New Adair 18.5 inch belted snow and ice tracks

[foxvalley]

:

Doug...I noticed the same thing with the warm and sticky snow packing the cleats...I've got an idea for a slight improvement that should help eliminate most of this....nice thing about this unique design is that while all full block or metal style tracks will freeze and pack snow on the (sometimes to the point that the tracks won't roll anymore) the narrow Adair snow track only appears to be able to hold a little of the snow outside of the fenders where it can't restrict operation of the vehicle...I'm starting to rethink my new hybrid classic track design with the replaceable embedded metal cleat across the entire grouser...not sure that would make for a good winter track

Tim

Hey Tim, I really think the snow packing in the cleats is a non issue,even if it freezes hard,as the hard ice will break when it comes in contact with another hard surface,or the ice will fall out all by itself. If a guy was really concerned about this,you could "open the cleat" instead of a U shape in a 90 degrees,you could go,say120 degrees and the snow/ice will just fall out.Still,I think this is a non issue,and like the wet snow in for more traction.

[Obsessed]

:

Yes, the cleats did fill up with wet snow,a huge advantage

Doug...I noticed the same thing with the warm and sticky snow packing the cleats...I've got an idea for a slight improvement that should help eliminate most of this....nice thing about this unique design is that while all full block or metal style tracks will freeze and pack snow on the (sometimes to the point that the tracks won't roll anymore) the narrow Adair snow track only appears to be able to hold a little of the snow outside of the fenders where it can't restrict operation of the vehicle...I'm starting to rethink my new hybrid classic track design with the replaceable embedded metal cleat across the entire grouser...not sure that would make for a good winter track

Tim

[foxvalley]

looked like fun. I'm guessing about a foot of firm, spring snow. You probably had enough width and floatation for deeper snow had you needed it though, I think. Did you have any problems with your u-channel shaped ice-cleats packing with snow?

I'd love to see more videos, they never get old. I look forward to seeing one where you are dead-floating in clean water. Your nose started out awfully high touching bottom at the beginning of the short reverse. The track seemed to have a decent grip up the "ramping" of the break-off. Nice job though.

Yes,Buzz,there was about a foot or so of wet snow,but it wouldn't matter if there was 5 feet,as the unit stayed on top,even in the turns,which is a combination of the admiral tranny working in conjunction with the track setup,one huge advantage with the newer tranny.
Yes, the cleats did fill up with wet snow,a huge advantage,that you might not have realized,is now with the wet snow packed in the cleats, we have snow on snow contact,which is almost like glue. Also, the snow is not packed in so tight as to hinder the cleats when negotiating fallen logs or other obstacles.
As far as the walk out on the ice,the front of the unit was touching bottom when I started backing up,but it was not touching at all as the unit walked up the ice.
One thing that I found out in these experiments, is that weight transfer to the back of the argo as you start to walk out on the ice is not as important as I thought,as I had a friend help with this yesterday. The most important aspect that I have found in getting it up on ice,besides these tracks, is getting enough momemtum to get you up.
I am looking forward to seeing a similar experiment on video with your track system to see how they compare,as there should be plenty of ice up by you.

[bigbuck]

Great videos!!!! I cant wait to install the same ice cleats on my 18 inch snowtrack!!! I really think that those are going to be the answer to what I need..unfortunatley, my snow is gone so I wont be able to try until next winter... I love the way you mounted your camera and plan on trying the same with a gopro..........man....I hope these next 9 months fly by!

[Buzz]

looked like fun. I'm guessing about a foot of firm, spring snow. You probably had enough width and floatation for deeper snow had you needed it though, I think. Did you have any problems with your u-channel shaped ice-cleats packing with snow?

I'd love to see more videos, they never get old. I look forward to seeing one where you are dead-floating in clean water. Your nose started out awfully high touching bottom at the beginning of the short reverse. The track seemed to have a decent grip up the "ramping" of the break-off. Nice job though.

[foxvalley]

more video to come.

