts and “arm tubes” that mount both the front and rear arms to the tunnel are bowed. Is this normal?

I wouldn’t think so beings the cross shaft pivots within the arm tube.

 

[Sheetmetalfab]

So the cross shafts and “arm tubes” that mount both the front and rear arms to the tunnel are bowed. Is this normal?

I wouldn’t think so beings the cross shaft pivots within the arm tube.

You may have been bottoming out?

 

[goridedoo]

You may have been bottoming out?

Not regularly. Pretty much try to set skid up so that it bottoms out periodically and then tighten a little from there.

Im a pretty small guy too at 165.

 

[BeartoothBaron]

So the cross shafts and “arm tubes” that mount both the front and rear arms to the tunnel are bowed. Is this normal?

I wouldn’t think so beings the cross shaft pivots within the arm tube.

Saw that on an old sled I parted out, and to a lessor degree on one of the torque arms on my old sled – I'd guess it's pretty common on sleds that have seen several seasons, but shouldn't crop up this soon under normal riding. Abuse (like jumping), blown or too soft shocks, or springs that are too soft and/or too lightly preloaded are the causes I can think of. The cracking on the lower cross-shaft seems to me like either the product of poor quality or poor design – I'd brace it like sheetmetalfab did – but also consider a stiffer suspension setup. If you just patch it up and run it for a few rides it shouldn't be a big deal, but in the long run I'd be concerned about binding and abnormal wear. It could also eventually break the inner shaft. Ultimately, it might not be necessary for every rider, but some simple triangle bracing top and bottom would eliminate most of these issues.

 

[AdrenalineAddict]

I had one snap on an '18 800, it broke at about 65 MPH smokin through some small whoops on the trail. When the arm broke it went straight up through the track, tunnel, gas tank, then wadded the track up in front of the drivers bending the driveshaft and cracking the bulkhead, it also put a bulge in the tunnel, totaled the sled. I had another break last spring, but caught it before it created major damage. The arm needs an update, very weak.