18” Argo rubber tracks

[mowbizz]

I will eventually, have a set of these tracks, funds pending, but I was wondering if anyone that owns these has ever considered cutting an inch or two off them to have a slightly narrower footprint? From the looks, there is ample extra rubber outside the guides to do this...just wondering if it has been done.

[john swenson]

i suggested this to someone else recently whose tracks were to close to the tub. i don't know why it would not be feasable to trim some off unless it would compromise the strength or something. i would use a jig or reciprocating saw with a fine tooth blade. maybe clamp a guide to the track to get a straight cut. i've cut plenty of wide belting that way and it worked fine. johnboy va.

[mowbizz]

i suggested this to someone else recently whose tracks were to close to the tub. i don't know why it would not be feasable to trim some off unless it would compromise the strength or something. i would use a jig or reciprocating saw with a fine tooth blade. maybe clamp a guide to the track to get a straight cut. i've cut plenty of wide belting that way and it worked fine. johnboy va.

Great idea on the guide...I may try this when I get mine!

[Sparx]

Why would you want to take away from your flotation by trimming the inside. There's ample room and if it does scrub it's not much an issue as it tends to scuff the skidplate if anything... I can understand the overall width being an issue, I get it, but I wouldn't compromise performance trimming the inside. If anything it may allow more room for logs and branches to get caught between the track and the tub which was a pain in the butt for me when I had them. They would pull over and jam between the middle tires and cause sidewall flats for me, normally pinhole leaks. I eventually tubed all 4 inner tires with the rubber tracks because of this issue and my tracks were full width not trimmed.

[mowbizz]

Why would you want to take away from your flotation by trimming the inside. There's ample room and if it does scrub it's not much an issue as it tends to scuff the skidplate if anything... I can understand the overall width being an issue, I get it, but I wouldn't compromise performance trimming the inside. If anything it may allow more room for logs and branches to get caught between the track and the tub which was a pain in the butt for me when I had them. They would pull over and jam between the middle tires and cause sidewall flats for me, normally pinhole leaks. I eventually tubed all 4 inner tires with the rubber tracks because of this issue and my tracks were full width not trimmed.

Yes it’s the overall width that would be my issue. No other reason.

[john swenson]

i sure would not think that a trim of 1/2'' to 1'' would loose you that much noticeable flotation ? better than rubbing a hole in the tub it seems to me. j.b.

[Sparx]

i sure would not think that a trim of 1/2'' to 1'' would loose you that much noticeable flotation ? better than rubbing a hole in the tub it seems to me. j.b.

Believe it or not it makes a huge difference trimming 1/2" to 1" of track especially each side. There's a reason why in the snowmobile world BRP likes to use a 16" wide track over a 15" track, it goes the whole length of the track in comparison to the overall length simply being extended. Why would Argo make a track that you pay so much for just to trim it in fear of it rubbing the tub. Argo makes things on the safe side of things, so as long as you have the track adjusted properly with proper tire pressures rubbing is of no issue anymore then any other track on the market. I've put on a lot of miles on my 18" tracks and they stayed on year round, never was it an issue with tub rub no matter how close it looks.

[John8x8hdi]

Me and Scott8x8 have the 18" rubber tracks and they are great in deep mud and snow! I wouldn't recommend trimming them because you would have a narrower footprint. You need a big footprint when going through mud to help grab the sides of the mud pit and dig the argo out.