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Double backer track damage

1K views 13 replies 9 participants last post by  robm 
#1 ·
Well I had a short weekend of riding...didn't even make it out of town, noticed a green puddle under my sled after paying for my gas. Studs finally gouged their way through the heat exchanger, and I couldn't figure out why at first. After taking the track off, all I could find was one stud snapped off at the nut, so I assumed that to be the culprit. Then I looked a little more and found that the track had torn around one of the double backers, which allowed it to "flap" at higher speeds. I cut and removed that piece of track, but there is another spot starting to tear the same way. Tried to pull all the studs out today, but about 1/3 of the torx fittings were stripped so I couldn't get some them out...ending up putting them all back in. I plan to make some front cooler protectors and see what happens...friggin' studs.

Anyways, has anybody else seen track damage like this? 1900 miles, stock '03 440 track.



 
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#4 ·
If you are going to run studs on a 440 track, you must run the tall nuts too. The small nuts allow the studs to bend and the pressure on the backer plate loosens a bit and then tears the track.

A good solution (if you want studs) is to buy single backer plates and big nuts. Then run half the number of studs using the good existing holes.
 
#6 · (Edited by Moderator)
I had an air ratchet on them, worked great on the ones that the torx fittings weren't stripped on. The ones that I couldn't get off, I tried vice grips on the stud and just a normal wrench to break the nut free, but the vice grips always managed to slip...those nuts are tight. What a "edit for bad language"-off! I thought about a zip disk or torch, but cutting 30+ studs off at the nuts that way would be pretty time consuming. I don't think it would be possible to put the tall nuts on now! All I need from that track is to last me the rest of the season...fingers are crossed. Thanks for the input, guys.
 
#10 ·
2doodave, I don't think I'm gonna replace any but I appreciate the offer. Cory, quick turn around! Thanks a lot, hope it wasn't too much of a hassle.
 
#11 ·
robm said:
2doodave, I don't think I'm gonna replace any but I appreciate the offer. Cory, quick turn around! Thanks a lot, hope it wasn't too much of a hassle.
[snapback]701586[/snapback]​
no problem it'll just cost you... one million dollars!! ohh ahh ahh!!! In unmarked loonies!! LOL! Just kidding you'll just have to buy me lunch one day!!
 
#14 ·
Had the exact same thing happen to my track this weekend. I heard the noise the stud was causing as it was hitting the heat exchanger and I stopped immediately. I found the offending studs and cut the section out of the track. Luckily it didn't puncture the cooler.
Well I'm glad my little situation was able to help somebody! lol
 
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