New Adair 18.5 inch belted snow and ice tracks

[Buzz]

I thought it did pretty well. When you were able to get on top of all the floating ice, it was no big deal. You kept a little momentum and kept your track a bit higher in the water that way. Good example of how "pointing" for the floating ice (when starting from the shore) was a good idea. Had a little bit of a problem when there was nothing under you and you were trying to go forward. But, you are exactly right, momentum (if you're in a situation where you can get it) will give you a better chance of at least "popping" the front end up. If you can do that, you can usually make it. This is very difficult to do if you can't get momentum or use any kind of ice "ramping" while you are dead floating, especially if the ice is taller. This seems to hold true on steep, tall banks in the summer/fall too.

[Obsessed]

[QUOTE=Buzz;143096]I've climbed up ice shelves and crazy steep hills with the tracks I have, so I know they work..yes there's video. My advice is that u-channel ice-cleats will always pack with snow/ice. Then they're worthless. [\QUOTE]

Buzz...I always appreciate your opinion and I fell like we have very similar ideas on product design, function, and benefit. As far as "not being able to please everyone" I have general felt that you do like our unique products...I know that we have had friendly debate as to what works and why...gear reduction tracks and the need for track tuners, and the benefit of UHMW over steel in amphibious track design or two debates that come to mind...you make good intelligent arguments supporting your opinion and I try to do the same...ultimately we have always ended up agreeing with one another and other than this recent conversation (which I'm not sure what we are debating...I guess whether or not there is a better track design for climbing up out of open water and on to hard ice) I think we always will end up agreeing. I sincerely enjoy all the videos you have posted and am very impresses with your awesome setup. My only concern (and I don't think it came from you) is that somewhere I read that the worlds greatest track could swim right out over open water and climb up on ice...I've never seen it and I don't think you have ever tried to make that claim. I am very certain that I haven't about the Adair tracks and was even PM'd today by a forum member asking that very question...my response is always the same "I've never seen a track that could actually do it" although Doug's last video was pretty convincing...lol....who knows...you might be right on this topic.

It does sound heartfelt, but why would you set anyone up (knowing what you know now) with rubber tracks and no tuners? If I had a pair of 13" tracks, I personally would just give them to someone. I wouldn't let them spend "any" money to purchase a garbage set of tracks like that. Yes, you sound helpful. Just being honest. If they couldn't afford to spend just a bit more, I would say tell them to just hold off and save a little longer, work more...that's what I do.

I build products that I hope meet certain needs better than any other solution I know of. That's not to say that there are not excellent factory options available for some situations. Often I run into customers that call me because they are interested in such a popular track option...I try to understand their needs and expectations before I give my opinion (selfishly I guess) because the last thing I want is to mislead a buyer much less actually have them put their faith in me and be disappointed...I think you will agree that from your personal experience, customer satisfaction is more important to me than sales or profit...there are several people on this forum that I have encouraged to buy from someone else usually because of a unique need or a unique opportunity to buy something elsewhere really cheap...NCT would be another example of a friend that I told without hesitation to go buy a used set of argo rubber tracks as apposed to a set of new Adairs and I think he has been really happy with them...our friend last week that got a new HDI with rubber tracks was replacing an older Avenger with the same track option for occasional winter use...he puts very few hours on his machine in the winter, was familiar with the rubber tracks and had good luck with them "if it ant broke don't fix it you know" he uses those tracks so seldom that I didn't think it justified the cost and in the summertime it is very simple for him to just drop the tracks and go, no need to remove the tuners...the other customer is doing a lot of weed control spraying in a very rutted, rocky, and thorny area...he felt that a solid track option would help protect his tires from damage and he is right...rubber would have made for a better sale, but you know as well as I do that the wider tracks don't like a lot of twisting and I was certain it would be hard on them and high maintenance for him...he hasn't made a decision yet and I'm honestly not certain what would be a better option if he wants a full block track...I offered an Adair design with much smaller spacing, but I don't know...you can't be everything to everybody...if you have some good ideas let me know :-)

Anyway...thanks for everything and keep sharing your comments and videos...many of us sincerely love new things to ponder and I think it helps us all move this sport forward

Respectfully,

tim

[mightymaxIV]

Hey Foxvalley, that video of your HDI climbing logs is one impressive video, thanks for taking the time to post it up. You continue to impress me with outstanding videos showing me capabilities of an Argo HDI that are simply unbelievable! Please don't tear your machine up, I want it to live so you can continue to blow me away with things that I thought an Argo couldn't do.

