121" ST to Snowhawk 136" Track Conversion

[sanddanw]

Team,

I have the 121" ST Timbersled on an 09 FE570 and it is amazing package. But I really feel that the 136" Snowhawk track with the rounded hard lug profile is a much better solution for trail riding. I have to ride about 20 Miles of trails to get to the powder in Cooke City and it is kind of a hairy ride at 50 MPH. I also think that the longer track will help with floatation in the deep powder.

Who has done this conversion?
What are you using for extensions and cost?
Where are you getting the 136" Snowhawk track from?
What negatives are there?

 

[Rush44]

Do you really feel like the track is what effects the road riding? My problem has always been the dartiness and tough steering in the ski. I would think that addressing the ski issue would yield more positive results (the new ski may go a long way to accomplishing this).

 

[up-high]

You could get extensions from Western Power Sports. If your kit is a new one, you'll have to change drivers. As to finding a Snohawk track, they're getting to be rare. I'm with Rush. I think the new ski will really clean up the trail manners of the MH(atleast I hope it will).

 

[retired motoman]

snohawk track

The WPS extentions are P# 44-1503. The Hawk track is a 2.53 pitch so if you have a '11 or '12 Mountain Horse 121 it will bolt on.
I installed a Hawk 136" track last season on my '12 121 kit.

If you have a '13 MH 121, it has a 2.86 pitch and the Hawk track will not fit with out new drivers.
All MH 137" long tracks have the 2.86 pitch.

The MH long track will out climb my Hawk 136 but the Hawk track handles much better in all conditions. One of my closest riding buds has a MH 137" so we see the differences every ride.

 

[powdermuncher]

Once you have the ski sorted with either a mod Simmons or the new ski the round track rides almost like a bike down the trail no more wrestling it into a turn. It takes 50 tracks for camoplast to do a batch.( According to my dealer).
So if we get 50 guys together they may just do another production run.
Anyone who has not ridden a bike set up with a hawk track needs to try it to see for them self. Snowbikes that are fun on trails as well

 

[sanddanw]

I already have the Simmons Gen 2 Ski with the appropriate mods and I am now curious how the snowhawk track handles.

 

[sanddanw]

The way that I understand the comments so far is that the 136" Snowhawk track is better than the 121 in deep snow and on the trail correct? It is not as good as the 137" Timbersled track on deep snow hill climbs but definately better on the trail.

 

[powdermuncher]

The Hawk track gives up a little in deep snow performance that is why some guys have gone 136 to make up for it .
We have one guy here with a 121 Hawk track and he feels the trade of is well worth it his main riding buddy has the stock track on the same make bike. It totally depends on snow conditions on who does better. That is why I went 136 with a track cut to copy the hawk track profile.
So far so good we will see how it compares when I hook up with them in some real deep stuff.
That working stuff really messes up my riding.

 

[sanddanw]

What type of track did you cut down and profile? What extensions did you use? and can you post a pic of it so I can see how you cut it down. Of course keep us posted as to how it works and handles on the trail please.

 

[upfront719]

I like the idea of cutting down the MH track to simulate the Hawk track. Is there any reason why we would not want to do this?? (Versus buying a Hawk track) The hawk tracks are friggen expensive!!

I'm thinking even a slight modification like 1.75 in the center lugs and 1.50 in the outer lugs would help on trail riding? What are your thoughts? I'd hate to mess up the track, but I'm thinking this would be an improvement and be similar to the Hawk design.

 

[retired motoman]

cutting down

I like the idea of cutting down the MH track to simulate the Hawk track. Is there any reason why we would not want to do this?? (Versus buying a Hawk track) The hawk tracks are friggen expensive!!

I'm thinking even a slight modification like 1.75 in the center lugs and 1.50 in the outer lugs would help on trail riding? What are your thoughts? I'd hate to mess up the track, but I'm thinking this would be an improvement and be similar to the Hawk design.

A few of the Priest Lake goup (25 MH riders) has cut the edges of their tracks, both stock short and long track conversions. It did help on the trail for more of a "dirt bike" feel. I did not see any noticable difference in the powder, with reguards on how it climbed.

The only reason I went with the Hawk track was I did not need to cut the edges to fit the MH.
There is 5 in the group who did find a used 136 X 15 track and cut it to fit, using the WPS 44-1503 extentions, it works great.
3 in the group have the MH long track 137".

Many upgraded this season to the new MH 120" x 2" kits, not for the track but the new ski. The greasable bearings and track is a bonus.

We will see how it all works in the coming weeks.

 

[snowhawkaddict]

Lovin the Snowbird talk!

Favorite Ann Murray song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D5jMAgjwGg

 

[powdermuncher]

Never knew why they did not catch on more?

MY MH would be a handful with 140HP

Here are a few picks of my track cut, a Challenger 2" paddle cut and trimmed .

I left the Center alone for powder performance.

Had to trim it 2 times before it started to roll over nice Found there was no point being shy about cutting of rubber it needs to be a relative shallow cut if it is just rounded it will not roll properly.

 

[sanddanw]

I like it keep me posted as to how it works out for you this year and I will try to find one next year to hack up.

 

[sanddanw]

How long did it take you to cut and trim the track?

 

[powdermuncher]

It takes about one hour to cut the track to 12.5 or 10 3/4 for the SX (on the Bandsaw), than after installing it use a belt sander to smoothen it out perfect with the bike running the track.

Cutting the paddles is easy just use any sharp knife -- I used the leather man with the serrated blade about one hour to do a nice job . If you want to be real exact make a sheet metal pattern to cut along its side so all cuts are perfect.

 

[sanddanw]

I found a used 136 X 1.75 for $100 and am thinking of doing the swap any ideas on what you guys think? I will narrow it and taper the edge the for rolling the bike better on the trail. Is it better than a stock 121?

 

[up-high]

It's longer. It's got to be better right?

 

[powdermuncher]

Not sure if a 1.75 has enough paddle hight for a nice cut.

THE HAWK TRACK IS 2.25 or 2,5 in the middle and drops to less than 1 inch on the outside.

 

[KAWGRN]

The 13's are a 2 inch so mabe I could get away with cutting it down! Looked at my 12 kit with the 1.75 not shure there wold be enough track left if I cut that one down,although it might make a better trail track!