Half Tracks

[Rock Doctor]

Have any of you guys tried tracking the center 2 tires of an 8x8 on each side? I hear that it's about 80% as good as full tracks, but not as hard on riggin. I plan to try it, as I have 2 sets of tracks one set of standard and a set of Supertracks. I'm thinking that the shorter tracks should make it much harder to "Walk out" of a track in rough terrain.
Any thoughts?

[xrover]

The centre shafts would be the weakest since they don't ship with bearing extensions unless you've added them on. I would think that would be more damaging than tracks on all fours, or tracks on rear 2. But since all of the weight is in the front end, maybe tracks on from two tires would be better. Give you floatation on the front, and if you start to bog down the rear wheels may give enough umph to push you through. Usually when I get stuck in snow it is inevitabily the front which then causes the track to spin.
But then again I wasn't a physics major or anything, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once.

[Rock Doctor]

Thanks for the input.
Good Points, but Argo's never used to have the Bearing Extensions on the older machines, I have an older Argo 6x6 (1985) that has spent most of it's life on tracks and to my knowledge has only ever had one front axle bend. Not saying it would not put stress on the two middle axles, but I was thinking that the four corner bearings always wear out faster than the mids anyway, and maybe this will just even things out. Also it should make it easier to turn on hard ground.
I don't know really, but I think I will try it just to see.
Like I said, a couple of the guys that have done it seem to think it's a very good way to go.
I have tried tracking the front 3 axles, and that works well, but is still hard on bearings on the front.

[Rck90]

Rock doctor, did you try tracking the middle tires, how'd it work?
Thinking on trying it myself.

[2014SE]

How much space is between the tires? I know my HDI with 25" tires are close, I don't think a track will fit, I'm away from home workin and can't go measure. I did see pictures of a guy who ran the track over 3 tires and it seemed to work so maybe it's feasible depending on your tire size. Buzz built his 1 1/2" UHMW with steel grouser tracks in tandem then joined them together and after trying them to make singles, he said the tandem was ok and it did look cool but thought the single was maybe better. He can't comment now because he was banned from this site for a while for while, he's the man with a lot of track experience. He did have some tire slippage with the track going around two tires but they where fairly loose, with the tracks in single configuration with argo tires and going over all 4 tires their was no slippage at all. It would be interesting to hear how you make out if you give it a try, it's interesting to hear how these different experiments turn out. Hopefully you can get the tension needed to drive with little or no slippage. Your definitely going to be riding in the centre 2 tires allot with the added height of the tracks in the centre like that.

Good luck with that please keep us posted.

[Rck90]

Thanks 2014SE but I think I'm reading this wrong.
he had tracks on each separate wheel?

[DualQuad]

Thanks 2014SE but I think I'm reading this wrong.
he had tracks on each separate wheel?

He made dual tracks for both sides ( wrapped 2 tires with each track). Now 2014SE how or what does it take to get banned? Just wondering.

[Rck90]

He had 4 sets of tracks, one set for two wheels.
got it now! Thanks

[Rock Doctor]

Rock doctor, did you try tracking the middle tires, how'd it work?
Thinking on trying it myself.

It worked ok, but not like I thought it would. I never ran around much with the center tires tracked, it worked much better with the front 3 tires in the tracks. With the tight spacing between the tires on the conquests, you would only be able to do this with the thin faced tracks, like the Argo standard tracks.

RD

[Rck90]

Thanks, RD. I will make it a next year winter project.

[Buzz]

Half tracks are cheaper, but give up some performance. Even if you set up dual-half tracks on either side, it still gives up (1) axle-to-axle distance worth of floatation. Dual half-tracks only provide as much floation as a 6x6 track...installed on an 8x8. Extra width, can be added, but a single track (over all 4 axles) has significant advantages "centipeding' over obstacles. Axle # 3 doesn't potentially have to start all over to "grab" a bite. Half tracks also make you think about wear/n/tear, lack of bearing extensions, etc. It may be easier to scrounge together some more track material and build a full-length track. You can always connect additional length...to just about anything if needed.

Here's what I discovered.

I tried half tracks in front, middle, and rear configurations on an 8x8. I did it with elevated belt track crossers (escargo).

What I found was that all 3 configurations turned easier than full tracks (no surprise I guess). You could run all 3 incredibly incredibly loose w/o walking out.

but

with a "front" half-track the machine didnt' want to climb over the crest of steep hills as well. You needed just a bit more forward push to break over the machine's center of gravity...but axle #3 untracked couldn't do it.

with a "rear' half track, the machine climbed excellently but didn't have as much ground-floatation or climb-out ability in the front, and...with increased machine speed the front end (non tracked) felt a little squirrely. Mostly a non-issue, but some things to think about.

I liked the middle half track (it turned the best..especially with the corner axles elevated in the frame). It was the biggest pain in the butt to install though....working the track between tires on either side...but still not a big deal. I think it would be a good compromise in a half track and would allow the machine to drive (vs. winch) out of steep situations....forward or reverse. You'll frequently have axle #2 OR axle #3 not touching the ground, but almost always one or the other will be touching to "drive". I happen to have bearing cages on every axle and a 3rd bearing out near the hub. Most machines will only have bearing "extensions" which relocate the outer bearing (at the tub)..further out to the face of the sealed extension....and they're typically only on the corner axles...not the middles. So this extra support is something to consider fabricating with half-tracks. To be reliable, I think a half-track is probably a specialty item that should be set up correctly. I think a middle half-track is an excellent non-snow set-up.

A half-track (or dual half-tracks) is one way to avoid using track tuners on an elevated belt track, but it also comes down to clearance between axles. I tested mine on a mudd-ox with 25" at189's (81" wheelbase) vs. 79" on an argo avenger for example. So I did have an additional .67 inches between axles. I had plenty of room to clear (1) track crosser between axles.....

but to run dual-half tracks (clearing 2 track crossers between tires...moving in opposite directions, one up, one down)...it meant installing smaller tires. That's what Argo does with the Centaur and it's smaller diameter (but tougher) turf tires on 12" rims.

[Rck90]

Thanks, buzz heard you were DA Man on tracks, sooooo how did tracking the four front ones work? Spin out of four rear tires?

[Buzz]

I like to try and test everything. Tracks tend to grab and hold your attention with these machines. Everything changes with tracks.

A half track is really a compromise in the snow..it's not going to work as well as a full track by any stretch, although having a front half-track would be preferable if that's all you've got. It's a lot of additional floatation vs. tires alone.

For non winter conditions, I would go middle. It's the best compromise. There are times when you still need axles 2 or 3 to bite the ground, and if one is tracked and the other isn't, the non-tracked tire is elevated a bit off the ground and can't get a bite as well....not to mention it's only going to bite as well as it's tire-treads allow anyway.

[Rck90]

Thanks for your time and knowledge buzz, have two full tracks (argo plastic first gen I think) in rough condition and thought I might get two half tracks out of them to save money.
You still in wasilla I live in palmer, would like to get some Ideas of where to take this new to me ARGO for test Rides!

[Buzz]

Rck90- I'll shoot you a pm