New Type of Tracks - Chanel Tracks

[rockrewls]

ok tyvm

[brebett]

argo chanel track 19 hill - YouTube
Hi, here is the link on youtube about chanel track in snow and steep hill. It doesn't look like it but the hill is a lot steeper than what we see on the video. So far proof are that they go very good in deep snow. Patenteux will put a video on youtube in deep mud and water as soon as it melt this spring. He already put some video in mud but there are more to come. About swimming I doubt that they swim well. I guess that they will be like the escargo track in water but we'll see we might have a surprise. I don't do much water with my avenger so up to now they look perfect for my needs.

[mightymaxIV]

Those tracks are awesome in the snow, climbed hills and snow piles like it was nothing.

[mightymaxIV]

The Carlisle Stryker in 22x11-8. It has a bit of a chevron tread in the middle and is essentially a 3-ply tire. Tougher than the 2-ply tries I've looked at and a softer ride than the 4-plies. I've heard that it won't swim at all, or that it will 'barely' swim, that it will swim if you modify (cut off) some of the knobbies, and I've heard that it swims fine if you mount the chevron backwards like the ARGO tires. I've even heard that it will swim, but backwards to what a typical ARGO owner would suspect (i.e. - with the chevrons mounted as the ARGO tires are - open end of the chevron forward, the tire swims backward)! I guess I'll have to try a set and find out for myself. I they do swim, I'll post pics.

Down here in the deep south, swamps are where it will typically operate, so I'm leaning heavily toward a tracked vehicle, though it would be nice to take the tracks off and still have some ability to swim. That's when I was considering the new, improved, ARGO tires. The 24" idea is nice, but I didn't want to take on the hassles of proper fitment, and I am concerned about re-weighting the torque converter to offset the 9% effective gearing increase the taller tires provide. Also, my Conquest still has the 20 HP Kawasaki engine and I am not sure if it will have the power to pull the larger tires in the deep, sticky mud down here. So...I checked out the ARGO 22" tires and then the Adair tracks. I was going to accept my fate, swallow hard, and spend the dough to get that combination. It's tried and tested, plus no other modifications are necessary.

I got the Conquest for a really good price and it only had 106 one-owner hours on it when I bought it. It was in storage for many years and the owner did pamper the vehicle. Even considering all of that, I am a bit concerned about sinking a touch over $4,000 into the ARGO 22" tires and Adair tracks. That's a lot more than I paid for the vehicle. If I ever want to move into a newer ARGO, I'll lose my rear end on the sale of the Conquest. I don't expect to MAKE money if I trade up, but I do want to limit my losses.

When I saw the thread about the Chanel tracks low cost and being able to run on "any" tire, my interest piqued. Maybe this could be a workable solution that most of us common, hard-working, middle-class folks can afford.

Roger S had a set of those Carlisle Strykers mounted on his Argo and they do swim but slowly, I have also heard that if you cut the nobbies off they swim better, I can't confirm this, but I have seen Roger S Argo in the swamp and can confirm those tires do swim a little. Other forum members have said they can be modified to swim better.

If you never saw Roger S drive, he was something, he would open his throttle, get in the back seat and rock that Argo through places no on else would go, he would blast over trees, and climb hills that scared the hell out of me. Never saw anyone who could pilot and machine like Roger S. He passed away from cancer two months after I watched his amazing skill in person. He never mentioned he was sick and was right there to help anyone who had a problem.

Go to the 2:20 minute marker of this video and you will see a small example of the way Roger S drove.

[brebett]

Hi chanel track users. Does anybody have some more videos of those chanel track. anybody ever experience breaking throu the ice and climb back on it.

[rodp]

Roger S had a set of those Carlisle Strykers mounted on his Argo and they do swim but slowly, I have also heard that if you cut the nobbies off they swim better, I can't confirm this, but I have seen Roger S Argo in the swamp and can confirm those tires do swim a little. Other forum members have said they can be modified to swim better.

If you never saw Roger S drive, he was something, he would open his throttle, get in the back seat and rock that Argo through places no on else would go, he would blast over trees, and climb hills that scared the hell out of me. Never saw anyone who could pilot and machine like Roger S. He passed away from cancer two months after I watched his amazing skill in person. He never mentioned he was sick and was right there to help anyone who had a problem.

Go to the 2:20 minute marker of this video and you will see a small example of the way Roger S drove.

Now there's a bloke that enjoyed life to the full.

[brebett]

chanel track upgrade

I talked to patenteux and he said that he upgrade his chanel track. The crossers are now 1 1/2 inches instead of 1 inche. They float more and are stronger. the rubber belts are 4 inches. Can't wait to get a chance to buy a set.

