All UHMW Escargo-style track available soon

[Old Tucker]

Hi, I would like to see videos with the channel track, the adair. the escargo and rubber tracks ( rs bolduc, argo or others) side by side to see how well they perform in the same conditions and the same machine. Chanel track are very similar to escargo ( but a lot lighter) and adair with uhmw ( about the same weight) grouser but are a lot cheaper in price. Is it the quality materiel and if so it would be nice to know the reliability of the chanel track. So far and sold to chanel because of the price.

I sure would like to see a video too. And not of them running over a snow covered lake. Or going down hill like a lot of the videos. I would like to see them put to the real test. Going through deep snow up hill. side hilling over logs. If you are going to put out 3 too 4 grand for tracks. It would be nice to see what they can do.
A lot of the tracks are made for the mud and work very good. I myself have a need for a track that will work in deep power climb over trees, And side hill well.
Maybe I have been spoiled by the tucker snow cat and I am hopping the argo will do what it could do.
Been able to see what each track is capable of then you could get what is best suited for your needs.
The channel track looks good but would it give me the flotation I need??? Just like the adair and escargo the belts are quite high and will allow the argo to sit lower in the snow.

[akranger72]

It all comes down to what a person wants? Yes the Escargo track design has been around a long time, not sure exact date but I think back to the 1950's? Maybe older? Anyway Chris at Beaver Dam Argo is very knowledgeable with anything argo and tracks. I think his new UHMW tracks utiling the proven escargo track design is just another good track on the market to choose from. I have talked with Chris and he is working on a set of tracks for me and my 750 HDI with 1 1/2" wide crossers opossed to the 1" he currently has brought out. So for those that might want the Escargo type track with UHMW crossers here is the place to start. He also has an add on winter kit for his tracks. Happy track hunting all.

[Buzz]

My machines have the standard 25" rawhide III's and 25" Supergrip/Superlites. I'm also going to experiment with a "mostly" all UHMW track. 1" crossers on 5-5.25" centers. I plan to use (8) steel crossers for traction on each side and 3-ply 4" belting. 20" overall width. My belief is that it will clean out/paddle better and provide a bit more floatation @ 20" for my heavier machine. This will keep the width reasonable as well. I'm going to leave more "body" to the paddle. Just a few "gear-reduction" #'s I've been thinking about...
1) same level as tire with 1-1.5" cleat (no gear reduction)
2) elevated 1" (23" tire equivalent)
3) elevated 1.5" (22" tire equivalent) or
4) original location, elevated ~ 3" (19" tire equivalent).
The original standard gear reduction on that track gives my machines an 8-9 mph top end, with 0-5 mph being virtually effortless. At the very low end, there is nothing the won't climb. Tim's track tuners make the track even better. The adair track has shown that UHMW definitely works.

[emmadog]

Thank you for your honesty! Do you own some Escargo tracks? I mean the original one? You seem to know alot about them... I looked up the word drone and it made me think...spies...? lol Have you seen this youtube videos... Argo Conquest climbing steep in deep snow Escargo tracks check it out.

Best Regards, a Friend

[Buzz]

I do have a couple sets of the all-steel escargos with winter kits. They're awesome. As soon as I finish some machine maintenance, I should be back in business making some deep snow videos with the gas mudd-ox as we finally have some deep deep snow not too far away. I already apologized for that comment. It wasn't very nice.... I was just venting about some of the comments that were made "against" the escargo track. I think it's great, and I like that you have "options" with it as an excellent 4-season track. I'd be the first one to point out faults, but it really does a fantastic job if you're willing to pony up the $$$ You get what you pay for, and no doubt they're worth it.
Nice video by the way! I copied a link- I didn't even know they were on youtube.

argo conquest climbing - YouTube

[Buzz]

One of my buddies is working on getting his set of 6x6 (old 3-inch spacing) escargos track lengthened with new belting at 4" spacing so that he can use it on his 8x8 conquest. Hopefully we can get some more videos of it too. People tend to believe what they see and videos don't lie. A guy nowadays has some good choices in tracks!

[trapperjack]

track styles

great reply, i agree 100%

[akranger72]

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A couple more pics of beaver dam argo UHMW PE tracks

[rockrewls]

that video is amazing!

