Track Tuners ?

[BadBradII]

Removing the chains is the solution for the 6x6 crowd... I'm sure 8x8s are better with the tuners.

[Supermag]

I will try the 20" tires on the 4 corners with 22" centers with track tuners once I get my half links in.

Rock Doctor. I did a modification to the frame of my magnum to repair a bad case of body sag and ended up gaining a half inch clearance on the center wheels over original. It was relatively easy to do and did not need to remove the entire upper body to install it. I just replaced the frame under the seat that spans left to right of the machine. Il take pics and post them this week some time. This may help your sacaficial conquest clear 24" centers without a complete surgery.

Dave

[mudbug3]

Supermag

I would stay away from using half links. A friend of mine used to own a Super Swamp Fox and his friend had a Max IV. Both of them liked to use half links. Over time both of them hooked their sprockets bad enough that the cheap tractor supply chains kept jumping off of the sprockets under load.

[Supermag]

Mudbug3
Please pardon my lack of detail regarding the half links. I run a set of Argo supertracks on my conquest. Argo makes half links for their plastic tracks to take up a little stretch and wear of the hinges. I am at that point now where i need them. Thanks for the heads up on the chain half links. Cheers.

Dave

[mudbug3]

Supermag


My bad. I thought your mention of half links was referring to chains.

[Fitz67]

I was actually going to sell my rubber tracks well the tuners changed my mind. I can not believe the difference in the feel of the machine.(750 HDI) If anyone was on the fence give them a try. I also picked up the wheel spacers i like them much better than the argo units.

[rockrewls]

Good to hear, these are essential for tracked machines IMO!!

Rock

[Abalon]

Tim, I recently purchased my track tuners and installed them on my 2011 hdi. I just got back from 10 day moose hunting in northern Alberta. I broke my front left axle right at the flange when I was making a left turn about 3 miles into my hunt. I had a pretty good load on at the time. Is there more stress on the front and rear axles when running the tuners? I took the tuners off and never had another problem. Any thoughts?

Randy

[Old Tucker]

Tim, I recently purchased my track tuners and installed them on my 2011 hdi. I just got back from 10 day moose hunting in northern Alberta. I broke my front left axle right at the flange when I was making a left turn about 3 miles into my hunt. I had a pretty good load on at the time. Is there more stress on the front and rear axles when running the tuners? I took the tuners off and never had another problem. Any thoughts?

Randy

On your HDI, are the flanges a two piece flange or are they one solid plate like the HD axes? If they are the two piece then that is where the problem lies. The two piece flange is weak and will brake off. I have had two brake on me. I am running the track tuners and would not go without them, with the chanel track and my tires. There is no slippage between tire and track.
My axles broke when I was using the ARGO 18 in plastic track. If you do have the HD axles then my theory is out to lunch.

[Buzz]

Your HDI will have the heavier-flanged axles. But nothing is immune to failure. After all the flange is "welded" onto the axle. The flange can take far more abuse than the older 2-piece flange (which would bend easier and/or separate). But welds can break and not every axle will be guaranteed perfect from the factory. If you're making a high-load high friction turn (which will be amplified a bit with a heavy load), you're at the mercy of physics I guess. If your machine is struggling to turn because of the track's resistance and load in the machine, the driven-side (namely the corner axles and even mores...the front axles) are under a very high stress. Different track styles will turn easier on certain terrain- just another factor.
As for the track-tuners, I personally don't think your corner axles experience additional load when the tuners are installed. Instead, they experience the same load but you gain the added benefit of not having to "overdrive" or "slip" the center tires....Prior.....to the front/rear chains even starting to transfer power to the corner axles. Furthermore, the tiny contact patch of the center tires just doesn't help to move the vehicle forward (within the track). The track drives only when the front/rear chains make the corner axles move. Center tires that are "driven" (no tuners installed)....will only help in theory when when they are weighted-down on the bottom of the track...more or less on flat ground..which is usually a low-load condition anyway. Frequently, there is "daylight" under the center tires because of track-sag as you drive over or span obstacles, or climb steep terrain. Even so, their contact patch isn't going to change or really even help the huge "end-wrap" contact patch of the corner tires.
My opinion- your corner axles are going to feel/experience the load either way, and they're going to drive the track irregardless of what the centers are doing. But if you do not install tuners, then the other chains/bearings/axles and frame "within" the machine will experience additional load/stress. And, your fuel mileage, engine load/temps, and even tires suffer more wear.
Shoot, I've even heard of "center" avenger axles breaking simply from leverage and heavy loads.
Sorry to hear about your troubles out on the trail though, and please give more information about your wheel spacer and tuner width, track type, and maybe even a picture of your machine (they're always fun to see). Hopefully we can help some more!
FYI-There are lots of machines up here using tuners w/o problems. Especially the newer-style tuners which seem to be stronger with a spindle/backer-plate that can tolerate heavier loads.

[dirtbee]

my question I'm new to 6x6 world I picked up argo 1989, 18mag. how deep of snow will the argo go into without trac's or do I really need trac's for the snow,
is there anyone in mi. with argo ,max, machine where do you run them, this over 50 inches on orv trail, is wrong,

[Abalon]

Buzz, thanks for the reply. I just purchased the tuners I believe that they are the 2.5 inch. They look well built. Yes the axles are the hd axles. I am running the Argo rubber tracks. The area I was in when the axle broke was high dry swamp grass. My theory is that the grass increased the friction on the tracks which increased the stress on the axle. It could also have been a previously damaged axle. I'm not giving up on the tuners just yet.

[NorthOf60]

Hey Obsessed or anyone with track tuner experience...

1) If all of your wheels were the same circumference would track tuners be necessary?

2) Wouldn't it make sense to install 6 tuners (on an 8x8) and drive the track from either the front or back wheels?

[JohnF]

I don't have track tuner experience but:

1) It is near impossible to get 8 tires that are statically the same diameter and even harder to get 8 tires that stay dynamically the same diameter. (temperature, pressure, rolling over logs, etc) But you are right.

2) When travelling on a slope all of the track slack ends up on the uphill end. (The mass of the vehicle pushes on the downhill end.) This will unload the uphill tire and if it happens to be the driven tire it will just spin in the tracks. Been there. Especially bad if there is snow and ice involved.

[Rock Doctor]

Hey Obsessed or anyone with track tuner experience...

1) If all of your wheels were the same circumference would track tuners be necessary?

2) Wouldn't it make sense to install 6 tuners (on an 8x8) and drive the track from either the front or back wheels?

I've run with and without Tuners, I've also tried a couple other options. Sometimes by choice, sometimes not.
Tuners on middle axles works great.
Removing the front chains and no Tuners, is workable, but not really very good.
Broken back chains is about the same as removing front chains.
Broken third chains is tough to get through much, but u might be able to limp back to your truck.

RD