New Adair 18.5 inch belted snow and ice tracks

[foxvalley]

One of the ditches has unthawed,and I spent some time going up and down the ditch,the same ditch that I had struggled with last spring.The other set of tracks that I ran last year got me thru, but there were time that I had to back up and get unstuck.
There is none of that this year!,The large floating bogs,the size of car tires,are now being grabbed by the steel cleats, and are being used as leverage to propell me forward. What is happeneing is there is so much more flex to the belt that the long cleats are attached to that the cleats are now acting like "fingers" and are able to independantly grab much better,giving me all the traction I need.
Also,being in the ditch,that the unit is not touching bottom on,and coming out sideways is just as effortless,there is just so much traction with this track setup.
I should have video of this later today.

[bigbuck]

CANT WAIT!!!!

[foxvalley]

Thanks bigbuck,comments like this make it all worth while for me!

This next video may seem a little tame, but this is actually a very difficult place to run,as this ditch is 4-6 feet deep, and full of large floating bogs,also the video is heavily edited,as it started as a 15 min. clip. I would also like to add that at no time while making this did I ever even come close to getting stuck. Last year with the older style tracks this was an extremely difficult run. Hope you enjoy it.

in the ditch 2013 argo 750 HDI - YouTube

[Buzz]

cool. Thanks for taking the time to shoot, edit, and upload. Sometimes it's hard not to end up with a video that's too long.

[rockrewls]

I would love a video demonstration of 2 non hdi argos loaded with 1000lbs and traveling and turning in various condition including pure bog water etc. with escargo vs belted adair tracks
Another question I have is why do escargo tracks need (adair track tuners) if they are designed supposedly so well???? I have heard them operate without track tuners and the popping noises are horrible!!!

[mightymaxIV]

Another very cool video Foxvalley, perhaps you can get your wife to walk along side the Argo and film those bogs like she did last year, those were some very cool videos!

[Buzz]

That sounds like tons of fun if you ask me!
I know people keep getting hung up on this and believe that certain tracks "destroy you machine" but that is just baloney. Tracks with high inner friction, sure, but that's not the case with all tracks.
Popping is not a byproduct of an elevated belt-design track. Increased "power-requirement" of the center tires....is. The design also provides gear reduction and ensures that the center tires will always be "seen" by the chains as the "largest". (unlike a rubber track whose tires may loose enough pressure to alter tire diameter enough that the centers are no longer the "biggest") You don't want chain tension in the wrong place.
Loose chains open the door to "popping." Whenever there is an increased load on the top of the chain (going forward) it opens the door for increased "slack" in the bottom of the chain. If the chains are loose enough (stretched/old, tensioners have no range of motion left), the chain can skip a tooth. This process can repeat itself multiple times if the heavy load requirement is maintained (usually when climbing and aggressively maneuvering/turning). This "exact SAME" thing can happen when running just tires. An elevated belt track design does not cause this. Instead, the center tires are required to slip in a "forward" direction faster than the track is moving over them (also in a forward direction). In a way they are helping to drive the track, although some of this power is lost to "peeling-out" friction. An important point is that the tires increase their rotational speed compared to the track "in the same direction." My diesel machine has newer chains and does not "pop" at all...zero....when running escargo steel tracks and NO track tuners. My gas machine has noticeable stretch in the rear chains (I should replace or remove a link) and have noticed occasional "pops" even when running just tires. I've even noticed it when running track tuners (completely eliminating the rotational speed difference of the center axles).
Essentially the center tires when wrapped with an "elevated belt" track, rotate in the track as if they were "bigger in diameter" than the front/rear tires. This is very similar to the Argo-approved method to "index" tires for optimal performance and protection against adverse wear on drive components (largest tires in the center). Doing this keeps the high "tension" in top of the chains and "away" from the underside (where the tensioners are). Fortunately the tires can slip very easily over the smooth/rounded profile of the inner crosser. Now disconnecting the center drive axles undoubtedly frees additional horsepower and improves fuel consumption, but isn't mandatory with a gear-reduction design.

[foxvalley]

[QUOTE=mightymaxIV;143594]Another very cool video Foxvalley, perhaps you can get your wife to walk along side the Argo and film those bogs like she did last year, those were some very cool videos


Thanks Dan. Also for setting up the video the right way. Great idea getting Gail out there. I can post last years video,along with this years,and compair the two.
I do have a problem with this set up................ I can't get it stuck...............

[Obsessed]

Another very cool video Foxvalley, perhaps you can get your wife to walk along side the Argo and film those bogs like she did last year, those were some very cool videos!

Great video Foxvalley ...looks like you might be right about the "Doug Special" ...lol... I was concerned that with such an aggressive serrated winter cleat on your 18.5" Adair belted track that it might just load up with mud and long swamp grass...we made some design improvements to help release the grass clumps on this generation of "pro series" tracks and it appears to not only give a superior bite, but within just a rotation or two it leaves all the debris behind and is keeping the track very clean...

Love the angle of the camera for studying the results of the design improvements.

Thanks for sharing your fun with us :-)

tim

[rockrewls]

Seems to work well!

Rock

[Moosetalker]

Good Video Fox...Looking forward to the old versus new comparison video.

You wouldn't happen to know someone in your neck of the woods with the same tracks without the snow extension,s to compare as well.

Damn I ask a lot.

[foxvalley]

Hey Moosetalker,
I know Tim had taken a 6x6 down to mud nationals with this same track w/o the cleats, and it preformed awesome. Haven't checked to see if any mud national video with this unit is posted. My swamp has thawed out now, and I am going to leave the cleat kits installed all year,just to see how well this all holds up,besides,this is such an aggressive setup,I am having way to much fun just the way it is. All the holes(2) that I had issues with last year,I am able to blow right thru.Being more aggressive isn't everything,and I do miss some aspects of the other style track that I ran last year. Being two totally different track styles,they both ride, and preform differently.
I do plan on filling up the HDI with passengers,and just for stinks and giggles, a trailer behind full of firewood,going down the ditch, but I do believe this is going to be a mute point,as more weight will help, but the trailer behind full of firewood should be interesting.

[rockrewls]

We await the vids Fox

Rock

[Moosetalker]

Heyas Back Foxvalley.

Looking forward to the Video allso. My plan is to run tracks year round as well. Seeing you having a blast is making me itch to get at the old girl and get back to fixing her up.

[foxvalley]

Here is another video,I should be working, but just can't help myself. I just got done making a bunch,so more are on the way.Thanks for enjoying my "work" Hey,am I supposed to be embeding the video to get set up right?

up the sand knob with trailer - YouTube