half tracks question

[kunzmm137]

Has anyone here run a half track setup on the rear wheels of an aatv, leaving the front wheels as they are? I was thinking about building a homemade set of half tracks for my hustler. Are there any major disadvantages to this? The only con that I can think of would be the different circumference of the front wheels compared to the tracks, which would try to push the front wheels a little faster than they are actually turning. This shouldn't be a problem on snow, but might be bad where there is more traction on the front wheels. Let me know what you think, especially if you have seen a setup like this before.

[Bw6]

Pic and Link

Kunz, here is a link to a Hustler with half-tracks, Richard used to sell them don't know if he still does.

Welcome to Richard's Relics Parts for ATV's

[trebmaster]

the problem i see is the front will still push a lot of snow if it is not on top of the snow

[kunzmm137]

i'll try it

I think I am going to try the half tracks first, and see how well they work, if they don't work well, then I will go to full tracks. With the hustler, half tracks are much easier to fit up than full tracks would be, because of the shape of the body and clearance issues. Half tracks would not require the 5" wheel spacers that full tracks do. The extra width of the spacers would make my hustler wider than my trailer, which I want to avoid. I will start building them, and test them in the snow as soon as we get some snow here, and I will post my results of how well they work and in what depth of snow I try them in.

[LarryW]

Hello,
You cold run slightly bigger tires in the front to help with the gearing.

[Raleigh Trainer]

Half tracks are a compromise for vehicles with front wheels that steer and rear wheels that don't, regardless of how many wheels are powered. In other words, if you ran full tracks on a three axle truck, you could only go straight because you couldn't turn the front wheels. Tracks on the back axles give you flotation and traction gains on a vehicle without having to go with a full tank-like drivetrain.

AATVs already have the right drivetrain for full tracks. What do you think half tracks will improve over just doing full tracks? I think it will look cool, but so do Jeeps with 44" tires, and you'll never see those on the trails for a good reason.

[mudbug3]

kunzmm137 ,


In the gallery section of Route 6x6 , there is a 950 Hustler 6x6 with half tracks on the middle and rear tires. The man that owns this machine says they would really well in the Louisiana swamps where he uses it.

[kunzmm137]

ease of install

AATVs already have the right drivetrain for full tracks. What do you think half tracks will improve over just doing full tracks?

I am trying half tracks instead of full tracks because I am making a homemade set of tracks. Half tracks will cut down on cost, number of parts, and complexity. Full tracks would require wheel spacers on my vehicle, where half tracks would not, this is because of a bulge in the body between the front and middle wheels. The extra width is also a concern in my situation, because of my trailer width. Half tracks also cut down on the amount of track material, and number of track guides, thus reducing cost. I am just trying to figure out if half tracks will perform to my needs, or if I will need to build full tracks. I am prepared to build full tracks if the half tracks do not perform well.

[Raleigh Trainer]

That makes sense, and it sounds like a fun project. I hope the half tracks work so you can save all of the other hassles.

[new2memax4]

great questions.I am considering same thing on my older max 4 for the same reasons,there is low hanging area between front and middle tires on the max 4 which prevents track clearance with my22" tires.I am no way gonna spend another 3-4 hundred on new 21" tires then track materials as well just to see if it works.I also thinh the front will simply want to plow without the full track though.Not sure I want to stress the axles and all for track use. From all i read on here tracks are hard on everything.I live in southern pa. there are few times where they would be needed but when they are it would just be to cool.I have no snow experiance yet but i just don't think my max4 with22" tires will do well in 8-10 inches of heavy wet snow.Good luck

[Rock Doctor]

I can only speak for Argo's, but it migh help.

An Argo with "half tracks" (just the center 2 wheels on each side) works about 80% as good as "full tracks".
An Argo with "3/4 tracks" (front 3 wheels on each side) works about the same.

IMHO, the "half tracks" is a very good compromise. Alot less stress on everything, and it's MUCH easier to keep the tracks on 2 wheels than all 4 on each side. It is also easier to turn and robs less power.

An Argo without tracks in snow (12" plus) is like a "pig on ice", it's not going anywhere.


RD

[new2memax4]

Possible Track Solution For My Max

I took another look at the max today and may have had a brainstorm!!?? for clearnce problem of tracks.Hope some of you can tell me where i missed something but, the same lowered body section between front and middle on max4 is what nessecitates the need for the 21" tires??? Well it is about a 12"x
16" area of fairly flat hefty body,just as much material or more than the roll bar is mounted to.Any way I thought maybe i sandwich that area with 3/16" plate mount 2 pillowblock bearings on the bottom with 1" shaft and a couple ,three idler wheels to ride on top of the track, track would be strung down under them spaced out to allow for traction lugs.That would keep the track down under the body and double as a track tensioner.I figure with homemade tracks about 16" wide would require only about2.5"-3" spacers to get bthe tires out,= minimal leverage stress against the axles.Am I completly missing something here?????

[SiliconTi]

The only concern I'd have is with greater bearing wear due to the forces of the extensions. If you look at the factory track kit, it includes extended housings that bolt to the frame and an extra outer bearing (which is a PITA to grease). Bent axles may be an issue too.

[new2memax4]

axle stress

I am also worried about the axle stress due to mine is an older max,solid axles but with the thru bolts not splined.At the same time it bites the amazing capabilties of this machine and it is crippled in 8" of snow that my stock pickup truck will roll right thru.Real bummer for this atv.