Changing the Track, Mat on my Yamaha RS Viking snow mobile after it snapping hauling fire wood

Can I even find a replacement mat here in the Arctic where there are more scooter snowmobile dealers than car dealers. Wide tracks are no so common and we need a used one to replace the broken Yamaha track. That also means we have to go to town just when everything is so perfect for felling and hauling fire wood.

[@freezerburn04]

Man, you really work that thing hard by the looks of the old track.. speaks volumes of that VK. What a testament!

[@arctic-rebel]

It hauls so many tons/cords every year on so rough trails, yes it works very hard. It also gets rolled many times a season trying to get the trail laid in.

[@birdhunter2754]

Best. Buy a lotto ticket now. 😊 i have a 1998 artic cat zrt 600. Brought it new. I put. 4 new tracks on it over the years. I was young when i brought it. Speed machine. No snow here or i would take it out for a ride. I paided. $600 for the studed truck thats on it now. Thanks for the ride to town. Takecare.

[@arctic-rebel]

Thank you for taking the time out to join in. You must be quick at changing them now, do you have to go through the gearbox deal on the arctic cat?

[@moimayamahaetmesnounours]

The Yamaha RS Viking is my favorite snowmobile !

[@arctic-rebel]

Thanks you I agree

[@Alan302-05]

Awesome video. Your a good man Simon. You help others in more ways than you know. So, God sent you a little help. We were always told that there is someone watching over us. When I was a Firefighter/EMT a little girl gave each of us on the department a small cross. She made them for us to carry with us. She believed they would protect us. I have fought the dragon in hell, and still came home to my family. I still carry that cross. I believe things happen for a reason. Take care Simon, and God Bless. Alan

[@arctic-rebel]

Well so proud of you Alan, may all of us enjoy that comfort when needed. Thank you for sharing that,

[@BetterAircraftFabric]

Hi Simon, I really like your videos about the Yamaha RS Viking the most, Thanks for sharing and posting about it. I have 3 of these in Alaska for running supplies to a remote homestead etc. Best Regards form Alaska!

[@arctic-rebel]

Thank you, just doing what I have to so we can keep the fire burning you would know all about that. I wish you well keep up the great work.

[@BetterAircraftFabric]

Hi Simon,@@arctic-rebel , Thank you for the response! - I have been to Sweden and Northern Norway many times (like 35 times) and I have relatives in Norway. If it would not be for Alaska I would likely live in Oestersund or Kiruna or something. Thanks for the technical videos about that Yamaha ( I call one the Yamakaze). They are such great workhorses! Best Regards from Alaska! Lars

[@arctic-rebel]

Thanks Lars, I have just subbed to your channel I want to see what you are flying. Something I have not ticked on my box. I am just about to go out felling but when I have time I will check it out. Has we not landed in Sweden first our next stop would have been Alaska.

[@TheBeardedCarpenter]

Howdy Simon- I think Someone upstairs was making it possible for you to get what you needed to fix your snow buggy. Thank you for sharing this. Take care and God bless

[@arctic-rebel]

I used to pass these things of as just outing out there and making my own luck, but as I get older I am not always so sure. Thank you Sir.

[@marksparkplug7758]

That is a amazing story about the track Simon. I hope you bought a lottery ticket or scratch off soon after. lol

[@arctic-rebel]

Well perhaps I should have done but I was so excited to get back and fit it so I could get back out felling to be honest. The magnitude of the circumstances was not lost on me though. Like I said, it has happened many times.

[@kevincampbell9619]

Thanks!

[@arctic-rebel]

Thank you Kevin very much appreciated.

[@danielnilsson9198]

Well don't know about Morgan Freeman or not but maybe there is someone else more than us who likes you and all your projects. Be careful. Logging is serious shit!

[@arctic-rebel]

Maybe there is, and yes logging can go bad real fast. Thank you Daniel.

[@vossierebel]

Fiddly... rather fiddly... but, Simon did it!! Happy that all the planets revolved around you for a successful result!! Great story... will enjoy seeing you out and about on the machine a lot more now - after seeing what went into getting the machine operational again!!

[@arctic-rebel]

Thank you AJ, it has spent the last 2 days working hard I have been running 6 loads a day to make up for the lost time, did I mention my back !

[@vossierebel]

@@arctic-rebel No... you didn't mention your back but I'm too scared to ask... I sort of know you're hammering it way too hard!! But... I also know if I say slow down you will give me two one finger salutes!! 😱😁💥

[@arctic-rebel]

@@vossierebel It's almost as if you know 😆

[@everythingoutdoors7944]

That was pure luck or someone upstairs knew you needed that track lol good job bud!