Rock

[mudbug3]

in looking at these I would be very concerned about driving out of these as they have very little to hold them onto the tires!

Rock

I was thinking the exact same thing too.

[Buzz]

in regards to the tracks falling off.....elevated belt tracks do not fall off, even in horrible conditions. Other tracks that use connecting material at tread-level (non-elevated belt) can fall off reasonable easy when turning in a side-hill situation, especially if the terrain is sticky and does not allow 7 feet of belting (or other material) that is not elevated to "plow". This prevents the track from turning with the tires, and the tires can easily manipulate, tilt, and drive out of the guides. Escargo style elevated-belt tracks do not suffer this problem because the guide portion of the crosser is affixed to the belting at sidewall level and can never move, tilt, or get shorter. And, you don't plow the belt. The small width of crosser that does touch the ground (+/- 9") actually pins the track down under the full weight of the vehicle. Bumps, lumps, or obstacles also do not leverage the guides towards the tire sidewalls, so punctures or losing beads also does not happen. Doesn't matter how wide you make an elevated belt track, it still drives just as easy and allows the ground-pressure floatation of the tires to do most of the work until you really sink and engage the paddles and the floatation of the wide belts.


I've built lots of these sets in all-steel, all-uhmw, and various hybrid configurations in different overall widths and crosser spacings, with and without winter kits. I've also tried most every other track out there...factory and aftermarket.
I have had no problems whatsoever with the escargo style tracks. They work everywhere and require much less horsepower to drive on your machine. I think incorporating UHMW has some merit if it's done correctly. UHMW is tough and buoyant, but slippery. There are multiple grades out there, some better than others. Here's a pic of the 1st set of crossers I made to interchange with the steel escargot during experimentation. I modified the shape just a bit. These particular crossers are for 12" wide tires. There's a smaller 10" wide tire crosser for comparison. Adair has a "classic" track utilizing similar crossers, but they have narrower paddles and narrower belts. They also use lag-style screws instead of grade 8 nuts/bolts. Both the classic, escargo, and all other UHMW or hybrid versions of elevated-belt tracks benefit from track tuners. But this track style is the most reliable in all conditions (especially bad bad conditions), and they do not fall off.

[akranger72]

Ya Buzz I saw those adair tracks yesterday myself. They are called "classic" tracks but are they an older adair version or new with the name "classic". Looks just like the beaver dam argo tracks except that there are grooves cut into the crosser's.

[Buzz]

Hey, more options, that's a good thing. Right on!

[rodp]

If you had to design the perfect track for mud, slick clay and rock (we don't get 6' of snow or endless swamps over here) what would it be ? Throwing a track isn't an option on the perfect set up so let's see what comes up.
How wide?
Steel or polyethylene grousers,
If poly, how thick?
If steel, single or channel grousers?
How about the belt 3", 4", 3 ply, 4 ply?
How much wrap around on the grousers?
Would you go for a snug fit or a bit of slack between grouser and tyre?
How tight would you pull the track on the tyres?

Everyone's got there own ideas, obvious from this thread, so let's see what makes the perfect track.
Over to you gents.

[philipatmaxfour]

Rubber tracks

I have had 2 sets of Escargo tracks , argo plastic tracks , argo rubber tracks and a friend who owns R.S. Bolduc 20" rubbers. imo for snow the rubber tracks flat footprint cant be beat plastic is way too slippery, swamp tracks no matter how wide you make them or add to the width of them will never offer floatation on snow like rubber.With swamp tracks the bellypan drags on the deep snow and yes the tracks drag it through slowly but turning becomes a chore, making deep snow travel no fun; where a nice flat footprint of rubber will keep the belly off the ground the wider the better pending on weight.In the mud and swamp the open design swamp tracks are king . As for who made who . who copied who ;An Argo dealer in Timmons Ontario that also sold Bombardier swamp machines had a friend 'Marc L.' that decided to make the same track design for an argo though his grouser was modified called them-(Escargo).Now the (Channel) track design uses almost the same shape and design as the bombardier steel grouser.All different track designs were already tested by ARGO over the years as well as adapters to free wheel tires with tracks , That said; no matter what material they are made of ,the real inventors of all these track designs can be flattered
-Bombardier!