New Type of Tracks - Chanel Tracks

[Old Tucker]

I found with the raised belt track, turning is almost like having power steering ( I said almost) I did find I was able to steer it out of deep trucks ruts with no trouble at all. With no twisting of the track at all. I know with a flatter style track I would of just had to stay in the rut and maybe loose a track. Because the rut was only about half as wide as the track so half your track would want to fall into the rut and the other half would want to ride on the high side. This carried on for about 5 miles on a narrow steep logging road I could not go off to the side and get out of the rut. There was no side.
As for the hinge It sure made the track run a lot smother. Believe it or not. When you laminate two pieces of 1/2 inch belting together it becomes very stiff, Now you are trying to rap that around a your front and back tires ever few seconds. As for the pin I did use a grade 8 bolt grade 8 washers with a nylock nut.
Looking at your photo it looks like your belting is about 6 inch wide?

[2014SE]

I think the outer belt is 5" or 6". I never acutely measured them and the machines at the doctors with the flu. On Saturday it developed a miss in one cylinder and I'm using the warranty. Inner is a bit narrower and over all this set is 22". So with your raised belts I take it you never had the track try to come off at all?? I almost bought channels but kinda at the last minute decided on Escargos just so I could have the single grouser. I know I paid a bit more for the one grouser vs 2 similar on the channel track but what's done is done and I'm happy with my decision so far. I looked at Adair too but after reading how buzz was driving right out of them then went with Escargo UHMW combos helped me decide!! That and a video comparing steel with UHMW. The conditions where I live are similar to Alaska with muskeg and large wet low lying areas and it gets friggen cd here too. Price wise, adairs and shipping vs Escargos and shipping, I think I paid about $500 more delivered right to my house but with tax, brokerage and duty at the boarder I would have probably paid more for adairs. I know now if I would have chosen channels I would have saved a few $$ but it's done and it's not something we just order and try the other flavour on a whim. I'm heading to work today and will be gone for 3 weeks and if I remember when I'm home I'll measure the inner and outer belts and let you know.

[Old Tucker]

I was watching the tracks and I could not see the track twist at all and try to come off. The Escargo dos have a little taller grouser and will give a little more bit, but I have had no trouble with chanel at all.

Have fun at work LOL.

[Buzz]

Both track styles will work very well, even if the tire doesn't fit "perfectly". A square tire is best on the escargo-design, but not necessary. The crosser stays pinned under the tire, doesn't get leveraged up from the ground or obstacles, and the guides do not get shorter. It's a huge benefit of having the crosser guide-portion affixed to the belting at the sidewall level.

[Buzz]

I forget Old Tucker....I think you said you were...or were going to...run track tuners? If so, how did it change how your machine felt and the engine/transmission performed?

[Old Tucker]

Night and day difference. I am glad I went with the tuners. it was money well spent. for a change.

[jjort]

Night and day difference. I am glad I went with the tuners. it was money well spent. for a change.

Where do you buy spacers and tuners?... I am torn right now between the adair classic track and the chanel track

[plott hound]

Where do you buy spacers and tuners?... I am torn right now between the adair classic track and the chanel track

buy them together from adair.their the guys the build them.

[Old Tucker]

I picked them up from Adair. Mike and Tim helped me out a lot And they will bend over backwards to help.
As for your tracks I think it will depend on just what kind of use you will be putting them through. I cannot speak for the classic track. But I know, what I have put the chanel through so far I am more then pleased with them. And there is no side twisting of the track at all. Even after putting most of the weight of the argo on the outer edge of the 20 inch track and we were able to steer right out of deep ruts. I know with a flatter track style once you get in a deep rut its very hard to get out of it. Even what tires are you going to run, These are all things you must consider.
I know with the flatter style tire I am running It works great with the chanel track. But they are not very good tire to use alone with out the track. You need a more rounded tire to be able to steer. Thats why I kept my old runamucks for summer
With a raised belt style track your silly not to run a tuner because your track is running slower then mid tires.

[Buzz]

Where do you buy spacers and tuners?... I am torn right now between the adair classic track and the chanel track

it really comes down to where you're located....canada or lower 48 probably. Shipping and possibly other fees might come into play. Channel tracks look tough and have traction and appear to run wider belts. Classic tracks will be more bouyant, have more crosser surface area in the mud/water but belts are a bit narrower, and you'll need to add blades for traction (depending on what you're doing)...then again maybe you won't. Both will require spacers/tuners. Both will work excellent especially if you don't have the newest, granny-geared HDI out there. Old, low hp machines especially like this design.

