Tire Paddles

[Bw6]

If you had that design up and working. Just how many wheels would you put them on?

Well it's amazing the amount of thrust well designed paddle wheel generate. I played around with some different designs like the "Jet Wheel", which was very effective on the front 2 wheels of a Argo Frontier. I would install these on the rear 2 wheels of an Argo or the front 2 wheels of a Max.

[zoood]

I determined the wheels in the back produced the most thrust and the most water thrown into the back. This was fixed by making water flaps or mud flaps.

bilimrl1 I'm not quite sure what you meant by "water thrown in the back" and the use of mud flaps.

I built a set, they were made from thick belting ( to be a little flexible), approx. 4"x5", just under the tire diameter. They were mounted to a metal frame structure to space them properly. They worked, increased my speed a mile or two, but they only worked when part of the tire they were mounted to was out of the water, in other words part of the paddles were under water while the others where out of it, keeps them from throwing in both directions. I tested with a GPS to measure my speed. Since my argo is front heavy, and after testing in the pond, I determined the wheels in the back produced the most thrust and the most water thrown into the back. This was fixed by making water flaps or mud flaps. I only use these to race my argo against 4 wheelers at Mud NAtionals. I was one of just a few that actually completed the course, but not fast enough for the win. Next year, will be adding caged trolling motors and big battery!

[MikeyM]

Blazenron....Let me know what kind of increases you see with your design, I am looking for something like that and have thought about the same thing. If it gives good increases, I wouldnt mind paying you to make some for my max II

[twinlakemike]

Has anyone ever tried a regular ATV sand paddle tire? I know this type of tire is hard to beat in the mud on a dirt bike. maby one set in the back?

[jpswift1]

Has anyone ever tried a regular ATV sand paddle tire? I know this type of tire is hard to beat in the mud on a dirt bike. maby one set in the back?

People have tried it and removed them right away since they are horrible in the water and very bumpy on regular ground......all they do is throw water all over the place and don't move you along in the water and they offer no suspension, just a bump, bump, bump, bump feeling as the large paddles make contact with the ground when the machine is moving along.

[MikeyM]

I had my max II out again this weekend, I got down in my buddies creek and couldnt had no control what so ever in the water, it just wanted to go straight! but in reverse, man I could point the direction and it would go, no problem at all! I have the good year rawhides on mine that were new when I bought it, is there any reason why i have so much better power in reverse?

[argohunter]

MikeyM

Are your tire treads facing forward and pointing in the direction you want go, in this case forward? If not, swap them around for better swimming!

[MikeyM]

no they are facing rear like everyone says, but im tempted to switch them around and see what happens

[zoood]

I know Ill get corrected if Im wrong. But on the MaxII I believe that the nose sits down lower in the water than the rear. The rear tires will have more of their upper side sticking out of the water. With it setting like that. The paddles on the tires ( the chevrons), work more efficiently. Like that of the paddle wheel on a river boat. If you take notice to the paddle design. Only the bottom of the paddle wheel sits in the water. With your tires submerged. they are paddling on the bottom, but as they come to the top they are paddling the water the other-way. Kinda cancelling out the intended motion.

zoood

I had my max II out again this weekend, I got down in my buddies creek and couldnt had no control what so ever in the water, it just wanted to go straight! but in reverse, man I could point the direction and it would go, no problem at all! I have the good year rawhides on mine that were new when I bought it, is there any reason why i have so much better power in reverse?

[MikeyM]

mine seems to sit pretty level in the water, doesnt dive in the front like an argo. I would really like to upgrade to some chevrons once my rawhides wear out...but their new so I maybe waiting a while. Im going to bring it out to my buddies pond and we are going to test out tire combinations to see which way to set the tires for the best speed