2003 F5 problem....

[drew_goeke]

I own a 2003 F5 firecat. Last year I put on a new track with an inch and a quarter lugs (snowpro track) instead of the stock track. However, I have been experiencing problems with the tunnel. It seems to overheat alot and cause drag, almost as if the hyfax are heating up and getting sticky. I dont seem to see a place where the track is rubbing the tunnel or anything but it still seems to get warmer than ussual. I also have been keeping track of the coolant and it seems that the levels are not changing too much to cause a significant change. Anyone have any idea of what might be going on? Oh and my alignment is ok as well.

[TommyBoy68]

You say track alignment is ok, but how about track tension?

I admittedly don't know much about the Firecat setup, so I don't know that I can offer too much advice. Good luck figuring it out, though, sounds like something must have been changed/altered when you switched tracks, if you don't see any obvious rubbing.

[allcatsf7]

if you are riding on hard pack the deep lugs dont through enough snow on to the tunnel. you need to find some powder to cool down the hi fax and the tunnel heat exchanger. had that problem last weekend 1/38 sno pro track on my f7.also run your track as loose as you can without ratcheting.

[Dirty Birch]

I had a heck of a time last year during the President's Ride in Eagle River with snow conditions they had at that time, same as allcatsF7 explained. I have a RMK with 1.75 lugs. The trails were ice and super hard pack. As long as I could scoot off the trail a little, every so often, I could keep the engine and hyfax cool. Same trip, I had no problem when we trailered north to more snow, except on one railroad bed that was hard pack for quite a few miles.

[m_scott]

my switchback did the same thing when i added my 2inch track. All i remember doing was bolting the snow flap up tighter. cause it would constantly suck up into the tunnel. And sice i over heated i lost a head seal. that and i may have loosend the track up a bit.

[Howler]

Ice scratchers FTW. I used them while riding my 159" RMK down near Debuque last weekend, and actually had a ton of ice chips hitting the skid and exchangers. So much so that I could have probably just run one of them.

[drew_goeke]

hey thanks you guys. I figured it had something to do with the lug size. It only seemed to do it on the hardpack. well noted and thanks again