Wear Rod Wear Patterns - Bergstrom Skegs, Inc.

Typical Carbide Wear Rod Wear Patterns

Wear pads do not prevent wear, they just create wear patterns!

As you can see, the front and back wear pads, and even the turning carbide, did not prevent the host bar from wearing away. This leads to diminished handling and ski damage.

The ski protection and turning ability of these wear rods were long gone. They demonstrate that these snowmobilers did not need the function of carbide to ride. That means they would have gotten more miles for the dollar by using our Hardsurfaced wear rods.

Seven wear pads did not keep the 2 inches of turning carbide from dulling.
Dulled so much, the turning carbides look like wear pads now!

These Ski-doo carbides are good rods for driving on blacktop because at least every other inch is carbide (9" total). The single bar is unused, the pair welded together show the actual wear pattern that develops on snowmobile trails. This snowmobiler threw away 15" (out of 18") of expensive carbide. And, the excessive wear in the front of the host bar severely damaged his ski... costing him even more money.

You will need LOTS of studs to overcome all the resistance generated by this XPR Roetin wear pattern.

The carbide dug in so much harder that this added resistance pushed the nose of the ski down, impairing turning ability and causing ski damage

This Woody's carbide is a perfect example of the futility of wear pads and the resistance caused by them.

This pair of Stud Boy carbides was ridden in the Tomahawk, WI area in mid January 2007 for 300 miles. Conditions were low snow but icy. The first 40 miles were good but after a 100 they were shot. Note the typical wear around and behind the front wear pads. Also, note how exposed the front of the turning carbides have become.

Mike H.
Greenfield, WI

Two Stage Wear Pattern

1st Stage - The front of this Bottom Line rod wore until the carbide was extremely exposed.

2nd Stage - Then, the carbide dug in so much harder that this added resistance pushed the nose of the ski down, impairing turning ability and causing ski damage.

Artic Cat Shaper Bars

560 miles in Northern Wisconsin on good snow conditions.

Click on image for larger view

Simmon's latest and greatest carbide design.
Made by Bottomline.

Unfortunately, they maintained the same old wear pattern they have always had.

That is why the 3 carbide wear pads up front are gone.

Hacksaw / File tests
Aftermarket Plastic Ski
wear pattern

Polaris 2010 Rush

Ridden on the UP Michigan for 1300 miles in good snow conditions.

Note the heavy wear on front

2010 Polaris Rush Click on image for larger view | Click on image for alternative front view

Qualipieces – Cobra 4"

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Qualipieces – Cobra 8"

Black dots (toward front) indicate the start of the carbide.

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Woody's – Slim Jims

Note the heavy wear to the front of the turning carbide. There are 500 miles on these rods.

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New & Used Rods Side by Side

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The unavoidable truth about carbide... it only stays in as long as
the host bar holds it in.

Back End

Note the loss of host bar material, making the ski vulnerable.

Front End

Note how the host bar material is eroding undercutting the carbide the full length.

This wear pattern proves that carbide is not relevant to the life of the wear rod on a snowmobile trail. Bare pavement, yes, because then only the carbide makes any contact.

Turning Carbide

It is obvious this bar did not travel excessive miles, yet
the erosion of the host bar is significant.

After-market plastic skis