I have seen tracks with and with out. What is better?
Track porting worth it or not?
- Thread starter toy4
- Start date
I feel the main benefits of porting the track are less weight (rotating mass), helps evacuate the snow from the track and it gives the air a place to go that is trapped between the tunnel and the track. I feel it is a worth while mod.
dont try watercross with one
Just do it.. and feel the difference.... 
7
76FOMOCO
Well-known member
It must work....the OEMs are doing it now
and I did it too....it doesnt hurt anything at least
and I did it too....it doesnt hurt anything at least
lots of opinions both ways
some say it's like a cheese grater in sugar snow and prone to trenching
I don't see any benefits of snow evacuation, call BS on that one
weight savings maybe a pound or two at most?
not worth it to me imo
ranks right in there with the 2 wheel kit
gain some 'cool factor' and have the mod look at a loss of durability
some say it's like a cheese grater in sugar snow and prone to trenching
I don't see any benefits of snow evacuation, call BS on that one
weight savings maybe a pound or two at most?
not worth it to me imo
ranks right in there with the 2 wheel kit
gain some 'cool factor' and have the mod look at a loss of durability
I have done three of my tracks now. The first one had three 1 1/8" holes across the center track belt only.
The second one had the same three holes in the middle with 3/4" holes on the outer belts as well. This track allowed the sled to roll so easily I had to use the parking brake if I stopped in an area with ANY incline at all.
My latest track only has two holes down the middle belt spaced every other row so the idler wheels don't go through (over) the holes I have drilled. I also only drilled the holes directly behind the center paddles so the track belt before the paddles can still pack the snow for the paddles arrival. I may drill some more holes later but for now I'm starting out conservaive this time. I alos think some my prior vibration issues may have been from the idlers going through the porting holes. Now that I have no holes that allow the idlers to roll over them, interstingly my vibration issues have ended.
Frosty
The second one had the same three holes in the middle with 3/4" holes on the outer belts as well. This track allowed the sled to roll so easily I had to use the parking brake if I stopped in an area with ANY incline at all.
My latest track only has two holes down the middle belt spaced every other row so the idler wheels don't go through (over) the holes I have drilled. I also only drilled the holes directly behind the center paddles so the track belt before the paddles can still pack the snow for the paddles arrival. I may drill some more holes later but for now I'm starting out conservaive this time. I alos think some my prior vibration issues may have been from the idlers going through the porting holes. Now that I have no holes that allow the idlers to roll over them, interstingly my vibration issues have ended.
Frosty
R
RobG
ACCOUNT CLOSED
I ported by 03 RMK 800 151's track... three across the middle. I was amazed when finished how much more flexible the track was and how easily you could move it by hand. I also noticed a lot less snow build-up in the skid.
Now it's long gone and I just drilled the track on my 05 M6 141. This time I did two holes (1.75") in the center and that's all. I haven't ridden it yet, but again I notice that the track is more flexible and is easier to turn by hand.
Rob
Now it's long gone and I just drilled the track on my 05 M6 141. This time I did two holes (1.75") in the center and that's all. I haven't ridden it yet, but again I notice that the track is more flexible and is easier to turn by hand.
Rob
I guess being a dumb flatland rockfarmer I didn't know any better..rode my ported 151x2 all over on the floodwater here in Iowa last week. . .
I agree with dirtydude although it can remove 7 pounds on a long track so it is considerable.
I found my skid had just as much snow as ever no difference what so ever.
One other thing....everyone wants a bigger track in the mountains an then they cut a bunch of holes in it and reduce the amount of track surface with the snow. This increases the weight per square inch of track on the snow. Some may say it does not matter, but it makes your 151 the equivilent of a 144... food for thought.
I found my skid had just as much snow as ever no difference what so ever.
One other thing....everyone wants a bigger track in the mountains an then they cut a bunch of holes in it and reduce the amount of track surface with the snow. This increases the weight per square inch of track on the snow. Some may say it does not matter, but it makes your 151 the equivilent of a 144... food for thought.
my brother ported his track last year. Every now and then I would compare my skid to his and I didn't see a huge difference in the amount of snow.
I have ported my last 3 tracks and will continue to do so. The best benifit I see, as has been mentioned, is the increased flexibility in the track. This along with the snow removal and mild rotating weight loss makes this mod well worth the effort. And it's free. Can't really beat that price.
Oh and I weighed the clippings from my last porting from a 162" mav. ~2.5#. I think 7 is a little high.
J.
Oh and I weighed the clippings from my last porting from a 162" mav. ~2.5#. I think 7 is a little high.
J.
Think paddles not footprint.
I see that hole range from 3/4 to 1 1/8 what is the best way to install the hole. I was thing of using a hole saw is this the correct way to go about it?
you can go bigger with a hole saw if you want. the only thing to worry abou with it is to have a used one or one that you make almost ground down. You want to almost burn your way through the track, that way it seals up and you dont have your track start to fray out. Its going to make a pretty bad stink so i suggest a fan and a case of beer for both the smell and time it will take. I think in the old forum someone had a pic of one they made with a spring or something in it to help get the cutout piece out easier.
Yes paddles matter, but as someone else said try taking a ported track on water and you will sink. So what is happening in the snow?
I understand the reduced rolling resistance as long as it translated to increased track speeds. Which from my experience are really not noticeable.
I am not saying don't do it, just that I am not convinced that it really does anything.
last season i spent a week straight reading about what people said in previous threads. i came to a consensus after reading tons and tons of posts that there are really only two benefits from porting your track.
Two summers ago my neighbor and his friend bought the same 144" track and ported one of them. when you placed the ported beside the un-ported the ported track laid flat while the other was stiffer and held an ovel. This reinforces the theory that the sled can spin the track more easily
and after they came back from cooke city they said that they both held the same amount of snow in the skid and that it doest really help in that aspect.
thats my two cents
good luck
- Better Stopping because the holes grip
- Less rotational resistance
Two summers ago my neighbor and his friend bought the same 144" track and ported one of them. when you placed the ported beside the un-ported the ported track laid flat while the other was stiffer and held an ovel. This reinforces the theory that the sled can spin the track more easily
and after they came back from cooke city they said that they both held the same amount of snow in the skid and that it doest really help in that aspect.
thats my two cents
good luck
