very disappointed with Otter

[guywhofishes]

Didn't think I'd ever have to type that. I was loading up my magnum the other day and a hyfax runner is hanging out the back!

I go to inspect later at home and 30% of the screw hole areas are cracked and many had failed or were near failure. Only a mm or two has been worn off the runner so they are near new for thickness - it was simply mechanical fatigue type failure of the plastic.

Taking them all off (had I even had an allen wrench of the correct size along) would have really sucked on a fishing trip. It's a PITA in the heated garage.



CHECK YOUR BEFORE LAKE WINNIPEG! I WOULD HAVE BEEN HOSED UP THERE!

The sleds are great - the hyfax is garbage.

 

[BGH]

Guy who fishes.
Where did you get a white Runner kit?
I've only seen blue from otter before.

 

[guywhofishes]

new with the sled in 1956

 

[JayKay]

So you got it for your 40th birthday?

 

[guywhofishes]

I bought them from Otter directly at some point - don't recall the year.

I know they are blue now - spent an hour replacing them with blue runners with the help of galwhoisnotgoodatgettinglocknutsstarted last night

 

[deleted_account]

I bought them from Clam directly at some point - don't recall the year.

I know they are blue now - spent an hour replacing them with blue runners with the help of galwhoisnotgoodatgettinglocknutsstarted last night

so it was another shitty clam product not otter? This is my surprised face

 

[guywhofishes]

so it was another shitty clam product not otter? This is my surprised face

oops - ha ha - I meant otter - my bad

- - - Updated - - -

the new blue ones fit the old white holes exactly so not drilling again was nice

 

[johnr]

Would some gorilla glue and a couple of stella's done the trick?

I have all kinds of shit glued back together, and Duct tape is a close second.

there was an old Mercury Lynx I had back in the early college years that was more glue and duct tape then actual Ford parts...

 

[guywhofishes]

guythrewinthetowelonhalfassfixesin1998

 

[huntinforfish]

From a guy who sells industrial plastics for a living, the "hyfax" runner kits offered by all manufacturers are crap. They use the cheapest/ lowest grade materials they can to save a dime. I used "real" UHMW material for mine and have supplied family members with the same. The cheap polymers the big guys use become brittle in cold weather and do not stand up to environmental factors over time. I recommend making your own from a better product like UHMW.

 

[deleted_account]

From a guy who sells industrial plastics for a living, the "hyfax" runner kits offered by all manufacturers are crap. They use the cheapest/ lowest grade materials they can to save a dime. I used "real" UHMW material for mine and have supplied family members with the same. The cheap polymers the big guys use become brittle in cold weather and do not stand up to environmental factors over time. I recommend making your own from a better product like UHMW.

this is what i did too. thanks for hooking me up with the uhmw, Junior!

 

[lunkerslayer]

From a guy who sells industrial plastics for a living, the "hyfax" runner kits offered by all manufacturers are crap. They use the cheapest/ lowest grade materials they can to save a dime. I used "real" UHMW material for mine and have supplied family members with the same. The cheap polymers the big guys use become brittle in cold weather and do not stand up to environmental factors over time. I recommend making your own from a better product like UHMW.

Does snowmobile hyfax made out of good quality plastics

 

[Finaddict]

Make sure you don't over tighten the bolts. Compressing the hyfax material will make it crack and then break completely. I did that on two separate sleds and finally learned my lesson. Slow but enthusiastic learner.

 

[huntinforfish]

Usually. Also helps that its threaded onto the mount and not mechanically fastened. Minimal weak points. It is not the best or second best available but seems to work unless you run your track dry for any period of time! We have dealt with some racers that make their own from higher quality stuff - lighter/slicker/stronger... anything for an edge on the competition.

 

[Callem'In]

I am on my 3rd year w/ blue ones and no problems yet.

 

[aron]

What width/thickness are you guys using that are buying your own uhmwpe?And how many strips are you putting on? I have two sleds that have nothing right now that should get some runners added.

 

[fullrut]

Blue uhmw is more UV resistant is what I'm told when they sell it to me. The white degrades quickly when left in the sun.

 

[Auggie]

Shouldn't UV ray decomposition be at a minimum since it's on the underside of a sled? :;:cheers

 

[Captain Ahab]

The bottom of a sled in the winter does sound like a good place to tan.

 

[GSM]

Blue uhmw is more UV resistant is what I'm told when they sell it to me. The white degrades quickly when left in the sun.

Ahhhh....NO, well maybe