[North Country Tough]

Thanks for the update Jack,post a vid when you can.NCT

[Tune]

Here's a pic of the updated tracks! May have to sell mine and upgrade to these. Patenteux, makes a good product, over 20 hours on mine and only bent two crossers...trust me i tried really hard to bend them all...lol

http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s555/Tunepipe/NouvelChanel_zps99e3c6b5.jpg

[Obsessed]

Here's a pic of the updated tracks! May have to sell mine and upgrade to these. Patenteux, makes a good product, over 20 hours on mine and only bent two crossers...trust me i tried really hard to bend them all...lol
http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/...ps99e3c6b5.jpg

Hi Tune...I've watched your videos and there is no doubt you have given them a very good workout ...lol...from what I've seen they must be pretty durable to hold up that well and still work good...pretty good testimony for any product, and "just" being able to damage them under sever use is probably the perfect blend of performance and durability for most guys .., its like anything, if you overbuild it to the point that it could never fail, then it will probably be too heavy, hard on other parts, and give up some good performance, but if you build it too light, then it might fly, but maybe not for long...lol. Looks to me like a pretty good track option...looking forward to more of your videos :-)

tim

[North Country Tough]

I have seen the new style crosser that is being used,looks pretty beefy it should provide a added measure of strength for the heavier 8 wheelers,Iam not sure whether it would be necessary for the lighter six by,s the eight wheelers tend to be the pickup trucks of AATV,S and usually load heavy,I stiil believe that Marcel is on the right track no pun intended,my one question that remains would the steel crossers tend to have less drive train windup then the Argo rubber track, would the tire slip easier on wet steel,anyones opinion I would like to hear.NCT

[Old Tucker]

Here are my new channel tracks. They look like they will do the job I need them for. I know they will be a 100% improvement over the plastic tracks I have been running.
My track tuners are on the way.
Now with steel crossers you may not need them But I like the idea of been able to run a higher air pressure in the mid tires to improve the turning ability of the argo. With the track tuners you can now do that with drive train windup.
It,s to bad that winter is over here and the flowers are out. Because I would love to give them a good work out in the mountains. OH well there is all ways next winter and I will be ready for it this time.
i think Marcel has come up with a very good open track idea that should work quite well.


[/IMG]

[Buzz]

the difference in wheel speed is more significant with a channel track (escargo) design, but the tires are able to slip easier in all conditions. In some conditions, a rubber track also allows for slipping fairly easily, but in other conditions the vehicle weight + rubber on rubber is very sticky. Remember the front/rear tires have all of the track/crosser wrap and most of the friction. The center tires have virtually no "friction" above the tire as there is no real track weight on the tires, and the crossers can move in relation to one another at the tire-tread location. Below the tire, there is a gaps or "transition" spaces between crossers allow for the tire to slip as the tire leaves a crosser and "before" it fully weights-down the next crosser. Not to mention they are helping to drive the track. Crosser spacing and inside shape-profile comes into play and can also help. But, the slipping that is required happens....no-problem-at-all.
Remember also that there are plenty of times when not all wheels are on the ground (like when driving over obstacles). Slipping happens even easier a lot of the time. Now, anytime you eliminate driving load you increase your gas mileage. Track tuners do this but aren't really necessary. (rubber tracks they absolutely are). I personally believe that your gas mileage would improve even on tires if you eliminated two of the drive axles and reduced driving load on the chains. Except, you'd be stuck all the time with only the front/rear tires driving on "tires-only" mode. Not the case with tracks.
Some driving load on the chains is completely normal.....the same thing happens when you're on just-tires driving up a hill...there is driving load and "vehicle-weight" load when you put power to the ground...on the chains that drive tires -with- traction of any kind.
It's when the tires "can't" slip that there's a problem..because something has to give. With rubber tracks this can be a problem. With escargo/channel tracks and plain-old tires on the ground....it is not a problem. Tuners help your mileage, but the more I run them with my tracks, I am finding that they're not necessary for the reasons you mention. With rubber tracks though....absolutely....I wouldn't rub rubber tracks without them.

[Old Tucker]

I do not what happened to the photo?? Lets try again.
Running track tuners with tires only is a no brainer. If you eliminate your drive wheel you go no were.
Yes you are right there is a lot of slippage between the tire and track with your mid tires. And your drive tires are the front and back. We will see how this works. If it eliminates some stress on the chains. then you're going in the right direction, It will all help[IMG][/IMG]

[Buzz]

sweet blue. I have one set that's powdercoated black, seems to be holding up well. At least all the areas with welds and nooks/crannies. The tire contact-cleat area will always wear away, but protection everywhere else is good!