[@arctic-rebel]

What ever it was allowed me to be able to continue to optimize the current situation with the weather and get right back to the forest for which I am so very grateful.

[@heithdotysadventures7824]

As a person that has changed 10 tracks out I was looking forward to the fighting part of going back in . 🍿🍿🍿😡😡😡😄😄😄 . The other side of this , you should not have had to drill out the rivets . The shaft with the cogs on it needs to be picked up and the end of one cog ( right side ) fits in the big hole to clear the other side ( left ) side . 🤔 did I miss you loosening up the track tensioners befor you unbolted the rails and wheels frame . If I did disregard this next part . It should be the first steps in the removal of the track ..y . It takes tension off things to help take out and put back in and cuts down on fighting with the shaft going back in , it has room to move . Now that you have been out on it take a few min and look at the alignment of the track to have a peace of mind. Put it back up on the stands and watch it go round, ( looking for drift ) you want about 2 Inc sag .if you look on the frame ( tunnel) it should have the settings labeled . Again if you know this then disregard my comments. Or your book that came with it . Or look on KZbin or the forums. Yup . I should just shut up .👍🏻 good job Simon 👏

[@arctic-rebel]

Your right, I cut out the loosening of the track it is hard to know sometimes what to leave it and cut out when editing, once it was loose I just could not get it out so I found the service manual which says to remove rivets and back plate other wise not sure I would have done that and then as you see it came out. That is to only reason I know it was the original track. It does need aligning, I was going to do that today by picking the back up with the tractor. But it sounds like you have much more experience then me so here some questions for you if I may, why have you changed so many tracks, what destroys them like the one I showed you and is there anything that can be done to prolong the life given I only work it and it pulls such weight?

[@heithdotysadventures7824]

@@arctic-rebel reason why I have changed tracks so much is easy . Some old age . Some from working the hell out of them , some is abuse from roads and riding on ice , some are from racing studded and not studded tracks , some times tracks take a beating from being to lose and the side to side beats the clips up and the track . When the snowmobiles running kind of sluggish when you're on the road or in your driveway and it just doesn't seem like it's riding is smooth it's because there's no lubrication to the high faxes which in turn causes wear and tear . And the other reason is I own 5 sleds now and over the years have owned several others . Owning that many and maintaining that many a pain in the ass absolutely but its how I grow up. I got ride of my high speed snowmobiles but 2 . They have been sitting for years waiting on Mt kids to grow up and want to have some fun . The other 3 are just to say I got out for a ride. 😄👍🏻 . I do have a mini kitty cat for my grandson that need to be brought in the shop for some love and then I will have a riding partner 😊💙😀 . Hope this info helped

[@arctic-rebel]

@@heithdotysadventures7824 OK that makes sense now thank you for the extended reply. I understand all of those things, fortunately I am just a few meters from any trails I make so the road thing is not an issue, just the working the hell out of them and I deal deal with that. Thanks Heith.

[@heithdotysadventures7824]

@@arctic-rebel any time Simon 👍🏻 glad I could help

[@peggymakuppenberg4114]

Someone is watching over you. Peggy.

[@arctic-rebel]

I hope he watches over us all

[@The58stupot]

Great job on the snowmobile Simon, impressive. No good living up in the North if ya ain't got the skills eh.

[@arctic-rebel]

Thank you Stuart, so very true the more skills the easier it is.

[@shards3791]

Could u do more videos about your furnace and heat system it is really interesting =)

[@arctic-rebel]

Yes for me this is easy and fun, is there a specific you would like me to go into deeper or just a general overall, let me know

[@mp3625]

At least you were not stranded in the bush with a broken track. And things kinda fall into place? The track tread is different which you might find better or worse? Adjust your track after a few trips. Great video Simon

[@arctic-rebel]

Hi Dave, getting stuck was my fear, as you know it can take a great deal of resource to get a trackless tank like mine back to the shop.

[@That1ufo]

Bet you 200 it will last 3+ years

[@arctic-rebel]

That would be cool and make it worth while. Thanks

[@OceanBreeze2022.]

Hi, how long was it actually to complete the track replacement? Thanks

[@arctic-rebel]

Hi, it took me 6 hours with coffee breaks. Thanks.

[@OceanBreeze2022.]

That’s great, I also watched your starter replacement. I’ve got A 2017 RS venture with the same engine. I hope when the time comes it’s no harder for me to replace. You make it look easy. Great videos

[@arctic-rebel]

Thanks, it was an easy job really. The cost it what hurts.

[@andrewgraham5080]

Nice work! I see you’re only a stones throw from me, I’m on the other side of lycksele.

[@arctic-rebel]

Thank you Andrew, careful with those stones I have a lot of old fragile glass here! I am please your along for the ride my friend.