[jjort]

I just got off the phone with Marcel and he said that I will need spacers. I am located near Kingston, Ontario so I can just nip across the border if I have to pick something up. I have a 2004 Conquest with runamuck tires that are not in the best of condition. I think they are leaking at the rim. I was thinking of putting 22x11-8 Duro HF243 tires on it... or I could just put tubes in. As for tuners, I would need 4 correct? I was hoping to use the tracks all year round even in deep water. I have 13 inch plastic tracks right now but they are useless in the water...Kind of useless climbing/turning in the snow too. Will the chanel tracks climb out on the ice if you break through?..Thanks for the input there is lots of info out there and I am trying to sift through it in order to make an educated decision.

[Old Tucker]

Those look like a good tire and should work well in the summer also. Make sure you get the 4ply they are a lot tougher. With a open track you may have sticks and other things that you are riding over under the snow that may go right through a two ply tire.
Yes you will need four tuners and spacers to match. i am not to sure how well the chanel track climbed back out of the water onto the ice again. Marcel will know a little better then I. The only water I would be climbing out of is in x ditches then back up on to the snow. This is what the front end looks like after [IMG][/IMG]

[jjort]

Decisions...Decisions...Decisions....

from what I have read/seen on youtube I have come up with the following:

Swimming - Adair swims well, Chanel swims but not very well - Advantage Adair

Mud - Chanel excellent - Adair very good - Advantage Chanel

Ice/wet trees etc - Chanel excellent - Adair not so good but ice cleats available - Advantage Chanel

Gravel hard surface - Adair very good - Chanel very rough - Advantage Adair

Snow - both seem very good - no clear winner

Durability - both seem good - no clear winner

Ease of installation - both seem good but Adair does not require spacers or tuners - Advantage Adair

Sales and service- Both seem to have excellent support - no clear winner

Cost - Adair base price $1840 + taxes + shipping from the website.... Marcel quoted me a little more than that + added costs of spacers and tuners - Advantage Adair

If there is anything else I should be considering, let me know...its a tough choice...I keep waffling back and forth

[thorn]

I just got off the phone with Marcel and he said that I will need spacers. I am located near Kingston, Ontario so I can just nip across the border if I have to pick something up. I have a 2004 Conquest with runamuck tires that are not in the best of condition. I think they are leaking at the rim. I was thinking of putting 22x11-8 Duro HF243 tires on it... or I could just put tubes in. As for tuners, I would need 4 correct? I was hoping to use the tracks all year round even in deep water. I have 13 inch plastic tracks right now but they are useless in the water...Kind of useless climbing/turning in the snow too. Will the chanel tracks climb out on the ice if you break through?..Thanks for the input there is lots of info out there and I am trying to sift through it in order to make an educated decision.

I am in the same boat as you deciding on tracks/tires. I even have a 2004 Conquest as well. I was thinking of going with the Carlisle Strykers. They are about $74 shipped from Fleet and Farm. They spec out a bit oversized at 22.6" tall and 11.1" wide. They are a 2+ ply, which I have seen listed a meaning a 3 ply. I would like a 4 ply, but I really like the looks of the Strykers for Chanel tracks and they could be used on the Argo w/o tracks.That isn't a huge concern to me as my Argo is primarily set up for snow only as I have a UTV for summer/fall. I was also looking at the Duro HF243, but I haven't been able to find a good deal on them. Let me know if you know of a good deal.

I would not put tubes in as you will most likely rip the stems off under torque especially with tracks. I learned this the hard way years ago with my Max II and I was just in sticky mud. I know several others on here have learned the hard way too.

[jjort]

I am in the same boat as you deciding on tracks/tires. I even have a 2004 Conquest as well. I was thinking of going with the Carlisle Strykers. They are about $74 shipped from Fleet and Farm. They spec out a bit oversized at 22.6" tall and 11.1" wide. They are a 2+ ply, which I have seen listed a meaning a 3 ply. I would like a 4 ply, but I really like the looks of the Strykers for Chanel tracks and they could be used on the Argo w/o tracks.That isn't a huge concern to me as my Argo is primarily set up for snow only as I have a UTV for summer/fall. I was also looking at the Duro HF243, but I haven't been able to find a good deal on them. Let me know if you know of a good deal.

I would not put tubes in as you will most likely rip the stems off under torque especially with tracks. I learned this the hard way years ago with my Max II and I was just in sticky mud. I know several others on here have learned the hard way too.

There is a store in Kingston that sells Duro Hf243 them for $87 including tax so thats not too bad....royal distributing has them listed for $77 but then you have tax and shipping