Home made rubber tracks

[smog]

My first goal was to install the tracks as close to the tub as possible so the tracks snow footprint would extend under the tub, reducing the drag effect from bottom floor. From experience, the track will have a footprint at least 3 inches wider on each side in deep powder, so making it closer to the tub would help a lot. It can be done on the Argo as the tub "walls" are straight up so the 1 inch clearance from the tracks at the bottom is still 1" at the top of the tracks. BUT the MAX IV have taper walls.

If I use the "non-contact area" offset on the outside, without any wheel spacer, I would have contact interference with the upper tub. So using the Argo 2.5" wheel spacers and the offset on the inside, I get a 1" side clearance with the tub.

On an Argo, this set of tracks can be used without wheel spacers.

This is the result of my observation on Martwell's tracks and Daniel's tracks over at Sentier6x6 (both have Argos with custom 15" tracks)

[Rock Doctor]

What would you recommend is the best way to cut a rubber track?

I have aluminium ramps. I put a strip of snowmobile track on each to help machines climb up when all muddy. I used a Skill Saw to split the track in two.
This also might not be the best way, but it worked. Used a knife to trim them to length.

RD

[sherman]

I understand from a friend that the double cut saw that sears and harbor freight sale is purdy good for cutting rubber but I personally have not used one yet just an idea

[WildCat]

Wow what a feat of ingenuity nicely done -was curious the slopes on inside of guides do they round off after use (and -or) what do they do to the sidewall of tire was chatting with Rockdoctor07 he says he got an idea from you or got a set from this idea --must have traction of a Bear --Middle alberta Boy

[Hogneck]

I received numerous PM about it so here is how I made mine.

I got 3 identical snowmobile tracks. I chose the polaris 1.5" as it was easy to find on flebay. So I got 3x 133.5"x15"x1.5" polaris RMK tracks Paid 100$ each + shipping.



You can go see your local snowmobile seller as he could have new take-off in stock.

Then I made my own design of tire guide. I made sure it would be easy to build at home. Then sent the drawing to the laser cut machine :



I made the drawing leaving a very small tab between the sections so it would stay together and bend it 10 at the same time on the hyd press brake. I also chose to make some square holes and use the regular carriage bolts (easy installation)

price for the 148 tire guides : 200$

price for the 300 bolts and nuts : 24$

I chose to overlap the track sections and bolt it together under the track guides; I saved 4 hinges.

overall it was a 8 hours job and I'm please with the result. my cost including the used track shipping was 675$ + 8 easy hours.

That is very cool ! I like the deep lug tracks. Great Job Smog !! If I ever have to replacemy factory rubbers ,I'd would like to go this way. How does it swim? Betcha damn well !

[Duck89]

Nicely done! Looks great!

[smog]

How does it swim? Betcha damn well !

swimming abilities are untested; no open waters right now. My guess is that it will not swim much.

so if any of you need tracks with swimming abilities, go for the Adair as the rubber tracks are more winter oriented.

[Rock Doctor]

That is very cool ! I like the deep lug tracks. Great Job Smog !! If I ever have to replacemy factory rubbers ,I'd would like to go this way. How does it swim? Betcha damn well !

I've been thinking (Dangerous, I know), I get the feeling that these WILL swim, but maybe not in the way you mean.
Closed Face tracks typically don't swim very well at all, except at VERY slow RPM's. The kicker is that if you spin them fast, they will swim backwards. There have been a few times in my career where this particular quirk worked for me. Once you get the machine into the water and pointed in the righ direction, slap it into reverse and pound the throttle. Water will be carried on the track and "thrown" out the back, creating some thrust. Once you get close to your destination, back out of the throttle, flip the trans into forward, and let momentum carry you to the shallows. Once the machine touches down, start the tracks turning and with luck, they will drag you up out of the water.
I think that the Paddle Faced design of smogs tracks will probably carry a lot of water, and would in fact swim in this way.

smog, even though you don't run tracks in the summer, I do hope you do some open water testing before you remove the tracks in the spring

RD

[smog]

Sure I will !!!!

I already have the high power bandolero and three time the tracks length of these guys :

[smog]

How I spliced the tracks :

I overlapped under the guides.

I also added "AMAZING GOOP" automotive adhesive between the overlapped sections. (as per recommendation on numerous sled forums)

I tested the goop glue before I started the project; I glued 2 small sample of the tracks and the retention forces were high enough for the kind of stress our machines put on the tracks.

[mudbug3]

smog


These tracks look like they will give outstanding traction in mud or soft terrain conditions.

[Noel Woods]

Looks like a good track for snow and mud. Don't think they will swim, but then again just stay out of the deep water. Good job on the put together, it looks well thought out and as good if not better than other home made tracks I've seen. Should make a great machine even better.

[North Country Tough]

Smog,s Blizzard buster

Hey Smog did you get any snow yet to try out those Super duty tracks?I spent quite a bit of time checking out some vid,s on Sentier,you guys are pretty hard core,really put them machines to the test,Mr Argo from what I can tell is a real character anyway you have a great X Mas the best to the family keep those vid,s coming.N.C.T

[smog]

we only have 1 inch over the lawn....

[Rock Doctor]

If I'm not mistaken , Mr Argo, is a member here too, but under a different username. Nice guy too.
Strange yr for snow, we should have at least a couple ft by now, but are sitting at maybe 6".............. It was even raining here last week. Crazy yr for sure, i got to see snow in July and rain in December.

RD