Quick track question, need answer ASAP

[Pro-8250]

Headed out west tomorrow. (18th) Trimming the track lugs last night as F-Bomb suggested. Noticed one lug on the outside of the track (brake side) has a 1 1/4" tear in the lug about a 1/4" above the track. The tear is completely in the lug and not in the track so to speak. The tear seems to be curving up and away from the track toward the tip of the paddle.
Is there a way to repair this in the next 12 hours? I am thinking a small part of that paddle will eventually tear off and that will be the end of it. Good to go?
Any thoughts???

 

[bdoe22]

RUN IT

as long as there isnt any damage to the actual belt of the track i wouldnt worry to much about it.

 

[Tree Boss]

a pic would be very helpful

 

[Pro-8250]

a pic would be very helpful

No tears to the cord. Is there such a thing as gluing , repairing something like this?

 

[LoudHandle]

As I see it you have two choices, cut it off so it doesn't try running down and start into the belting, or let it finish ripping and hope that as it rips it keeps propagating towards the surface as the tear runs rearward. Me I would probably go for option one and know that it will be good for your trip. Sure it will be slightly out of balance but tracks aren't held to a very high standard to start with.

 

[Pro-8250]

As I see it you have two choices, cut it off so it doesn't try running down and start into the belting, or let it finish ripping and hope that as it rips it keeps propagating towards the surface as the tear runs rearward. Me I would probably go for option one and know that it will be good for your trip. Sure it will be slightly out of balance but tracks aren't held to a very high standard to start with.

I never thought about the balance thing. There isn't any kid of adhesive you could put in there?

 

[tdblakes]

i've seen some kind of adhesive that a buddy used to glue some tears back together. it chemically melted the rubber and rehardened creating a sort of "weld". I cant think of what its called tho off the top of my head.

Dont worry about the balance thing... and its 1/2 a lug. dont sweat it man. I've run some seriously shredded tracks before, you'll be fine.

(besides, the more shredded your track gets, the more track speed you'll pick up haha)

Have fun on your trip

 

[LoudHandle]

I never thought about the balance thing. There isn't any kid of adhesive you could put in there?

You could try the Loctite O-ring adhesive but I really don't see it surviving in a high stress application like that. Also it is basically superglue so it it still water soluble over time. You could Also try Loctite's Black Max but again I have my doubts as to a long or even a short term fix.

 

[LoudHandle]

You could also try the stuff that comes with the tire plugs but you'd have to figure out a way to hold tension on it until it cures and that would still be a crapshoot. IMO

 

[aebsledder]

Interested to see the performance of the track. Headed to Cooke City? If a miracle occurs and Cooke does get some of the deep, dry, fluffy stuff, the stock track works great IMO. Are you riding with anyone with the same sled with an unmodified track? Would love to know how they compare.

 

[Pro-8250]

I going to drive down to my tire dealer and see what they say. They recap semi tires all the time. I am sure there are different grades of rubber but I will see what they come up with. I know a few of the guys there so it can't hurt to ask. What ever we decide, were going to Cooke City!

 

[Fast Rider]

Youre creating a bit of a hassle for yourself imo. It something that happens to lugs this deep over time. It'll happen again and you'll probably find 3 or 4 just like it after your trip. No big deal.

 

[Demo250]

You could try a vulcanizing cement. http://www.gemplers.com/product/7A/8-oz-can-Rema-Cold-Vulcanizing-Cement

 

[Pro-8250]

Youre creating a bit of a hassle for yourself imo. It something that happens to lugs this deep over time. It'll happen again and you'll probably find 3 or 4 just like it after your trip. No big deal.

Makes sense, I am just exploring all options. Were leaving no matter what .
Thanks.

 

[NapaMatt]

It's happend to mine twice..

I just ended up cutting that lug off!!! Just to the end of the tear..

 

[Dartos]

There is no balance on a track.

On the trail at 50 mph the bottom of the tack is traveling at 0 mph while the top of the track (retuning to the front) is traveling at 100 mph.

The centrifugal force is not emanating from a single point (or central location) as you would normal think of when something can be balanced.

 

[LoudHandle]

There is no balance on a track.

On the trail at 50 mph the bottom of the tack is traveling at 0 mph while the top of the track (retuning to the front) is traveling at 100 mph.

The centrifugal force is not emanating from a single point (or central location) as you would normal think of when something can be balanced.

My Apologies for getting off topic, but this deserves an answer.

I respectfully disagree, and while your analogy holds some merit. The track is not always be in contact with the ground. If you catch some air and you have a heavy spot in your track it will effect the flight of the sled. How noticeable will depend on the "imbalance", for lack of a better term. If one was to replace one of the fiberglass stiffener rods with a lead one, I guarantee you would feel the pulsing as you rode it. With modern manufacturing controls I don't believe this to be an issue and the air flow around the large lug tracks probably has a larger effect, but to say a track has no Balance is incorrect. A track needs to be of a consistent density or mass to perform well with out causing power robbing harmonics. If you don't like the term "Balance" fine, we can come up with a better term for you, but in essence it is still Balance.

 

[IQRTurbo]

Dont even worry about the torn lug, ride the sled and it will come off in due time. There is nothing that you can do to stop it from coming off now. And the only way to keep more from coming off is to quit riding. I have torn up many tracks and have never noticed any sort of problem associated with it. The way your tear has started it will continue right out to the lug tip and you will be missing a small piece. No big deal, go ride, have fun and be safe.

 

[Dartos]

I agree with LoudHandle that if you get enough lugs missing from one small area you will eventually feel it, be it a vibration or a harmonic vibration as he put it.

Having torn off a lot of lugs myself I have never noticed a vibration from it. My 166 track had 6 torn or missing lugs. When I put on a new track I couldn't tell any difference.


I say trim what is torn and go have fun.

 

[theultrarider]

Another vote for just ride it. Or cut if off it it looks like it's gonna run down into the track. Mine looked worse than that after the 1st ride. It's gonna happen when you ride trees and mtns. Don't sweat it, and enjoy your trip.