Adair Pro Series with Winter Kit (metal cleats) Ordered!

[thorn]

IMG_2171.jpgIMG_2169.jpgMy tracks came yesterday and the timing could have not been better as I had just finished up getting all the accessories on the Frontier. The Adairs look impressive to say the least and the components used appear to be heavy duty (grousers, thick belting, and) hardware. I first installed the mud/snow flaps on the rear and then installed the tracks easily with the help of one heavy duty ratchet strap to join the hinges together after deflating the front and rear tires. I had already indexed the tires and I put the Argo recommended 5,6,6,7 psi from front to back. Adair says 5-6 psi in the tires is a good range. When I looked at the completed machine the name "Mean Joe Green" immediately popped into my head!

The most dramatic thing I noticed and was expecting was how much higher the machine set. I took a bunch of notes on the ground clearance of my Conquest with the Chanel tracks and the Frontier before and after installing the Adairs. I like nerding out on things like that and some of you may appreciate this as well but here are the numbers:

Frontier with 24x10x8 tires @ 5 psi:
Front chain/sprocket chanel 7 1/2"
Front center belly 9"
Rear chain/sprocket chanel 9"
Rear center belly 10 3/4"

Frontier with Adair Pro Series w/metal cleat winter kit (tires 5,6,6,7 psi):
Front chain/sprocket chanel 9 1/4"
Front center belly 10 3/4"
Rear chain/sprocket chanel 10 1/8"
Rear center belly 12"

Conquest 22" Chanel tracks with 22x11x8 Carlisle Stryker (tires averaging 6 psi):
Front chain/sprocket chanel 7 1/2"
Front center belly 8 1/4"
Rear chain/sprocket chanel 7 3/4"
Rear center belly 8 1/2"

The Stryker tires on the Conquest run large and are very close to the diameter of the 24" Frontier tires. The things that I attribute to the differences in ground clearance are the lower tub designs and the grousers on the Adair tracks are much taller. Ground clearance isn't the end all factor as I have ran my Conquest in VERY deep snow dragging the belly and pushing a huge wave of snow in front of me with little difficulty, but it will be interesting to see the difference it does make.

The funny thing is I have to pull the Frontier into my garage now because it doesn't clear the door opening reversing in and barely clears pulling in. My drive way is steep and this causes a lot of the issue backing in.

One other thing I noted was the width of the two machines with their track on. The Conquest is 77" wide with 2.5 spacers/tuners and the Frontier is 75" wide with the 18 1/2" Pro Series with my reversible rims reversed/flipped.

[john swenson]

very impressive thorn ...looks like a '' tank '' in your garage . those tracks with the snow kits should take you anywhere. post a photo when your on the snow . i had lots of fun today tooling around in the snow in my max2 highboy and so did our dog '' elsie '' . johnboy va.

[ARGOJIM]

Looking good thorn, be nice to see the video of your new machine in action and your analysis.

[thorn]

Thanks gents. I am going to take it out tomorrow for a little shake down. Unfortunately there just isn't much snow here yet to truly see what the tracks can do in the deep stuff. I am anxious to see how the machine feels with the tracks and the low 3.3 gears. I will at least take a couple of pics. I will eventually take it up in the high backcountry to try and find some deeper snow.

[449fitter]

If anyone in Alaska wants to make some videos, let me know. I’d like to get machines with Adair pro-series tracks w/winter kit, Argo Rubber tracks and all others track types alongside my machine to compare and get some footage. I run a different version of tracks (on aurora 950 huntmaster), but it might be helpful for everyone to compare. 907-354-5319. Jeff “Buzz”

Would like to see the video's when done. Think it's a great idea. May help a lot of people decide which tracks for their needs .

[thorn]

IMG_2247.jpgIMG_2251.jpgI have had the new tracks out three times now. The first time was in only about a foot of loose "sugary" snow climbing a fairly steep switch back road. The tracks had no issue and I found that the Adairs run very smoothly and straight. The second time I went up to 9,000 feet + and found a good 2 feet with drifts around 3 feet deep. The Adairs chewed through everything and broke trail with ease. They also ride very smoothly over the main trails that have been chewed up by snowmobiles. I have to attribute some of this to the longer wheel base of my Frontier vs my Conquest and the 24" Frontier tires. The Adairs flex more around the tires and the bumps as well.

Not to be one that leaves well enough alone I modified the Adairs by putting a 4" wide belt on the winter kit and bolted on a 1 1/2'"x 1 1/2"x 8" piece of angle aluminum for an additional paddle. The Adair steal paddle/cleats are 1 3/4" tall and I want those to over shadow the aluminum paddles a bit to grab first on the hard pack. I took the machine out again in about 2+ feet of sugary snow on a steep narrow trail and they did very well. I really couldn't say yet if the extra width of the outer belt did much, but hopefully we will get some deep snow soon and I will be able to give them a better test. Adding the aluminum paddles and extra inch width of belt only added approx. 10-11 lbs per side.

I sold my Conquest with the Chanel tracks. I loved my Conquest and the Chanel tracks. Both are excellent pieces of equipment and would highly recommend either to anyone. I have to try to keep in mind what positives are due to the new machine with more power, speed, longer wheel base, etc when talking about the differences in tracks.

So far I would say the Adairs are able to go everywhere the Chanels can go and vice versus in my conditions. One thing I have noticed with the Adairs is they are "slicker" laterally than the Chanels. You can feel them slide a little more in certain situations than the Chanels. This has not ended up being a problem yet and I don't know if it will. At this point it is just an observation. I will post some photos and hopefully a few videos. I will make updates as I get more experience with the Adairs. I will tell you this the Adairs are built with VERY heavy duty materials. The belting is very thick and at least 4 ply belted. The steal cleats/paddles and hinges are also very heavy duty.

Overall the Adairs are performing very well in the deep stuff as well as just cruising up a packed trail. Gas consumption between my Conquest (20 HP carb) with the Chanels running tuners and the Frontier LE running Adairs with the 26.5 HP EFI Kohler is pretty similar with maybe a slight edge to the Conquest, but I love the power of the Kohler EFI. The machine does not bog nearly as much when turning while climbing. It is able to keep the rpms high in all conditions. I have also picked up 3-5 mph faster while in "cruising" mode. Happy Year!

[449fitter]

Thorn - thanks for update. Sounds like the tracks are doing well for you.

[john swenson]

looks great thorn... sounds like a '' powerhouse '' of a machine . you should have a blast when the deep stuff arrives . j.b.

[mightymaxIV]

Wow Thorn, I am jealous! Those tracks and that machine look great. Having ridden snow machines in deep snow I know how easy they can get stuck and how they have to be man handled in bad powder conditions. I can't even imagine how nice it would be to just stay on top of the snow and enjoy cruising in the powder where no one else will dare follow. I have thought about one of those winter extension kits for my Argo but that is really just to much traction and I remember one of the forum members saying they destroy driveways and yards. One of the main things I like about Adair's is the easy way they turn and that winter kit would destroy that ability in tight swamp conditions. As for you, Love it, enjoy them and post a video if you can.

[thorn]

I will keep updating with any new observations. I did take some video but I'm not sure how to post them yet.