Adair Tracks in extreme cold?

[Rock Doctor]

So, can any of you Adair Track owners tell me what are the coldest temps that you have run your machine in, with the tracks on? We were at -41 deg here the other day and it got me thinking............
Plastic gets brittle in the cold, but how cold is too cold?

Now, I have no intensions of riding in 40 below, BUT, sometimes those decisions are not up to me.

Anyway, I have my new Adair Tracks mostly assembled, and weather forecast is calling for temps in the -10 to -15 degC this weekend. Hope to make it out for a ride.

RD

[mightymaxIV]

RD, I wouldn't even want to walk outside in that kind of weather, that's just to cold for me.

[mrtlc]

If the wind isn't blowing, that's just GOOD air :-) Rock doctor send some of that this way. We need some ICE !!

[lewis]

Sounds like global warming going on there. Good point RD, hope you don't have to do much in that kind of weather. Fingers don't work good! Just curious what weight oil do you run in your machines in the winter if you must endure those temps?

[Rock Doctor]

Ha, I'll send it you way anytime :-)

I managed to get the tracks completed and mounted on the machine. Took it for a little spin around the yard. Everything seemd OK, but it was too cold to play too much. Holy Cow these tracks will slide sideways on hard pack snow. Tried climbing the hill behind my house, made that no problem.

Made a vid of the assembly and install. It's uploading right now, will post in the morning.

Lewis, I run Synthetic oil, and I try NOT to be out in those temps if possible. If I have to be out, I warm the machines up with a heater, generator, and tarp before even attempting to start them. I had to do that last yr on one of our Ice Fishing trips. It turned way colder than was forcasted.


RD

[Rock Doctor]

Spent some time running around in -20C (-4F), everything looks fine so far.

RD

[North Country Tough]

I cant imagine that those Adair tracks wont take extreme cold,I have had my old Argo plastic tracks in -30 F at the cabin many times and had no issue,and those Adair tracks look like they are much more sturdy,and really looking for your opinion on the track tuners I think that they are a must buy for me in the future.N.C.T

[Rock Doctor]

I cant imagine that those Adair tracks wont take extreme cold,I have had my old Argo plastic tracks in -30 F at the cabin many times and had no issue,and those Adair tracks look like they are much more sturdy,and really looking for your opinion on the track tuners I think that they are a must buy for me in the future.N.C.T

I suspect you are right. I've also had the Argo out in those cold temps, but was thinking.......(Maybe that's a bad thing)

The way the tracks fit together.......the plastic spacers have little fingers that fit into chanels machined into the Grousers. They are a nice snug fit, and in my mind I saw them flexing a bit as the track rolls around the front and rear tires. Not much but some. I was thinking this constant flexing might cause a problem, but after spending some time riding around now, and observing the tracks, I no longer believe this is an issue. I have a lot of confidence in UHMW Plastic, it covers the bottom of my Jetboat and I can tell ya, It's hit a hell of a lot more rocks, at higher speeds than my Argo ever will


RD

[plott hound]

will be interesting to see how they hold up in the cold rock doctor.theres a big difference in cold northern BC compared to cold southern ontario.

[North Country Tough]

I suspect you are right. I've also had the Argo out in those cold temps, but was thinking.......(Maybe that's a bad thing)

The way the tracks fit together.......the plastic spacers have little fingers that fit into chanels machined into the Grousers. They are a nice snug fit, and in my mind I saw them flexing a bit as the track rolls around the front and rear tires. Not much but some. I was thinking this constant flexing might cause a problem, but after spending some time riding around now, and observing the tracks, I no longer believe this is an issue. I have a lot of confidence in UHMW Plastic, it covers the bottom of my Jetboat and I can tell ya, It's hit a hell of a lot more rocks, at higher speeds than my Argo ever will


RD

MMMM yes see what ya mean watched your vid a number of times,quite the assembly line you had going there,good thing help showed up just as you decided the instructions were not required LOL.I gotta think that Adair factored in the deep cold but I will be watching your progress very carefully,as I only use tracks for winter use in northern Ontario and this will be my first year with the rubber version.N.C.T

[Rock Doctor]

Sounds like I have a set of Track Tuners on the way, can't wait to try them out.

Also have a few different types of "Traction Enhancers" on the way as well. Picks, Studs, and Cleats that I can do some testing on. I don't nesessarily want a whole bunch of traction on Ice and Hardpack, but I need SOME. Too much traction will make it a bugger to turn, but I'm thinking I need a bit just to allow me to make it up the ice hills.

Will update further when I get a chance to try some of this stuff out.

RD

[North Country Tough]

Adair Track Tuners

Any further update on release or in field testing on different track styles.

[North Country Tough]

Sounds like I have a set of Track Tuners on the way, can't wait to try them out.

Also have a few different types of "Traction Enhancers" on the way as well. Picks, Studs, and Cleats that I can do some testing on. I don't nesessarily want a whole bunch of traction on Ice and Hardpack, but I need SOME. Too much traction will make it a bugger to turn, but I'm thinking I need a bit just to allow me to make it up the ice hills.

Will update further when I get a chance to try some of this stuff out.

RD

Hey Doc whats up you got snow enough to update this thread,track tuners any report,we have had near zero snow and at the cottage the lake has finally froze over but snow is minimal so I haven't had a chance to try out the rubber tracks(stupid global warming)N.C.T

[Rock Doctor]

Hey Doc whats up you got snow enough to update this thread,track tuners any report,we have had near zero snow and at the cottage the lake has finally froze over but snow is minimal so I haven't had a chance to try out the rubber tracks(stupid global warming)N.C.T

I'm working on it, but as for snow, there is not much to ride in. I have been working on a couple vids but really, I'm not sure I will post them, they are kinda boring. We might have 5" of snow in places that are not packed down.

I have recieved the Track Tuners, but am still waiting for some spacers. I've already come to the conclusion that the Tuners are NOT needed with the Adair Tracks, I have encountered NO chain windup at all. My interest in the Tuners is to see if I can install and run 24" tires on my center 2 axles, with 22" tires on the front and back. This will require some Tub Mods and I am not there yet.
I have recieved my wider spacers for the Adair Tracks to make them 18" wide, but again, I am still waiting for some pieces. I had hoped to recieve everything by yesterday, and would then have time to widen the tracks and try some Cleats/Studs/Picks this weekend but will now have to wait untill I get home next week.
This is what happens when you try to get stuff close to xmas time, lol.

One thing about the Adair tracks, now that I have "scuffed" up the Grouser Faces, they are not quite as slippery as they were when new.

Once I pull the Adair Tracks off to refit with wider spacers, I will install my rubber tracks and the Tuners for a bit of testing. They are bad for Chain Windeup issues, so I'm interested in seeing how the tuners work out.

RD

[North Country Tough]

Thanks RD,my main interest in TT,s is if there is going to be a tire spin issue,if no issue I will be putting them on asap,bit of a slow start to the winter really had no opportunity to try these tracks out,for where I travel I think these will out perform my supers but Iam concerned about the windup,again these will only be used in the winter absolutely no need for them in the summer,I did some surfing thru U tube and older vid,s you put up,man O man your machines get a work out thats some evil swamp,I have nothing that compares to that on the northern shield where I travel my machine is babied in direct comparison.N.C.T