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**fire 6x6** · 11-10-2008, 05:59 PM

Tracks

One of the most important things to look at when using tracks, is the tire pressure. To much air in your tires will cause stress on your drive train.To little air in your tires the tracks will walk off your tires. temperature and alltitude will effect tire pressure. hope that this helps.

**mudbug3** · 11-10-2008, 06:12 PM

jnjmoonsfishing ,

Welcome to the amphibious forum.

Good luck with your Argo 6x6. Keep us all updated with pictures of your Argo adventures in Alaska.

**patb069** · 11-10-2008, 06:32 PM

Welcome

Welcome to the club. Everyone I have dealt with on this site has been nothing but excellent. There is a wealth of knowledge from a bunch of good. people. Enjoy.

**artist1018** · 11-10-2008, 07:39 PM

I use the tracks all winter and I make sure the tire pressure is equal in all 8. I use about 4 psi. Rock Doctor is "The Man" to ask when it comes to Argo info!!

**jnjmoonsfishing** · 11-10-2008, 08:37 PM

thanks for the input. the tracks that i have are hard plastic. how do the do on rocky terrain. looking at going for a hunt in the morring and there will be alot of snow in the pass by not much at the bottom of the hills. just dont want to trash the track. the road that i will be on is a gravel rad with large rock in the road and several river crossings. i read somewhere that you only want to use low range with tracks. thank for the help and i will put some photos soon.

**jnjmoonsfishing** · 11-12-2008, 12:32 AM

Just got back from the hunting trip. Love the threads but broke the rear axle/spacer. Broke 2 lug bolt at the axle, and pulled 3 out from the axle.

So here is my question? Should I have not used my tracks over rocky/snow/river terrain?

Or just it was time for the part to brake. Put 4 hrs on the machine before it broke and a long 2 hrs slow trip out. Thank god that I had others to help lighten the load.

**Rock Doctor** · 11-13-2008, 02:11 PM

First off, WELCOME to the site

Second......I wish I would have read this thread, before I replied to your other thread

Third, Thanks for the vote of confidence Artist

Originally posted by artist1018 View Post

I use the tracks all winter and I make sure the tire pressure is equal in all 8. I use about 4 psi. Rock Doctor is "The Man" to ask when it comes to Argo info!!

Comments like this ^ can be hard to live up to

Some things to be aware of when on tracks:
Stay off the rocks, a little rock crawling is fine, but be carefull that you don't twist the track by riding over the side of a rock. It's VERY, VERY easy to drive the track tire guides THROUGH the sides of your tires. Also VERY easy to twist the track enough to drive out of the track (not so bad if you run the track out away from the Argo, but if you run the track into the space between your tub and your tires you can do alot of damage and be in real trouble). Tracks are expensive, and rocks or dry ground will wear them out fast. IF YOU DON'T NEED THEM, LEAVE THEM AT HOME.
As mentioned....Tire press is VERY important. 4-5 psi is the norm for me. ( As track pins wear out, and bearings loosen, tire press will have to be increased to maintain proper track tension)
Running tracks in dry conditions can cause a tremendous amount of friction between your tires and tracks. If your tires can not "slip" a little inside the tracks you will get chain windup issues. (I suspect that you already know what I mean by this now

)
You don't HAVE to run low range with tracks, totally depends on the terrain.
CREEK CROSSINGS......Keep in mind that an Argo will swim backwards with tracks on, unless the tracks are turning VERY slow.

jnjmoonsfishing; Just got back from the hunting trip. Love the threads but broke the rear axle/spacer. Broke 2 lug bolt at the axle, and pulled 3 out from the axle.

This is classic "Chain Windup" damage, caused by uneven tire pressures and/or overtight tracks.

MOST IMPORTANT FOR LAST
Did you see any Moose on your hunt?

RD

**Beardefence** · 11-13-2008, 09:52 PM

Great to read the info on this site. I am new to the Argo world (april 2008) but Iam really enjoying my machine. A 2003 conquest 8X8. The info on tracks and what tire pressure to use is very helpful. I am a little lost as to what "chain wind-up" is but it sounds like something I do not want. I have seen Rock Doctors videos on U tube and they are wonderful. One of my fishing buddies has had an argo for 20 years and when i finally got the OK from the "War Department" (wife) to buy one i was over joyed. Hope to learn lots from this venue and you know what, I enjoy maintaining my Argo!

**jnjmoonsfishing** · 11-13-2008, 10:22 PM

Thanks for the info Rock Doctor. I learned a lesson the hard way. No I did not see any Moose (Kodiak is a island that is know for its large bears, the Kodiak brown bear.) did not see any game just fresh big bear tracks over the argo track.

**Rock Doctor** · 11-14-2008, 02:07 PM

Originally posted by Beardefence View Post

Great to read the info on this site. I am new to the Argo world (april 2008) but Iam really enjoying my machine. A 2003 conquest 8X8. The info on tracks and what tire pressure to use is very helpful. I am a little lost as to what "chain wind-up" is but it sounds like something I do not want. I have seen Rock Doctors videos on U tube and they are wonderful. One of my fishing buddies has had an argo for 20 years and when i finally got the OK from the "War Department" (wife) to buy one i was over joyed. Hope to learn lots from this venue and you know what, I enjoy maintaining my Argo!

Congrats on the purchas of your Conquest, they are fantastic machines.

I will try to explain what I think of as "Chain Wind-up"
When all tires have the same press, (theorectically) they should have the same circumferance. So for each revolution each tire covers the same distance. If one tire is low, it should have a smaller circumferance, and will cover a shorter distance, per revolution. Just as a tire with higher press will have a larger circumferance, and cover a longer distance per revolution.

So, imagine what is happening when driving with tracks and uneven tire pressures. Tires are trying to cover differant distances, but are confined in the tracks. Tires with lower press are trying to "skid/drag" a little in the tracks. The tires with higher press are the ones that are trying to cover the most distance, and so must "spin" inside the track.
So now, you have tires inside the track that are dragging, and others that are trying to spin. All tires (per side) are linked togeather with drive chains, the drive chains will not let the tires turn at different speeds. I guess you could say that the chain speed is now fighting the tire speeds, and if you are riding in dry conditions the tires have a tremendous amount of traction inside the tracks, making it almost impossible to "slip, or spin".
At this point, something has to give out.
Weak points include:
-Lug Bolt Extensions (Supertracks)
-Axle flanges
-Aluminium Bearing Housings

As I always say:
This is only my opinion, even though some think I shouldn't have an opinion

lol

RD

**Rock Doctor** · 11-14-2008, 02:11 PM

Originally posted by jnjmoonsfishing View Post

Thanks for the info Rock Doctor. I learned a lesson the hard way. No I did not see any Moose (Kodiak is a island that is know for its large bears, the Kodiak brown bear.) did not see any game just fresh big bear tracks over the argo track.

There are no Moose on the island, or you didn't see any? Just curious, I've never been there.

RD

**jnjmoonsfishing** · 11-14-2008, 06:16 PM

rock doctor, hi thanks for the info. yes there are no moose in kodiak. wish there were. have to go to the mainland for the moose. no that i have the Argo i will plan to hunt moose somewhere on the mainland next year. if not moose caribou

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