How much track is actually on the snow?
- Thread starter MEAT
- Start date
depending on your rear wheels,drivers etc. i always just find the difference which would be 9. divide by 2=4.5 im not an expert but i think its pretty close. your only getting a few paddles more. this might not be right because i know they measure tracks a weird way by going off the pitch and??
just a guess. probably not worth all the time and money unless your really serious. hope this helps
just a guess. probably not worth all the time and money unless your really serious. hope this helps
it does vary by skid design.. approach angle..skid under load.. etc.. however... taking the overall change/2.. gets a person pretty close to actual in the snow..
I usually figure that about 40% of the overall track length is going to be making contact. The other factors do make a difference but they are probably minor. The 40% is close enough to convert to square inches and then see the difference between track lengths and widths. Going from a 151 to 156 is only about a 2" difference, but may be enough to keep you from getting stuck
If you're just comparing two sizes, then yah, it's half the difference.
even on a 121 you already have to go around the drivers, wheels, etc. So any more track will just have to extend the top and the bottom.
even on a 121 you already have to go around the drivers, wheels, etc. So any more track will just have to extend the top and the bottom.
M
MTdream
Well-known member
it is a little more complex than half...since it is not a perfect half it is more like a Scalene triangle (all sides are different length)
Suffice, it to say, we are not talking monstrous difference...net net is probably closer to 3-3.75" when talking a 153-162 change...impossible to give exact answer with different approach angle, and drop brackets, big wheel kits, etc.
Suffice, it to say, we are not talking monstrous difference...net net is probably closer to 3-3.75" when talking a 153-162 change...impossible to give exact answer with different approach angle, and drop brackets, big wheel kits, etc.
If you do nothing but put on rail extensions and a longer track, your answer is 4.5" additional track on the ground. The angle from the rear wheels to the upper wheels in the tunnel will change but the measurable distance is still physically goingto be half ove the overall added length. In this case, it is 4.5" longer.
Possibly the biggest factor on the snow is your rear suspension. If it wheelies all the time you will not have much track on the snow no matter what length you use.
People like to wheelie, it is fun, I like to wheelie, but it really diminishes the track length touching the snow.
I realize your question was simply how much longer will the track really be but I think lots of people would gain so much more performance by adjusting the suspensions with the tracks they already have than they do by adding track length.
All this great advice coming from a guy going to a 174" this year.
But it is still true.
Hope this makes sense.
People like to wheelie, it is fun, I like to wheelie, but it really diminishes the track length touching the snow.
I realize your question was simply how much longer will the track really be but I think lots of people would gain so much more performance by adjusting the suspensions with the tracks they already have than they do by adding track length.
All this great advice coming from a guy going to a 174" this year.
But it is still true.
Hope this makes sense.
ok, here goes. On my 162 cat you have 17 inches of track from the tunnel to the first set of idlers where the track turns and then 53 inches of flat track on the snow till it turns up at the back. So if you compare a 153 to mine, and measure just on the flat part of the rails, a 162 gives you about 10% more track on the snow. If you add the initial 17 inchs of attack part of the track, then it is more like 8% more track on the ground. You really can't just go by the added length because you need to figure it out as a percentage of whats on the ground because in overall length it is about 6% more, but it is more than that on the ground. Right?
With all of the other variables being the same the only real difference will be the amount of extra rail you have on the ground. Pretty simple. Just add that up and there you go!!!
biggest variable is the size of the rider and what he packs .
fudge
yeah that and the terrain. is every body riding smooth gradual slopes, or are we just talking in general?
yeah that and the terrain. is every body riding smooth gradual slopes, or are we just talking in general?
Compared to when i rode a 136 there's alot of track in the snow with my 163........When it snows 3 feet and the snow is bottomless i would have to say that my whole track is working the snow.
OT
OT
????????????????
The question, I don't know the answer. I just tell everybody, Buy the biggest motor, and longest track you can afford!-00's
The question, I don't know the answer. I just tell everybody, Buy the biggest motor, and longest track you can afford!-00's
well that answer made it all simple...if im ever lost in the bush with someone i hope its you,,,
H
H2SNOW
ACCOUNT CLOSED
where you from m8mag??