[foxvalley]

Here is some more video of the belted tracks/cleat kits,in deep snow,here you go moosetalker.I had lots of fun cruising on top of the snow,and climbing all kinds of obstacles with these tracks.
adair belted tracks in deep snow - YouTube

[Obsessed]

Good video Doug...and love your log cabin in the background...every video of tracks claiming they can climb out of open water and up on to ice always seems to be filmed in a foot or so of water, which is still pretty impressive, but I don't think it supports the claims that others usually make...this video is still close to shore (where the ice is usually thin enough to break through) but judging from how dangerously low the front end is dipping into the water upon exit I would say it is probably the best attempt I have ever been able to watch on film...I usually look for signs of mud and water left on the ice after the machine comes out, and other than a few small clumps of mud that you picked up from the bank in front of you, the water looked very clean...this has been pretty consistent with our tests also, but our window of opportunity between thin solid ice that would support you until you fell through and almost no ice is literally just hours and we always seem to miss any really good opportunities to perform this test....we do run a lot on frozen rivers and creeks in the winter and there is a lot of open water and good ice to play on but it always seems to be open in the shallow areas and as you know thats extremely easy for our tracks and not even worth filming...great to see you able to do better tests and in deeper water...as your ice goes farther out, I'm interested to see additional tests...thanks for sharing what you've learned.

tim

[foxvalley]

I have about 7 hours of testing on Tims new belted track,with the belted long cleat kit attached,and also with the short cleat kit also attached in between the long cleats.
So far,this is the most aggressive track system that I have tested,and should do anything that any other track can do,and more.I have just made about 15 video clips,of this track system in action, and the most impresseve is the video of the argo walking out onto the ice in about 4' of water.I'm not sure if I was hitting bottom or not,but am comming close to walking out every time without touching bottom. I think with a second person with me,we can get it to walk out on the ice in deep water every time. This is something that has never been done with any other track system that I am aware of, in deep water.
Talk is cheap,so let the video do the talking for me.I have yet to download to utube,but should have some clips today.
edited argo walking out on the ice - YouTube

http://youtu.be/l-_EcDbAzmA

[bigbuck]

Hey Steve..Looking forward to your videos and pics of your hardtop..I was looking forward to more snow on the ground here in the Bangor area,(Brewer) but oh well, still had a great time with my machine..With no dealers in the area I guess I will be trying to do my own service as well. Changing the fluids are no problem but for everything else I will be asking the guys who know for help.. (wish I had a Doc in my neighborhood)
Foxvalley...Cant wait for updates on ideas in creating the ultimate snow machine!! Bill

[foxvalley]

Full length under the fenders, I believe I went with a 3" wide strip (originally intended to line up over the cleats on my Supertracks). Bolted through the fenders with Counter Sunk 1/4" bolts. The only nasty spot is under the Air Intake Shroud. Also be careful that you don't drill up into the seat frame...... Don't ask
As for the Gold Diggers..... I had them, so I used them. I don't know a lot about studs, I just put them on and tried them.
Oh, sorry, the strip is 1/4 thick not 1/8 thick. I will go edit that post.


RD

Thanks Doc,
Going to see Tim next week for a couple days,setting up my new 2013 HDI. This will be a great time to let "him" drill into the fenders on a new rig.Still on the fence with the stud setup so close to spring,on the flipside,it would be great to test this thing with the right stud setup. Going to set up the new unit just like my old 2011, is there anything that you would,add,change or delete, to make the ultimate mud/snow machine? I can't go out with the tracks/snow belted extentions,as it will not fit on my trailer. Being at Tims,I will have anything, and everything at my disposal,so I would like to take advantage of this,and any feedback from you or anybody else would be much appreciated.

[hilhilti]

hey bigbuck, I am in the process of fitting a hard top fiberglass cab to it right now, I hope to finish today, or tomorrow. I hope the snow hangs in there until saturday! I managed to put a couple hours on the machine sunday afternoon, the trails were froze solid and very icy. the tracks worked well. maybe I'll have a video sunday. i live in windham were are you? I will be doing my own service. steve

[bigbuck]

Hilhilti..Hope you can post some video of your tracks in the snow! Where in Maine are you? curious who does the service on your machine...Bill

[rockrewls]

yeah the protector strips would make a world of difference!!

[Rock Doctor]

Hey Doc,
Did you run the UHMW the full length of the fenders, 1/8"x ?(deep) Screwed to the tub? Any pics? Looking at doing the same thing, haven't checked out the gold digger studs yet,just looked at the MF44 eliminator racing studs, any reason for going the gold digger route?

Full length under the fenders, I believe I went with a 3" wide strip (originally intended to line up over the cleats on my Supertracks). Bolted through the fenders with Counter Sunk 1/4" bolts. The only nasty spot is under the Air Intake Shroud. Also be careful that you don't drill up into the seat frame...... Don't ask
As for the Gold Diggers..... I had them, so I used them. I don't know a lot about studs, I just put them on and tried them.
Oh, sorry, the strip is 1/4 thick not 1/8 thick. I will go edit that post.
RD