I recently adjusted my track tension and alignment. It looks like both sides are equal distance from the sliders. I also measured the distance from the edge of each wheel to the side of the track and its the same. But I notice squeeking every now and then. I guess it might be on the turns more often than when I'm going straight. But does this mean the track isn't aligned right? Also, is there any way to align the front of the track?

Oh, and did anyone else experience this website when it was redone and there were new sections for threads and stuff? Or was I the only one?????? It was about 2 hours ago.

One more thing, my speedometer just got fixed by the dealer (it wasn't working before) but accuracy blows. It says I'm going way slower than I really am. The dealer says there's no way to fix that. Any suggestions?

Thanks, Dave

If the squeeking actually is in your wheels, you're in need of bearing replacement. To check this you should either lift the rear end and turn each wheel to check it- or turn the machine on its side. (The rears are not easily inspected with tension on them - you might drop the rear bolts attaching the suspension in order to swing it out and take that tension off.) Each wheel should turn easily and smoothly, while being absolutely tight in every way other than rotation.

Your speedo depends on the drive shaft sprocket diameter, the angle drive, and the speedo itself being matched and calibrated to each other. If one is incorrect, then your speed will be off. I would check them to see if they are correct. The other thing, of course, is that loose snow will allow enough slipping that you can easily go somewhat slower than the speedo says. It should not be a heck of a lot, but perhaps 5%-10%.

Im assuming the track is rolling at idle for these squeeks?

I've ran into this a few times over the yrs also.
A couple of things to check...
Yes ilders bearings could be bad and when the track was tightend it made the wheels shift agianst the track cogs.
Sometimes when you put more tension on the track(tighting) I will make the rubber from the wheels squeek agianst the rubber on the track, just a rubber to rubber thing in the right conditions.
Ive had many of times of this happening. Had brand new tracks do this and tracks that are years old.
Another one is ..have you had the skid apart and left a spacer washer out or put in the wrong spot during mounting the wheels back on?
Most squeeks are from the wheels side contacting the inside cogs on the track. With various width wheels and the bevels of the cogs they squeek till they wear in some or a washer needs to be added to the shaft to move it out off the cog some.
I flipped my back axle wheels this yr and had a squeek, what I did was add a washer before the wheel and it did the trick.
On some wheels the bearing is offset just a bit and if a wheel is flipped it will rub the cogs,also the wheel profile is sometimes different(ie doo wheels ,inside straight outer side angles out..colored part of it).
Check the bearings and if all wheels are mounted correct then I would say it's just a rubber to rubber squeek which is very common in the right conditions(sneaker squeek:wink:)

How tight is your track ? studded?, unstudded you want about 3/4-1" of free hang at the middle of the skid, studded needs to be tighter to allow for balloning and stud clearance.

mutt

I would check the tension too like snowmutt said track may be to tight also lube all the wheels I do this a few times a year with wd.

Wow. Tons of suggestions but thats a good thing so thanks. The track tension shouldn't be to tight, I just adjusted it to 45mm give or take a few (should be 45-50 with 16 pounds). Idler bearings should be good because the sled only has 700 miles although some parts (mostly the skis and parts in the front) were rusted really good. I've never taken the wheels apart and I doubt the last owner did (he didn't do much work on the sled at all). My track is studded (I'm guessing around 72 studs) probably less because a good amount of the holes are empty (I plan on replacing them). I think it might just be normal squeaking like you said it could be and the snow has been really dry and powdery lately if that would cause it. I'll oil the wheels though and see if that helps.

As for the speedometer, its slow, not fast and its not cause the track is spinning. It seems like its off by a good amount. I figured I was going around 60 and it said I wasn't even at 30. How would I check that stuff that you listed? I probably won't check if its a challenging fix because it doesn't matter that much to me at this point. I'd do it in the summer if I was capable of it.
Thanks, Dave

If your studs are inline with your wheels(wheels run over them) they are a possibillty of the squeak too. I would'nt worry to much about the squeaking unless there is something really binding things up, it's normal to get the squeaks from time to time . Like you said conditions play a role on things. The one thing I like that sqeeks though... Is squeaky SNOW!! love that sound:tongue:.

AS for your speedo, can you get someone to radar you? ,that will tell the truth on your speed . the speedo is a dream meter..it's not 100% true due to track spin.
One thing you can check is pull the cable off and look at the ends. They should be square to fit in the gears, if there rounded off(wore) it could be slipping inside the gear that drives it.
I would suspect the lower unit on the drive axle, water gets in there and freezes and there you go .
You can hook a drill to the bottom of the cable and run it to see if the speedo moves(sometimes spinning it by hand will work too(does on quads).
You could go the oppisite too , un hook the top(speedo) and run the sled (on stand ) and watch the cable spin from the axle drive.
I would bet it's in the lower axle unit.

Mutt

Ya my studs are in line with my wheels so it sounds like that might be whats causing the problem. And yes squeaky snow is good :tounge:. I think I'll come back to this thread in the summer and go over the speedometer then. Right now its 13 degrees out so your hands get cold work gloves quickly. I think I'll do kinda like you said and compare to another sled (I don't have radar or know anyone who does) so I can get an idea of how fast I'm really going when my speedometer says I'm going 20 or whatever.
Thanks, Dave

I'm not sure how studs being in line with the wheels would cause any peculiar sound. I've done it routinely. The only time I've heard anything remotely like squeeking or squealing when under power, it's always involved dry, rusted bearings. And when they get there, they won't last long after. A track may "creak" some when you pull it around by hand with the machine laid over, but I don't consider that "squeeking". Snowmobiles are not supposed to squeek - it's not a usual sound. It'll probably be much less expensive to fix now than later.

Ugh. I'll try oiling them.

Can you put up a vid on youtube and link it here so we could hear the squeek?Your saying a rubber squeek and their only is so many things it can be.
Even some good pics of the skid and wheels would help, just might see something your not. I would really pay attn were the wheel meets the track cogs. The cogs are moldded on a slight angle and if your wheel is touching any part of it ,it will squeek!.

Have you tried to loosen your track and try it?, did the squeeks quit?
Heck even a little nick in the rubber part of the wheel will make a squeek in the right conditions when rubber to ruber contact is made.
Im just shooting in the dark here to help you out. :blush:

Can you pin point the location of the squeek? front ,back ,middle???..one side or other???


mutt

It sounds like its coming from the back of the track. I'll get some pictures today or tomorrow of the wheels and other parts around there. I just loosened the track and they still squeak. I think its aligned right but I could be wrong.
thanks, Dave

It sounds like its coming from the back of the track. I'll get some pictures today or tomorrow of the wheels and other parts around there. I just loosened the track and they still squeak. I think its aligned right but I could be wrong.
thanks, Dave
That narrows it down to 3 wheels!!:tongue:lol, check the clearance of the wheels to the lugs inside the track. If someone had that axle out ,there might be a washer missing or missplaced and it has a wheel to close to the inside lugs, just touching them it will squeek.

Mutt

ya I looked at it again today. It seemed like it was more on the turns. I think the track just might shift a little cause of the stress on the turns and that might make the inside lugs rub on the wheels a little. It really sounds like a rubber squeak, kinda like a shoe or rain boot. I don't think its coming from the wheels, its a different squeaking (I think). Like I said though, I haven had the axle out, and the last guy did very little work other than the bare minimum to keep it running. So I don't think he had the axle out. I'll double check the lugs to see if they are rubbing and let you guys know
Thanks, Dave