Snowmobile Arctic Cat (2008 year). Manual - part 132

7-88

9. Place the idler wheels onto the mounting blocks;

then install the cap screw and lock nut securing the

idler wheels to the mounting blocks. Tighten to 34

ft-lb.

10. Install the front arm limiter straps to the front rail

support. Tighten to 10 ft-lb.

CM240B

11. Secure the end cap onto the slide rail using a cap

screw, flat washers, and a lock nut. Tighten to 6.5

ft-lb.

CM263

„NOTE: Apply a light coat of grease to the slide
rail surface to aid in installing a new wear strip. If
there are any sharp edges on the lower portion of
the rail, use a file to remove them.

CM264

12. From the back, start the wear strip onto the rail;

then using a soft hammer, drive the wear strip for-

ward into position. Secure with a machine screw

and lock nut. Tighten to 50 in.-lb.

CM265

CM222A

13. After the skid frame has been installed, adjust

track tension deflection (see Track Tension in this

sub-section) and track alignment (see Track Align-

ment in this sub-section).

Installing Skid Frame

1. Place a piece of cardboard on the floor to protect

against scratching and tip the snowmobile onto

one side.

2. Pull the track away from the tunnel and spread

open; then place the skid frame into the track.

3. Position the front of the skid frame into the tunnel

and align the front arm with the appropriate

mounting hole in the tunnel. Insert the cap screw

with washers through the tunnel mounting hole

and through the front arm. DO NOT TIGHTEN

AT THIS TIME. Repeat this procedure on the

other side.

! CAUTION

When installing the skid frame, make sure the rear
arm shock mounting location on the pivot/axle is
positioned correctly above the axle or component
damage will occur.

7-89

7

739-992A

„NOTE: To aid in centering the front arm with the
hole in the tunnel, position the skid frame and
track at a 45° angle to the bottom of the tunnel.

4. Elevate the rear of the skid frame and the track

into position in the tunnel.

5. Align the pivot arm assembly with the appropriate

hole in the tunnel. Secure the pivot arm assembly

with a cap screw (coated with red Loctite #271),

lock washer, and flat washer. DO NOT TIGHTEN

AT THIS TIME.

„NOTE: Do not install the short legs of the rear
springs onto the adjusting cams at this time.

6. At this time, tighten all four skid frame mounting

cap screws securely.

7. Using the Rear Suspension Spring Tool, install the

short legs of the rear springs onto the adjusting

cams making sure the cams are in the same adjust-

ment positions.

8. Tighten the two track tension adjusting bolt evenly

until track deflection is within specifications; then

lock the jam nuts to secure the adjustment.

9. Check track tension deflection and alignment;

adjust if necessary (see Track Tension and Track

Alignment in this sub-section).

Track Tension

CHECKING DEFLECTION

1. Tip the snowmobile on its side.

2. Hook a spring scale around a track clip at mid-

span; then pull the track down with the scale and

measure the distance between the bottom of the

wear strip and the inside surface of the track clip.

Track deflection must be within specifications.

729-429E

„NOTE: If the track is new, it will stretch slightly
and take a “set” within the first 300 to 500 miles of
operation.

ADJUSTING DEFLECTION

1. Place the snowmobile up on a shielded safety

stand. Check to make sure the track is 2-3 in. off

the floor.

2. If the measurement is not as specified, loosen the

jam nuts of the adjusting bolts.

0727-456

3. If the measurement obtained in step 2 is more than

specified, tighten the adjusting bolts. If the mea-

surement obtained is less than specified, loosen

the adjusting bolts. When the measurement is

within specification range, lock the adjustment by

bottoming the jam nuts against the axle housings.

„NOTE: If the track tension must be loosened, it
may be necessary to loosen the rear axle assem-
bly slightly.

„NOTE: Vigorously push the underside of the
track up and down. Track must not hit the top of
the tunnel or slap the skid frame.

! WARNING

Deactivate all switches.

Setup

Tension

After Break-In

Tension

51-64 mm

(2-2 1/2 in.) @ 10 lb

51-64 mm

(2-2 1/2 in.) @ 10 lb

7-90

4. After correct track tension is obtained, check track

alignment (see Track Alignment in this sub-sec-

tion).

„NOTE: Track tension and track alignment are
interrelated; always check both even if only one
adjustment seems necessary. Always establish
correct track tension before checking and/or
adjusting alignment.

