Belted track gear reduction ?

[Obsessed]

Hey Buzz just wondering if you have pics or could get a pic on here of say Argo or Mudd Ox rubber tracks laid out next to your UHMW tracks or your Escargo tracks just to show how much shorter and longer they are next to each other? This would help alot with some of the confusion about how the Adair classic tracks or your UHMW or Escargo tracks gear down an Argo or Mudd Ox running them.

A full length track from argo for a new generation 8x8 is either 19'2" or 19'4" depending on whether it has 24 or 25 inch tires and if it is using the optional 2" steel track splice spacer ...a "classic" track design with the drive wheel diameter reduced by 6" measures approximately 18.84" less it total length and reduces the final drive speed approximately 25% (assuming that the center wheels aren't contributing to drive train binding and are set up to free wheel) some people will notice larger reductions in speed if all wheels are set up to drive...smaller tires of course realize a slightly greater change than larger tires...

Hope this helps

tim

[Old Tucker]

My channel tracks just came in And what I will do is put the old plastic argo track beside the channel track and show you the difference in length. They are a good example of the gear reduction you're talking about. Since the belt is traveling around a smaller radius then the outer diameter of the tire it will make the track shorter. And with ice cleats or snow paddles it will have far more torque to deliver and less Hp needed to pull you through heavy snow. Your crossers will all ways slip a little in the snow and with ice cleats on the belt you should have very good traction .

[akranger72]

Hey thanks Old Tucker. This should be some good visual help in understanding how tracks like your new channel tracks will gear down a machines drive system. Thanks again.

[Old Tucker]

I just had Cataract surgery on my left eye and it feels like s##t If my eye feels Ok I will try to pull the plastic tracks off tomorrow and take some photos. It,s a very simple concept.
As for gear reduction between outer tire diameter and ground there is non but between the belt and ground there is a big reduction. Where your crossers are slipping in the deep snow or mud, and you have some traction device on the belt they will give you just that extra torque you need .
Yes I know I may not need the tuners because the distance the mid tires sit on the track is very small. But the tires I will be using will bit the crosses a lot more then a heavy lug tire. So i will give them a try.
Buss has put a lot of thought into this. And its fun to play with different ideas to see what works and what will not.
I have worked in the auto ind. for 30 years ( AND BOY I HAVE SEEN SOME HAY WIRE IDEAS PUT INTO THE CARS AND TRUCKS WE ALL DRIVE)

[Old Tucker]

Lets see if these photos will show up
The first shows how much shorter the track is. both track are made to go with the 22 Inch tire. DSC00409.jpgDSC00415.jpgDSC00413.jpg
The next photo shows how the crossers spread apart. As they go around the tire but they are at a fixed location on the belt ( As Buss was saying.) The third shows how high the belt sits. in relation to the outer diameter of the tire.
I hope this shows a little on how the physics of this type of track works. It,s a lot different then then just a flat track that rolls around your tires.
Any track that has a belt fixed to the crossers that runs beside the tire and has a smaller radius then the tire. will have this concept. the speed of the belt is determined be the rise. Or the radius it go,s around
If I am wrong let me know because I am never to old to learn new tricks. The wife taught me how to sit and roll over the other day. i doing so she gave me a cookie.

[akranger72]

Nice looking channel tracks. Did you paint the crossers or did they come painted blue?

[Buzz]

Old Tucker...you're a crack-up. I sure appreciate your sense of humor. Those tracks look cool. Man, you're going to have a lot of fun. I forget if you said you had some tuners to throw on too? It's a noticeable improvement especially at higher speeds.....well above 5-6 mph anyway. The blue bulldozer