The studded track

[foxvalley]

One of the issues with this type of track is that they can be a little slippery on glare ice,which lead me to a little experiment,using sheet metal screws to stud the outside 1/3 of the track. I just used what I had laying around,but would have prefered to use a larger screw.However, the smaller screws actually worked better than I had thought.I used three screws per groser,and also added a few to the sides also.
The studs (screws) took all the slip out of the tracks,and I was able to make sharp turns,and stop/ start without slideing.As a matter of fact,the studs cut into the ice so well that they outpreformed the rubber tracks with ice cleats on hard ice.(temp. below 15 degrees.)studded track.jpg
On soft ice,(above 32 degrees) they preformed about the same.

[mrtlc]

Will it climb back onto the ice with the screws on the sides of the cross pieces if it goes through?

[foxvalley]

mrtlc,
That was my intention of putting them on the sides.There are two different ways that need to be adderessed when trying to get an argo out of an ice hole. If the ice is cut with a saw and you have sharp edges on the ice,I have noticed that the sides of the grossers want to bite,where very large studs, way bigger and badder than I tried, should grab enough to lift the unit out.Studs should be applied to BOTH sides of the grossers, as there is less weight in the back, and that might be nessesarry to (back out).The other issue,that I am way more familiar with, is driving on thin ice, and breaking thu,this is a different situation all together. The ice will break in big sheets under the unit,and you need large studs on the tops of the grossers to grab.I went thru by accident,while testing the studs,in about 10 feet of water,close enough to shore to winch out.I could feel the studs trying to bite,but there was to much weight to pull out with such small studs.This is harder to do because you can't apply the studs the whole way across the grosser,as you will rip holes in the argo as the tracks flex up.I hope to do more testing with larger studs yet this year before ice out.

[bigbuck]

Great thread! Thanks for the info...

[foxvalley]

I am starting a new build on my new 2013, and am going to apply spacers to the bottom of the fenders so as the studs,which I would like to run the entire length of the grossers,as RD did, don't tear up the bottom.Instead of going the entire length with the spacer, I am going to try a 18"x 1"x 1 1/2 inch deep spacer or two paralell to each other in the center of the fender.The track slap happenes in the center,not on the ends, so I hope that just the center spacers will work. I am also going 1 1/2 inches deep to limit the amout of track slap that happens in the first place,while protecting the bottom of the fenders.

One more really cool thing I plan on doing is cutting radiator hose the length of each axle,(the section of axle that is exposed outside the argo) then cut the hose lengthwise,and slip it over each axle.This, in therory should free spin around the axle, thus keeping them free of wound up grass. I really hope this works,as every argo owner knows what a pain this is. Wish me luck.

[bigbuck]

Photos and\or videos of your work in progress please!!

[foxvalley]

Hey bigbuck, Thanks for the kind words,and we will more than likely have both pics and vid for you.

[Rock Doctor]

Hey bigbuck, Thanks for the kind words,and we will more than likely have both pics and vid for you.

Perhaps you might consider using plastic pipe split lengthwise on your axles. The lengths would just snap onto the axles, they would be lighter, and would slip/spin on the axles easier than rubber hose.

RD

[foxvalley]

I have a hunk of pvc that should work,will I be able to pry it open enough to get it on?

[foxvalley]

Just fitted the front axle useing 1 1/2 pvc. 1 3/4 long piece is very hard to open,don't think I can open a longer piece for the 2 center axles. Any reason why a guy can't split the pvc in half, attach around the axle, then weld back together, maybe useing zip ties to hold till set ? Once on, I think this will keep any weeds from wrapping,spins around awesome! The only issue here is that now,welded on, you will have to cut them off. I just found a few "tree guards" plastic spiral cut guards you slip around the trunk of a tree. Easy on, easy off, not sure how long they will stay on though.Thanks Doc.