Track Adjustment - Arctic Cat Cougar Service Manual

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specified in Step 2, replace both wear strips as
described in Chapter Sixteen.
Track Inspection
Inspect the track for wear or other damage as
described in Chapter Sixteen.
Track Adjustment
The track is subject to high torque loads which
may cause the track to stretch and wear. Check
the track adjustment frequently as part of a rou-
tine maintenance schedule. Failure to maintain
correct track tension and alignment will reduce
performance and wear the track prematurely.
Track adjustments include track tension and
alignment.
Correct track tension is important because a
loose track slaps on the bottom of the tunnel and
wears the track, tunnel and heat exchangers. A
loose track can also ratchet on the drive sprockets
and damage both the track and sprockets.
A track that is too tight rapidly wears the slider
shoe material and the idler wheels. Performance
is also reduced because of increased friction and
drag on the system.
Track alignment is related to track tension and
should be checked and adjusted at the same time
as the tension. If the track is misaligned, therear
idler wheels, drive sprocket lugs and track lugs
wear rapidly. The resistance between the track
and the sides of the wheels reduces snowmobile
performance.
Tension adjustment
NOTE
Arctic Cat suggests running the snow-
mobile in snow for approximately 15-20
minutes before measuring and adjusting
track tension.
CHAPTER THREE
1. Raise the snowmobile with a suitable lift so
that the track is clear of the ground.
2. Clean ice, snow and dirt from the track and
suspension.
3. Attach a spring scale to the track at approxi-
mately the middle of the slider shoe (Figure 27).
Pull the scale to deflect the track away from the
slider shoe until a force of 9 kg. (20 lbs.) is
indicated by the scale.
4. Measure the distance between the slider shoe
and the inside of the track. Refer to Table 6 for
the recommended deflection.
5. If the measured deflection is incorrect, adjust
track tension as follows:
a. Loosen the locknut (A, Figure 28) on each
of the two adjusters. One adjuster is located
on the left side and the other adjuster is
located on the right side. Be careful not to
disturb the setting of the adjuster screw (B,
Figure 28).