Track Alignment

„NOTE: Proper track alignment is when the rear
idler wheels are equidistant from the inner drive
lugs on the inside surface of the track.

CHECKING

1. Using a shielded safety stand, raise the rear of the

snowmobile off the floor making sure the track is

free to rotate.

2. Start the engine and accelerate slightly. Use only

enough throttle to rotate the track several revolu-

tions. SHUT THE ENGINE OFF.

„NOTE: Allow the track to coast to a stop. Do not
apply the brake because it could produce inaccu-
rate alignment conditions.

3. When the track stops rotating, check the relation-

ship of the rear idler wheels and the inner track

drive lugs. If the distance from the idler wheels to

the inner drive lugs is the same on both sides, no

adjustment is necessary.

725-070A

4. On the side of the track which has the inner drive

lugs closer to the rear idler wheel, loosen the

adjusting bolt jam nut; then rotate the adjusting

bolt clockwise 1-1 1/2 turns.

„NOTE: If the track tension must be loosened, it
may be necessary to loosen the rear axle assem-
bly slightly.

5. Continue to check the track alignment and make

the necessary adjustments until proper alignment

is obtained.

6. After proper track alignment is obtained, lock the

jam nut against the axle housing.

„NOTE: Make sure correct track tension is main-
tained after adjusting track alignment.

„NOTE: Field test the track under actual condi-
tions and, after the field test, check track align-
ment and track tension; adjust as necessary.

Repair Procedure 4 - 

Track/Rear Suspension

FZ082A

! CAUTION

After proper track tension and alignment have been
attained, make certain that the rear axle assembly is
tightened to specifications or component damage
will occur.

! WARNING

The tips of the skis must be positioned against a
wall or similar object for safety. Keep hands, feet,
and clothing away from moving components.

! CAUTION

After proper track tension and alignment have been
attained, make certain that the rear axle assembly is
tightened to specifications or component damage
will occur.

7-91

7

This Track/Rear Suspension sub-section (Repair Pro-

cedure 4) has been organized so each procedure can be

completed individually and efficiently. Each sub-sec-

tion has (as necessary) Removing, Disassembling,

Cleaning and Inspecting, Assembling, and Installing

procedures. Some components may vary from model

to model. The technician should use discretion and

sound judgment when removing and installing compo-

nents.

„NOTE: Critical torque specifications are located
in Section 1 of this manual.

„NOTE: Some illustrations and photographs
used in this sub-section are used for clarity pur-
poses only and are not designed to depict actual
conditions.

Removing Skid Frame

„NOTE: Many service procedures can be per-
formed without removing the skid frame. Closely
observe the note introducing each sub-section for
this important information.

1. To avoid having the adjuster bushings binding dur-

ing loosening of the track, remove the rear idler

wheel caps and loosen the cap screws on the rear

axle.

0742-921

2. Loosen the jam nuts and two track-tension adjust-

ing bolts.

3. Place a support stand under the rear bumper; then

while holding the flared bushing, remove the rear

cap screws securing the skid frame to the tunnel.

Account for lock washers and flat washers.

„NOTE: The support stand should hold the
snowmobile level but not raised off the floor.

4. Remove the support stand; then tip the snow-

mobile onto one side using a piece of cardboard to

protect against scratching.

5. Slide the skid frame rearward far enough to drop

the front arm out of the slider axle; then remove

the skid frame.

Wear Strips

REMOVING

„NOTE: The skid frame does not have to be
removed for this procedure; however, if wear strip
binding or slide rail damage has occurred, the skid
frame should be removed for this procedure (see
Removing Skid Frame in this sub-section).

1. Remove the machine screw and lock nut securing

the wear strip to the front of the slide rail.

FZ026B

„NOTE: If the skid frame has been removed due
to difficulty in removing the wear strip, it may be
necessary to use a pipe wrench, start from either
end, and hook the edge of the wear strip with the
pipe wrench jaw and twist the wear strip off the
slide rail. Move the pipe wrench 7.5 cm (3 in.) and
again twist the wear strip off the rail. Repeat this
procedure until the wear strip is free of the rail.

2. Align the wear strip with the openings (windows)

in the track; then using a suitable driving tool,

drive the wear strip rearward off the slide rail.

739-884A