[Rock Doctor]

FWIW, I have not been able to get any ice/snow to stick to my Adair Tracks up here, even when running through "Overflow" on the ice. There is really not much that will stick to UHMW. I am also having pretty good luck with the new U shaped Ice Cleats.
I could use a little extra width to help with floatation in my snow conditions, but I believe the extra width of the "Snow" kit would address this.

Cool vids guys, keep em coming. I wish I could get out a little more, maybe do some testing like you guys, but time is at a premium with me this winter.

Here is an older clip of me playing in some "Overflow"

RD

[mightymaxIV]

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
walking out on ice in shallow water - YouTube

Whooooaaaa, where have I been, whooaa, those are totally impressive videos!!!! I almost can't believe my eyes! Wow, Foxvalley two more very impressive videos!!!! Thanks for taking time to post them up!

[Buzz]

thank you. I appreciate the input and taking the time to reply.

[foxvalley]

Whooooaaaa, where have I been, whooaa, those are totally impressive videos!!!! I almost can't believe my eyes! Wow, Foxvalley two more very impressive videos!!!! Thanks for taking time to post them up!

Thanks for the kind words,Dan,I am having a ball with my new toy.I am very impressed how this setup is preforming for me so far,and don't worry about me tearing up this thing,it's like a rock........so far.....LOL.

[plott hound]

man i love this thread.great videos and great ideas.keep it going boys.

[mightymaxIV]

This is with out a doubt the most impressive video I have ever seen pertaining to the capabilities of a tracked Argo HDI, wow Foxvalley, another great video!

[Moosetalker]

Right on Foxvalley.
Thanks for posting your thoughts and the video's I really enjoyed watching them.
Those tracks are the cats behind for sure seems a lot of good track designs and test vids surfacing at this time.

[plott hound]

now thats the video ive been waiting for.those are the tracks i need for the winter conditions i deal with.which tracks are those foxvalley?

Here is just one more video,simular to one I posted earlier,but I think this one is needed as to show that in shallow water, when the back of the tracks can touch bottom,these tracks/cleats will walk up on the ice everytime. You will notice that the argo is actually floating as it swims up to the ice,then the cleats hook in and bring the back down hitting bottom,thus creating the needed traction to propell the unit forward,and up onto the ice.

Oops,after watch the video again,it doesn't seem that the back of the tracks are touching at all.There might be ice under the tracks gaining traction that way.I could use some input as to what you guys think.shallow water ice walk out 3 - YouTube

[foxvalley]

now thats the video ive been waiting for.those are the tracks i need for the winter conditions i deal with.which tracks are those foxvalley?

This is Tims new belted track with the belted long cleat kit attached.Since I was down there helping build these tracks,I decided to also add the short cleat kit in between the long cleats.It adds more traction,and smooths out the ride.

[foxvalley]

Just went for a ride yesterday in my swamp,still have ice, frozen ground under about a foot of water. The cleats are very aggressive in this type of condition, and was like driving on pavement,no slip on the icy surface under the water.
Chomping at the bit,as I want to dump into the deep holes that I created last year in the swamp,and where, in a couple of them I was getting stuck.
Looking forward to making more vid,as I should have some cool stuff to post after the thaw in a couple days.
Sure do love the new setup!

[Buzz]

sounds like fun. I'm looking forward to more videos.

[foxvalley]

Thanks Buzz, I enjoyed watching the last video posted on your thread also,very deep snow!
Sounds like we are both having fun,the most important thing.