Argo tracks that swim

[mudbug3]

This is a new tread about tracks made for an Argo that swims. This is great for people who want to run tracks in the mud, but have very little water propulion with other tracks.

These specially designed Argo tracks are very different when compared to the tracks that Argo makes for snow use.These tracks were designed to both swim and provide exellent traction in deep mud. Because these tracks are so much easier to turn , you don,t need bearing extentions to protect the axles on either end of the lower tub. These tracks were also designed to prevent chain wind up too.

These are the things that set them apart from other track designs on the market.

1. The open space between all of the track lugs ,and the smooth flat surface of each cleat enables them to sling off mud much easier than other track designs.
2. The track cleats are an 1 1/8 " inch tall.
3. Because the tracks cleats are broader at the ends , its much easier to turn left or right.

[mightymaxIV]

http://www.youtube.com/user/ARGOAVEN.../0/Gm5XcFsESvUI called the dealer (Adair Argo) and spoke with him about these tracks. They have been specialy developed by Adair Argo to do the following-Swim up to 5 mph on an Argo Frontier 8x8 and over 4 MPH on an HDI, they are made of almost indestructable industal rubber compound, they have 1 1/8 inch cleats, fit over standard 25" tires and do not require wheel spacers and on an HDI they sit 62 inches wide. If you weren't listening let me repeat, they swim, they mud, they don't over stress the axles and bearings like the rubber standard tracks, they turn very easily, and oh they give you an extra full inch of ground clearance. Okay, so what else do you need here. Welcome the new king of tracks and welcome to a new world for swimming and mudding. Very nice job Adair Argo, you've created a master here! Oh-14 1/2 inches wide!


YouTube - ARGOAVENGER's Channel

[mudbug3]

This video shows how well these tracks turn and provide traction.

[Roger S]

Cool, I knew I saved my runamuks for something..

Mightymax's link will take you to Adair's youtube homepage, to the right you can choose "see all" videos. There's 6x6's and an older response with these tracks also.

[philipatmaxfour]

WOW---I have snow tracks but this is a whole new ballgame. They would surely be better than just tires in the snow. Does anybody know a price for Avengers?

[eightwheeler]

I don't get it? they simply look like a modified version of Escargo tracks that have been out for years now and are simply laser cut pieces of steel attached with rubber, so what is all the hype about? or am i missing something?

[akexpress]

What is the cost?

[mightymaxIV]

I believe that the price for an Avenger is $2700.00, but he gives deep discounts if they are purchased with a machine. Still no track extensions, easy on your machine and bearings, excellent in the mud and most of all, they swim in the swamps down here. Seems like they have a winner here that does everything very well. The extra inch of ground clearance on the Frontier 650 HD would proably make the Frontier the best all around mud machine money can buy. The quad boys are gonna flat run when they see a 650 frontier with these tracks. Also the Dealer told me that a Frontier 8x8 was the fastest machine in water because the tracks lifted the light front end 6-8 inches out of the water. All of this has got me completely rethinking every thing I ever knew about AATV's.

Eightwheeler, watch the video, escargo tracks swim, but not like this, These things are easy on the bearings and don't destroy your chains.

Heres a link to get more inforamtion on these tracks.

Adair Argo Series 8 Tracks

[mudbug3]

[ QUOTE off of Adair Argo,s website ] 'Our tracks also eliminate the chain wind-up problems associated with rubber tracks which can destroy chain, bearings and chain tensioners in a few hours.They weigh approx. 160 pounds total and do not require the installation of the factory extensions. '





I,d love to see some of these lighter weight , swimming tracks on a Mudd-Ox. With some tracks that swim like this, and able to navigate nasty mud too, you,d have the best of both worlds.

[mightymaxIV]

What are you waiting for Mudbug, put them on your Ox and lets see the ultimate Quad killer.

[travisch]

I just uploaded some additional pics of these tracks in action up in Alaska.

[mudbug3]

Travisch

I looked for the pics that you said you uploaded , but could,nt find them? Did you mean that you uploaded the pics and were going to post them later on?

[gunnar334]

I agree the escargo tracks are 4 pieces of conveyer belt attached via bolts with the tire riding inside the steel of the lug. These "paddle tracks" are nice but the argo supertracks and rubber tracks have some give or slip to them. I wonder in the long term how much extra wear on the bearings and axles if they have so much traction.

[mudbug3]

gunnar334


I talked to Tim at length on the phone about his 8th generation tracks that he designed out of UHMW material (known for its durability and wear ability), and he told me that his tracks have more slippage (between the tire and the track) than any common rubber track system, therefore create less "chain wind-up" due to the nature of irregular circumferences of ATV tires. The problem that you have with a clean, dry rubber tire running against the inside of a common rubber track is the undesirable excessive friction which directly causes the destructive drive train binding. Ironically, as soon as a lubricant such as mud or water is added, maintaining enough friction to turn the track can be difficult and under a heavy load can result it the tires uncontrollably spinning inside the track and losing movement. Rubber slides much easier against UHMW material than rubber sliding against rubber. Imagine a tire dragged across a flat piece of rubber, and then in contrast, imagine the same tire sliding across a kitchen cutting board (commonly made out of similar blends of UHMW). You will notice a big difference in friction. Therefore most common plastic track systems suffer from less "chain wind-up" and unfortunately a lot more tire spinning. A common effort to fix this is to over inflate the front and back tire to increase tension between the tire and track (which is an excellent way to very quickly ruin bearings, etc.) Tim is an Argo dealer that has compared many different types of tracks, and the simplest test is to try and roll a tracked machine and check for drive train binding. Some machines are impossible to push after only a few feet, and you can usually start to hear the rubber to rubber slippage in just a foot or two. The unique feature of Escargo tracks, Adair Argo Tracks, and most other types of commercial tracks, is that they don't rely on friction to drive the tracks, but instead more of a chain and sprocket type of engagement. Therefore wet or muddy conditions have little effect on drive. Tim said, "while those tracks do look a little like a roller chain, the tires don't look much like a sprocket, but every common OEM tire has enough of a lug pattern to easily drive the tracks without a lot of wheel spin or unnecessary track tension. The difference between Escargo tracks and Adair Argo Tracks is that one has individual side wheel guides designed to hook up with side tread and the other doesn't. Adair Argo Tracks will even work well on an old set of worn out Runamuks. The UHMW material that these tracks are made of is also a lot more wear resistant than other types of tracks. What I love about these tracks besides the great swimming speed, it the 1 1/8 inch cleats. When a cleat this long sinks down into the mud you have exceptional traction also.


Imagine doing this exact same thing with Rubber tracks.

[Roger S]

A couple things.. did anyone ever think they'd see an argo turn that easy. Granted it's an hdi trans in low range..

These tracks if proven durable, will be a great option.. they're not snow tracks because they're not solid surface for flotation, but for swamps and mud, plus the way they lift the front end heavy argos while swimming like a fish.. that's impressive.