Studding a paddle track?

[blueyoda]

Hello,

Call me crazy, but I am studding my paddle track. We can go from 8ft of powder to a ice covered lake in the same day, so I need versatility and cooling.
Has anyone studded a 2"X151" Polaris gen 4 track? I have 144 1.75" studs, how much do the paddles flex? I am willing to cut down my paddles a bit as well. I know we don't have tunnel ex changers under the seat, but will they tear up the tunnel? Any advice would be great.

 

[Goinboardin]

Look at the bottom of the tunnel, I'm sure its streaked with black marks where your track rubs it. So I would suspect you'll need to run tunnel protectors.

 

[blueyoda]

No body has done this?

 

[550iq]

I studded an 013 SB Assault. Took the 2" paddle track off and replaced it with a 1.25" fully studded 144" track. The Polaris tunnel protectors that were installed are 1.5" high and would preclude running the 2" track without notching the paddles or removing the protectors. Also, due to the height of the tunnel protectors, they hinder snow movement from the center of the track/tunnel to the outer sides of the tunnel where the heat exchangers are. Food for thought. 550iq

 

[blueyoda]

Is there need for "official" tunnel protectors? there are no heat exchangers in the tunnel to worry about, I was going to get a thin sheet of plastic and screw it to the bottom for the rare chance the studs would hit. I have only felt the paddles hit the tunnel once, and there was a lot of ice built up so it may have been just ice

 

[whoisthatguy]

You can also bolt on HDPE plastic 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" angles and they will contact the ice enough to get traction because the 2" lugs will bend enough. You use bolts with a swivel type washer that allows the bolt to move around a bit. I believe that SLP may carry everything.

 

[blueyoda]

Thanks, if the 1.5" angle will work, then the 1.75" studs should get into the ice with no problem. I am going to run two studs in front of each center paddle and three every second bar inbetween. 135 total if my math is right. Leaves me a few replacements if needed

 

[550iq]

Post a photo when you finish and a ride report as well. Probably a few folks appreciate you being the test mule. Make sure you use single ply track studs and backing washers if need be. 550iq

 

[blueyoda]

Pretty sure my track is two ply? 2003 polaris gen4?

 

[550iq]

The track is probably a 2-ply design considering its age. Stud up and enjoy what's left of the season. 550iq

 

[sno*jet]

if its spinning too much on ice/hardpack i would just slice the flimsy tops off the paddles. night n day difference. powder peformance will suffer a bit, just like with the studs youre thinking of putting on.