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The stock gears will top out around 90-100 mph if a guy could go that fast. The lower gear set will top out around 75-80 mph. Just looking for a better mechanical advantage to spin the 162 in the snow a little more efficiently and hopefuly get a few more MPH out of her in the process. At the very least it is easier on the belt and I can take a marker, draw a line on the sheaves and play with the tortional secondary to dial it back in on the mountain. In the spring time when the snow is set up, I will most likely go back to my stock gearing.
I'm glad that opinion is yours, it makes no sense. How is the track going to pick up more snow than the lugs can handle. Also the PC is design specifically to no pull the snow through but pack it under the track. This thread has nothing to do with how far we go or whos got the most track speed, its just talk and food for thought as there are way to many variables. If track speed was king my piped m1000 would rock the TM8, and the TM8 stomps the m1000.
I respectfully disagree. While there are MANY variables such as weight, approach angle, track length, suspension etc., track speed does make a BIG difference. Take identical M8 153s. Put a turbo on one. What makes this sled climb higher or stay on top of the snow better???? Track speed. More track speed results in the displacement of snow in the opposite direction in which the sled will travel. The inertia caused by the said displacement of snow is what propells the sled. Same as a mud buggy in the mud pit.
Not to start an argument, and no bash intended, but track speed IS paramount in keeping a sled on top and up over.
Sam
No overthinking. It's physics gents. What do you think is the force that propels the sled?? Now obviously this does not apply to a sled on hard pack. Only deep snow. The velocity of the snow that is "moved" in one direction, ie track speed, results in higher momentum the other direction. I have 2 M8s. Only difference, one has an OVS tial turbo. The other is NA. What causes the turboed sled with higher track speed to attain a high mark, or enable it to go much farther on a DEEP day? Track speed. The inertia created by snow that is propelled by the track is much higher, in turn creating a forward speed that is greater. This allows the sled to get on top of the snow instead of plowing through it. I HAVE done these comparisons. Same day. Same results. More track speed equates to a more effecient end result, HIGH MARK.
BTW, comparing the M1000 and the M8 is like comparing apples and oranges. I see your point, and I believe we may just be looking at things from a different perspective, possibly just argunig semantics. But bottom line, track speed IS very relevant when discussing a sleds performance ability.
Sam
Lower gears in a cvt system is a fallacy, The whole purpose of the clutching is to go from 0 gear ratio to 1:1, and these I think go to a 8:1 after that in the last 1/4" of the sheave. The only positive effect you "might" have is getting the belt closer to a 1:1 ratio. It has far more to do with geometry and the physics of the clutching then it does the gearing. The key is to apply as much upshift as possible as fast as possible, then once it gets to the final shift for the power, you want the clutching in a stage to keep it there, ie the weights, springs and helix pulling it as hard as possible in that gear.
If you ever got to a 1:1 once you go past its a loss in a hurry, and anywhere up to a 1:1 the only factor is to keep the belt from slipping and if you can do that there is no point for lower gears. But lower gears will most likely help maintain speeds because there is less shift to be made while higher gear will see the higher track speeds but could bounce around more. Or maybe I have no idea. Back to topic