Worn out Argo Supertracks

[Rock Doctor]

So, how many of you guys have abused your plastic tracks enough that you have had to replace segments? I try to keep track use to a minimum in the summer, but still find myself rumbling through rocks/gravel/sand/silt/ice, ect in places that I don't want to be. (This is not much of a problem anymore since I switched to 24" Frontier Tires, I'm too lazy to swap tires just to put the tracks on) With the variable terrain that I run, I could spend hours crunching through sharp rocks, mixed with super gooey swamp/muskeg.
I have thought about pulling the tracks off in the rough stuff, and then putting them back on when needed. I can get them off in about 5 min, and back on in about 15-20 min, but that can be alot of off's and on's in a day sometimes. And then I would have to find a place to haul them, wouldn't be bad if I was running empty, but I'm never running empty

I will still put the tracks on in the summer, if I'm sure I will need them, but only for certian trails.

Had to dig them out of the snow to show you, and some have been sitting outside for a while (Kinda rusty now)

[mike bar]

WOW!Do alot of riding RD? Don'teven have my used ones on yet and I'm nearvous of the wearing.
In fact Havnt got argo up and running yet.

[chapy]

that is quite a pile of bad track. I was thinking about running a conveyer belt over top of the supertracks. you could save your plastic tracks. I think you could drill holes in the conveyor and mount them with the argo ice cleats. that could be our alternitive to rubber tracks?? Maybe I'll look into this!!

[Rock Doctor]

WOW!Do alot of riding RD? Don'teven have my used ones on yet and I'm nearvous of the wearing.
In fact Havnt got argo up and running yet.

LOL
Don't worry, I have abused my tracks on several ocasions, and to be totally honest. Some of these segments are "Standard Track" (I use them on my 6x6). Also, some of those pads are NOT worn out, they are broken.

RD

[Rock Doctor]

that is quite a pile of bad track. I was thinking about running a conveyer belt over top of the supertracks. you could save your plastic tracks. I think you could drill holes in the conveyor and mount them with the argo ice cleats. that could be our alternitive to rubber tracks?? Maybe I'll look into this!!

That has some possibilities. I wonder how much weight that would add.

I "THINK" the best solution for me is to NOT run the tracks in places where I know I should not have them on. Now that I have upgraded my tires, I will not be running tracks much at all.
I have not upgraded my 6x6 tires, so I still might run tracks on it in some places in the summer.

RD

[swampdonkey]

chapy i was thinking the same thing. not too much experience with the plastic tracks but know enough that they dont grip as well as id liked! went to load the machine on a trlr the other day with steel ramps and as i was driving up the thing spun and fell on a ramp.. its the kind of ramp that is used for lawn mowers and stuff, u know the arched ones.. well after i was done she was straight! good thing it wasnt mine haha i was gona try and mount peices of sled track to the plastic argo tracks for traction. wouldnt have to be the full length of the track just segments.. figure one or two trackss would prob do just fine. anyone ever try???

[chapy]

After the conveyor belt or snowmobile trak was cot to lenght the could be attached with cleats on one side and bolts and washers on the inside. Not sure what the weight added would be. I would kick myself if I went through all that work just to find they work too good and I can't turn.

[swampdonkey]

just wondering how these ice cleats are attached to the tracks?? carriage bolts?? never seen them before.

[chapy]

they are attached with carrage bolts and large washers on the bottom side of the track. I'll see if I have any close up pictures of the cleats.

[bcsteve]

Here's a picture.

[bostatv]

rubber belt

Be careful about adding thickness to your track system. You could find yourself wearing holes through your upper body.

Regards
Ken

[chapy]

Yep, the thickness would be an issue. If you were to add a belt you would have to be very careful of thickness. I would say no more than about 3/8's of an inch max.

[mike bar]

I can't get my supertracks apart due to rust.Do I have to cut inbetween every joint and replace rod or is there some other magical trick for doing this? Tracks are in really good shape.The guy i got it from said he would let the air out of the tires and sqeeze them on.Sounds hard! I would like to do it the way they were supposed to. Any other suggestions?

[artist1018]

I keep mine intact and remove them by taking off the tires. To install, I put the front and rear tire inside the track and, with a friend's help, put the front and rear tire on the axle. Once that is done, I open up the center of the track and put the middle two tires on thier axle. Takes about 20 minutes per side to do. I also let out most of the air in the tires and re-air them after installation is complete. My tracks are as old as my Conquest. (2001). I store them on the trailer and rain and weather has caused them to be too rusty to disassemble for removal or installation. And, That's My Method!!!

[Rock Doctor]

I can't get my supertracks apart due to rust.Do I have to cut inbetween every joint and replace rod or is there some other magical trick for doing this? Tracks are in really good shape.The guy i got it from said he would let the air out of the tires and sqeeze them on.Sounds hard! I would like to do it the way they were supposed to. Any other suggestions?

I had to deal with this problem for my 6x6 tracks. Before I got the machine it had been sitting (Sunk) in a beaver pond for who knows how long. All the collars and set screws were siezed on the pins. I tried everything, including a "Micro-Torch" to get them to break loose, no luck. Finally I just "zip" cut each track pin, on either side of the collar. The collar will drop into your hand, then you can just use a new track pin to push the remaining 2 pieces out. (I was just going to do one pin to make a place to break the tracks, but the track pins were worn about half way through so I did them all). There is JUST enough room to cut the pin without cutting into the track.
If your pins are in good shape, just do one on each track, but make sure you mark the new pin so you can find it later.

Sounds hard to put tracks on in one piece, I think I will stick with the old way. I can have my tracks on and ready to roll in about 10min. I roll out the tracks in front of the Argo, Drive on, Pull front and rear tire valve stems, Pull the track ends togeather by hand, Install pin and setscrew, Put valve stems back in and inflate tires. DONE


RD