I know I have read about a company in Wyoming I believe that can change the length of a track for snowbike use. Does anyone have info on this. I want to build a track for my mtn horse and need a contact for them. Thanks in advance! Also I saw there is a vulcanizing shop in BC anyone use them?
Vulcanizing a track to change length
- Thread starter chumbilly1
- Start date
AH HA Carrell Tech in NY. Website shows a lot of repaired tracks. Looks good. Anyone know of a shop out west that does this? I am thinking 129" by 2.5" by 12. whatever I can fit.
I thought about a 3in paddle in the middle and 2 outside? not sure if 3 would clear everything either
I think 2/3/2 would be sweet! Just have to change drivers and trim for chain tensioner right?
I really don't know. My knowledge is limited in the field But I would buy
another track if someone does pull it off LT 2/3/2 please
another track if someone does pull it off LT 2/3/2 please
P
portgrinder
Well-known member
Should be doable. large haul truck tires are repaired all the time.
most times with them though you just grind out the bad spot push the rubber in with a wheel and bake it all together. the idea is to get it to hold air and the rest of the carcass of the tire is used for strength. don't think they can repair/replace broken cords yet
that would be the issue with the track. you could bake it all together and seal it all up but getting some cords or carcass strength inside the track would be the trick
most times with them though you just grind out the bad spot push the rubber in with a wheel and bake it all together. the idea is to get it to hold air and the rest of the carcass of the tire is used for strength. don't think they can repair/replace broken cords yet
that would be the issue with the track. you could bake it all together and seal it all up but getting some cords or carcass strength inside the track would be the trick
I have spoke with several guys in the track repair industry, mostly mining oriented, and every one agrees that it can be done. They use the term "cold fused " a lot. Chemical welding it sounds like. I am going to try it out based on the fact that sled tracks get exposed to massive HP in some apps and they fail rarely. These repairs are used in sleds, conveyors, heavy equipment,etc. 400 lb snowbike w/ 55 HP should be no problem.
chemicals ?
so what chemical to bond the track material.............and whur do ya get it ?
so what chemical to bond the track material.............and whur do ya get it ?
I seriously doubt that you can make it work, the issue would be getting a proper overlap of the cords before vulcanizing it together. I can not see a way to strip the rubber of the cords so you could overlap , to vulcanize it all together would be less of a problem. Also if you do a heavy duty industrial type overlap you will get a heavy spot on the track and lots of vibrations.
The only real solution is to have a custom track made just like timbersled and AD boivin have done.
The only real solution is to have a custom track made just like timbersled and AD boivin have done.
I have been doing the research and there are several shops willing and ready to do the work. They say they will strip the track down to the cords to create an overlap, like you say, and then use a cold bond solution to vulcanize it back together. If I was running on a sled with 80 mph track speeds I would worry about balance, heavy spot, but I don't see it being an issue with the bikes. after yesterday I am so ready for my new 2.5 x 129 or maybe 131.5 cant decide. I did decide on a shop in WA to do the work though, and I sourced a couple tracks to play with.
Go for it chumbilly, it seriously sounds like your ready to go that direction .
Completely different animal but the guys where telling me it would be a bad idea for me to go from a 136 to a 151 on the Hawk . Just about everyone said go no further than a 144 .
Happy to say it's a whole new animal .
Completely different animal but the guys where telling me it would be a bad idea for me to go from a 136 to a 151 on the Hawk . Just about everyone said go no further than a 144 .
Happy to say it's a whole new animal .
3" Paddles
Would it be easier to not have to cut the belt and just extend our 2" center paddles to 3"? Agricultural tractors have their rubber grousers glued on their rubber tracks. 40,000 lb machines, 550 hp. Maybe it's possible to glue, vulcanize, or melt 1" more rubber to middle paddles of our 120"s and 137"s.
Would it be easier to not have to cut the belt and just extend our 2" center paddles to 3"? Agricultural tractors have their rubber grousers glued on their rubber tracks. 40,000 lb machines, 550 hp. Maybe it's possible to glue, vulcanize, or melt 1" more rubber to middle paddles of our 120"s and 137"s.
????
I have read carol industries back in NY can do them, tell me about who in the West can glue the tracks. Several years back I talked with riders down around Alpine Wy doing 100" sled tracks with great success, so I doubt bike HP would be a threat to a well fused track.
I have read carol industries back in NY can do them, tell me about who in the West can glue the tracks. Several years back I talked with riders down around Alpine Wy doing 100" sled tracks with great success, so I doubt bike HP would be a threat to a well fused track.