Summer is going by way to slow. Just was thinking about tracks. What are your guys opinions on ported vs non ported. Many argue that the ported track allows snow to clear out thus you are carying less weight. I can't see this being the case in deep snow. I would think in deep snow your skid will always be pretty full of snow. I'm talking over a foot of powder. I would think the non ported track would have better flotation in the deep stuff. I'm coming from a 2009 800 rmk, have a 14 xm ordered. I'm anxious to see the difference as the rmk has a ported track while the xm does not.
ported vs non ported track
- Thread starter hunt4bigbucks
- Start date
It's going to be a tough comparison as you will also be comparing a 15" wide vs. a 16" wide.
Porting is one of those topics that has been beaten to death but for what it's worth here's my two cents: The stock doo ports (ie cheese grater) are proven to not work, they are too big and sacrifice too much flotation. Most guys port in the middle between lugs and I don't think this is the answer either. A few guys have started to port right behind the leading lug and I think there could be some benefit here. The port's position keeps snow from getting pushed through the port because it follows a lug and is a long way from the snow being churned by the following lug.
All my sleds tend to have quite a bit of snow buildup in and on the skid but I don't run ported tracks. I'm not sold that a track with porting big enough to evacuate snow provides enough benefit to overcome the loss of floatation.
I think the benefit comes in a situation where you have too much snow and air pressure build up in the front of the tunnel. The best example of this that comes to mind is an XP/XM with a 3" track and 7T drivers. The fit is so tight that I believe ports would be beneficial in reducing the load caused by compressing all that snow and air through there.
Porting is one of those topics that has been beaten to death but for what it's worth here's my two cents: The stock doo ports (ie cheese grater) are proven to not work, they are too big and sacrifice too much flotation. Most guys port in the middle between lugs and I don't think this is the answer either. A few guys have started to port right behind the leading lug and I think there could be some benefit here. The port's position keeps snow from getting pushed through the port because it follows a lug and is a long way from the snow being churned by the following lug.
All my sleds tend to have quite a bit of snow buildup in and on the skid but I don't run ported tracks. I'm not sold that a track with porting big enough to evacuate snow provides enough benefit to overcome the loss of floatation.
I think the benefit comes in a situation where you have too much snow and air pressure build up in the front of the tunnel. The best example of this that comes to mind is an XP/XM with a 3" track and 7T drivers. The fit is so tight that I believe ports would be beneficial in reducing the load caused by compressing all that snow and air through there.
Air compression is a myth. think about the paddle at 3 inch. the belt is 3.5 inches away from the tunnel. theres 3.5 inches in the paddle area to move air/snow, .As far as snow buildup after running many setups. the snow builds up to the point which the paddle scrapes it off. Any more clearance than what the paddle balloons to when on/ off the flipper will simply build up with ice. Perhaps at 100mph on a trail sled a minimal performance difference. port every other paddle[only behind the center paddle,not in front of it] this avoids grading snow into the tunnel and does assist in excavation of snow and helps cooling allowing snow to spray to the center of the cooler.
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frock
Well-known member
There are a couple other benefits not mentioned here as well. The mass of track rotated is reduced and probably the best benefit of porting is the track stiffness is reduced. The degree of reduction will depend on the amount of porting. The stiffer the track the more power it takes to rotate around the suspension. Both these free up horsepower available to the track.
The key is not too many ports, not to the point that the track becomes to weak and starts to fail. I've ported 3 different tracks and they are all still working. I port in the center section only between every set of paddles, one row of 3 holes then one row of 2 holes that are offset so the holes do not line up. So far this system has worked for me.
The key is not too many ports, not to the point that the track becomes to weak and starts to fail. I've ported 3 different tracks and they are all still working. I port in the center section only between every set of paddles, one row of 3 holes then one row of 2 holes that are offset so the holes do not line up. So far this system has worked for me.
I had a prototype rev xm in 2012 with the ported track and I found zero difference when riding it in all conditions compared with my 2 2013 non-ported tracks....its fun to talk about and come up with ideas on it but if 95% of could not see the track, we would not be able to tell the difference. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. But you will love your new xm compared to your older rmk, just because the technology has changed so much, more power, lighter throttle feeling and you'll be able to tip it way easier..using way less muscle power and technique comparatively, and most importantly you'll have more fun and that is what it is all about!
