Stuff to watch for on the 18+ cats.

Lund

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Changing chain case oil.

Decided to pull the cover to check the alluminum gear.

Pulled this blob of alluminum out of the auto tensioner.

Everything looks good, probably change out that alluminum gear in the next 1000km for a metal one, or a fresh alluminum one. //uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181212/e6cec47c3fe55f291530eeeb165a656c.jpg//uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181212/eba1cc66829dcff8add28e73f9c83544.jpg//uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181212/7244b9a2b0cc7798f5975326b0f4dca9.jpg//uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20181212/717ff5d5a7cafeb55d6585340853928f.jpg

HAHAHA.....aluminum gears, that was a 20 year old experiment that failed miserably. I took my buddies aluminum gear out last season and chucked it in the garbage when i installed his Sidekick. Thank god the sled has less then 500km on it.
From what i recall, most of the sleds running the aluminum gear ended up f'n up their chains and bearing's including the top gear and had to replace pretty much everything. You got less then a 1000km before it got bad, i don't even think the manufacture is still in the business.
The R&D department at A/C must be a bunch of young boy's LOL that did not do their homework on sled failures. An aluminum gear is a feeble attempt on gaining very little and losing a lot more. Bad R&D.
 

kanedog

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Kanedog 2015-2019, thanks for the good times S&M!
HAHAHA.....aluminum gears, that was a 20 year old experiment that failed miserably. I took my buddies aluminum gear out last season and chucked it in the garbage when i installed his Sidekick. Thank god the sled has less then 500km on it.
From what i recall, most of the sleds running the aluminum gear ended up f'n up their chains and bearing's including the top gear and had to replace pretty much everything. You got less then a 1000km before it got bad, i don't even think the manufacture is still in the business.
The R&D department at A/C must be a bunch of young boy's LOL that did not do their homework on sled failures. An aluminum gear is a feeble attempt on gaining very little and losing a lot more. Bad R&D.

All belt drives have aluminum gears.
 

Eldereldo

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Hmmm, converted my 2014 to a belt drive at 2000km, original gear definitely had some wear, but pretty minimal, wonder how Often oil was changed? Think AC recommended first change at 200km, then every 1000km?
 

Lund

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Personally Skegpro i'ed be chucking that gear and replacing it with a steel one.
I also highly recommend you go through all your bearing's, wash them good and check them. Also clean out that chain.
I remember back in the early 2000 there was a craze on aluminum gears, guy's were jumping on the idea, i even got suckered into it.
Many failed at around 1000km, some squeaked 1500km but all never made the grade in the long run. Many guys lost bearings and chain's after the fact and axle seal's would start leaking. Its a bad deal and i'm surprised Cat went that rout.
I got a season out of my gear and it still was usable as it looked ok but the teeth had a lot of wear and fitment of the chain wasn't great anymore. My bearing's in the case were screwed and so was the chain.

Like i said previously, i replaced Catrider16 gear last season, it had about 400-450km and i had to clean everything out.
 

skegpro

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Personally Skegpro i'ed be chucking that gear and replacing it with a steel one.
I also highly recommend you go through all your bearing's, wash them good and check them. Also clean out that chain.
I remember back in the early 2000 there was a craze on aluminum gears, guy's were jumping on the idea, i even got suckered into it.
Many failed at around 1000km, some squeaked 1500km but all never made the grade in the long run. Many guys lost bearings and chain's after the fact and axle seal's would start leaking. Its a bad deal and i'm surprised Cat went that rout.
I got a season out of my gear and it still was usable as it looked ok but the teeth had a lot of wear and fitment of the chain wasn't great anymore. My bearing's in the case were screwed and so was the chain.

Like i said previously, i replaced Catrider16 gear last season, it had about 400-450km and i had to clean everything out.
Yeah definitely gonna do it.
Just ran outta time before this trip.
 

skegpro

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Hyvo make the best and strongest chain's and gears for sled's. I've use them on all my high powered sled's for years now. Currently changing the gear ratio's in my Winder and it's all Hyvo going in.
Can you use a hyvo chain with cat gears?
 

Lund

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Can you use a hyvo chain with cat gears?

Its always best to change gears and chain as one but yes you can. I have on a few occasion just did one.
I would at least do bottom and chain and run the top gear if it looks good.
 
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