Home made rubber tracks

[weber]

hi,i was wondering what size track you made those homemade tracks from, i got the older plastic tracks and mine are starting to crack where the pins go in if you could i would like more info on hoe you made those thanks, ron

[guyvapeur]

The set of tracks Smog has along with his Max is one hell of a winning combination. I was part of the trail ride yestureday at Prevost. Smog was like the sheep dog herding sheep. He quite literraly ran circles around the other machines. He got into some deep holes but was able to get out of every last one. I am very much impressed with his Max and his DIY rubber tracks.

[smog]

and I even had the chance to see Antoine's Adair tracks in action.

[smog]

I chose to leave it as-is and I will have a look at it in the spring/summer as my garage is unheated.

[micmac]

Smog,

Did you ever change anything on the tire guides to smooth them out? I remember you posting that they were scuffing the Maxxis tires and that was a concern. What did you come up with for a solution?

[smog]

Update on the DIY rubber tracks

He had a ride yesterday with 10 other members/family from Sentier6x6.

The 15" rubber tracks performed very well in the "coarse salt" dry snow condition. The Max IV climbed the sloped trails with ease, I never had to be towed by another AATV. the deep lugs grip is just amazing. This cheap set of tracks was even performing after all the plastic tracks ripped the snow off the trails leaving exposed rock/ice/frozen stumps.

I am very happy of this 750$ DIY track set.

Something people on a budget who want to ride in snow should consider.


NO it is not a track set for summer, NO it shouldn't swim. IF you are looking for mud/swimming, get a set of Adair tracks

[smog]

Sorry for the lack of updates, I'm working hard to build my own business ( www.northernliftgates.com ) going from my welder pants to the dressed suit and tie to meet clients for commercial presentation.

The tracks are performing perfectly but I have an issue with the clutching as the High rpm bandolero engine can't be unleashed and is held back to very low rpm under load....


as for the tire guides, Tim of Adair Argo told me the sleeved tube could be a solution to save the crappy tires.

I don't have a closer picture but here are Martwell's tire guides, you can see he installed the guides at a 7.5" pitch, the guides have a very sharp top "curve" but he never had a problem with the old runamuk.

I will keep the 4snow tires and just sand/grind the sharp edges on the tire guides.

[Obsessed]

hey Smog...havent heard from you for a while...hope all is well :-)

thinking about how to update your wheel guide concept...how about if you start with another batch of guides identical to the first set, but this time make the two outer mounting flange bends first, and then string each unfinished guide with a piece of rubber hose (or some type of hose that is not to sticky..like aqua plex, or underground black water line tubing)....looks like it would slide on pretty easy from the side with the lesser angle...then make the center bend and let it crush the hose also....seems like you might get a softer curve at the top of the guide which will save a lot of wear and tear on the side walls...and if you play with the width of your metal guide, you could probably get a really nice fit inside of whatever hose you chose to use...my guess is that this design change might be easy enough on the tires that you could run the soft 4-SNOW tires for a couple more seasons :-)

best of luck to you! and hope to see more winter deep snow videos of you and your friends before the snow is all gone

tim

[smog]

first full day of riding on the new tracks :

1. as Tim of Adair Argo told me, the tire guides are rough on the tire sidewalls, I will have to make them smoother where it was laser cut.

2. the maxxis snow tires are way too soft for regular tire guides. the 4snow tires are ok in the plastic argo tracks with LARGE tire guides but too soft for the steel tire guides.

Keep in mind we were 4 inside the Max IV and the tracks made a fantastic job in the fluffy snow.

and I had another idea for home made track guides :

it's just an unfinished guide but I made it with galvanised electrical conduit. It's cheap and will not rust.
the flats were made with a standard bench vise and the bend was formed by pressing the edge of a T on the tube.

It's an idea, don't call me back if it doesn't cure cancer or destroy your AATV.

[smog]

Those are some great looking pics....I bet you all had a great day out playing in the snow.

Did you encounter any problems with the tracks????

How are the steel track guides on the tires????? any damage to the sidewalls????

No problem with the tracks, always had a lot of traction. The tracks seems to do better at low speed than full rage full throttle uphill climbing. Low speed make it cling to the slopes a lot better.

Yes I have to make the guide edges a bit smoother as the very soft maxxis tires are showing a lot of sidewall rubbing.

[guyfox]

it performed as it should !!

Sortie St-Calixte - a set on Flickr

Those are some great looking pics....I bet you all had a great day out playing in the snow.

Did you encounter any problems with the tracks????

How are the steel track guides on the tires????? any damage to the sidewalls????

[smog]

it performed as it should !!

Sortie St-Calixte - a set on Flickr

[Mike]

Your max sure sounded good.

[smog]

first full day of riding on the new tracks :

1. as Tim of Adair Argo told me, the tire guides are rough on the tire sidewalls, I will have to make them smoother where it was laser cut.

2. the maxxis snow tires are way too soft for regular tire guides. the 4snow tires are ok in the plastic argo tracks with LARGE tire guides but too soft for the steel tire guides.


here is a picture taken by Martwell :

[jpswift1]

I'm a cheap ass who won't pay top dollars for something that can be done at home.

Before buying anything, I always ask myself how much will I get if I have to sell it quickly; if it's less that what I paid then it's just not worth it.

I think the very same way. And hats off to you for constructing those tracks....they look great!