Turbo/more horsepower

[sledcaddie]

Okay, I just can't wrap my brain around this, but I'm probably making it more complicated than it is. So, if a sled has a turbo, or more horsepower, won't that just dig a trench deeper/quicker? I imagine a Ford Pinto with a supercharged Hemi, it would just spin (cook) the tires. Is the important factor with the extra ponies keeping the track speed high? Does a modified sled run at higher rpms? Please clarify for someone with foggy vision.

 

[Dootimes2]

The turbo and big hp big bores work by spinning the track faster. The faster the track spins the faster you go. The faster you go the higher your sled will ride on the snow and thus not trench in as much. They do not have to run more rpm's. Some actually run less. They have enough hp to use more of the clutches and gearing ( by running belt all the way to top of primary ) thus giving it more top end speed.

 

[glassman]

My turbo would leave a huge trench if you wicked it. Guys hated following me. The thing with the turbos is that they make so much track speed, they generally launch out of their trench. I would guess that different tracks wold have different results also. Mine was on a m8 with a powerclaw track.

 

[meathooker]

When we would port/pipe/bore carbs/reeds it would do exactly what you're saying; just dig a bigger trench. But with that trench it would go higher on the hill. Before I built my turbo I thought the exact same thing as you, turbo= more HP=bigger trench. To my surprise the turbo would hop out of the trench and climb higher. Smaller mods (listed above) add 10, 20, 30 HP whereas a turbo at elevation adds more like 100. It changes the dynamics of the sled.

 

[tollen77]

One thing I've thought helped me understand this concept is that in many ways a spinning track on loose snow acts more like a jet boat propulsion system than a tank propulsion system (that is, a big track slowly crawling over terrain).

When the track is spinning it produces a stream of snow that propels the vehicle up the hill. Just like the jet boat, the higher the power provided to the propulsion system, the more the vehicle can overcome drag (gravity, river flowing the other way, etc...)


Good Luck!

 

[Jay]

I have 2 sleds, one is a modified '98 770 RMK and one is a custom built Gen 2Holz 1200 W/C triple. Both run 159" x 2.4" tracks. The 1200 is hands down easier to ride. My '98 the clutch engages @ 4500 rpm and it takes a little finess to start from a dead stop in powder. The 1200 clutch engages @ 3500 RPM and is much easier to get rolling due in part to the HP difference. At 3500 rpm it's probably making more than twice the hp the 770 is so I don't have to clutch for a higher rpm engagement to get into more hp like the 770. IMHO the more HP you have the easier a sled is to ride in deep powder because you don't have to spin the track at all, you can just ride them slowly and let the HP turn the track gently, not spin it and dig in. Of course there is also the big sh-t eating grin when you do nail it that comes with big HP to.