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frock
Well-known member
Norona it's not just fun to talk about, the gains were real. I ported my track then put the sled on the snow the next day without making any other changes and I had to add weight to my primary because I was now overrevving. This tells me that I have freed up horsepower somewhere.
A few basics need to be injected into any discussion about porting.
#1, MODERATION. because some is good, does not mean more is better.
#2, location. the same hole in front of a paddle, and in back of a paddle do two VERY different things. in front of the paddle will decrease floatation, will shove snow INTO the tunnel, and are not what you want. Behind the paddle though, it allows snow to exit, doesn't hamper compression of the snow which leads to forward thrust, and basically gives you the positives without the negatives.
I've water skipped ported sleds many times, but it depends on where the porting is. Done right, porting isn't something that cuts down floatation.
Port it right... and it will float just fine, snow OR water
#1, MODERATION. because some is good, does not mean more is better.
#2, location. the same hole in front of a paddle, and in back of a paddle do two VERY different things. in front of the paddle will decrease floatation, will shove snow INTO the tunnel, and are not what you want. Behind the paddle though, it allows snow to exit, doesn't hamper compression of the snow which leads to forward thrust, and basically gives you the positives without the negatives.
I've water skipped ported sleds many times, but it depends on where the porting is. Done right, porting isn't something that cuts down floatation.
Port it right... and it will float just fine, snow OR water
I agree it can be overdone....as BCIL said, leave the area behind the paddle alone (where the paddle pushes) and drill any holes on the forward side.
IMO, any gains will depend on snow conditions. It does help with cooling on the XP/XM for sure!! The cooler was designed with the older overly-ported tracks that sprayed snow directly on them....solid tracks overheat much quicker.
IMO, any gains will depend on snow conditions. It does help with cooling on the XP/XM for sure!! The cooler was designed with the older overly-ported tracks that sprayed snow directly on them....solid tracks overheat much quicker.
Only way I see a ported track as being worth it, is if you ran a couple different tracks. Non-ported for the fluffy powder snow, and then switching over to a ported track cone spring for higher track speeds
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scrfce
Active member
U know what I say B? U don't know shat! Lol jk bud enjoy the new ride,,,, buuut u still won't keep up to the 15" pro
If the porting is done right, there is no reason it would hurt in deep powder.
If you port where the track is trying to compress the snow in order to get forward motion though... it would be less than idea for deeper days. Simple answer: Don't do that.
As long as you're carrying a lot of forward speed, the porting didn't seem to bother me. If you're running hp and climbing a lot, you'll notice you won't even be close to thinking about turning out and the bottom will drop out under the track and I've actually fell back in the hole.( lot's of track speed).
I had a good comparison because I bought a 07' 151" w/800R stock.
Been running 06" mod, same track except ported. The 06' was running big hp (big bore 860). Same clutches etc. etc.
07' would just keep going and going like normal until you turn out. 06' completely different story.( 06' even has nice suspension- mountain Tamer / good control etc.)
Now, here's the thing, was it the three holes I ported between each paddle, or was it because of more track speed? !!!!!!!!!!!
I had a good comparison because I bought a 07' 151" w/800R stock.
Been running 06" mod, same track except ported. The 06' was running big hp (big bore 860). Same clutches etc. etc.
07' would just keep going and going like normal until you turn out. 06' completely different story.( 06' even has nice suspension- mountain Tamer / good control etc.)
Now, here's the thing, was it the three holes I ported between each paddle, or was it because of more track speed? !!!!!!!!!!!
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mike_s
Well-known member
It is not a myth. The track carries more air into the tunnel than just the height of the lugs, it induces an airflow along the entire exposed area between the tunnel and track, which then has to be compressed to exit the front of the tunnel around the drivers. Yes, there is clearance of however tall the lug is, plus the lug tip clearance, but remember that at this point you have compressed about 3 cubic feet of air into less than one cubic foot. When the track is ported, all that air is given an alternate route, and you can see the effect first hand, in the snow dust that is driven out of the front half of the track suspension (you can usually see the rush of air and fine snow out of the sides of the front half of the suspension) as well as the fact that many people have expirienced the need to add clutch weight, or regear due to a higher available top speed.
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