Let's talk studs

[POWERHAULIC]

You can’t run chissels on trails they will be destroyed in 10 miles!
They have no carbide tips.

Gold Diggers won’t hold up anywhere near as long as Megga Bites.

Read the post, I said nobody wants do the maintenance required.

Mega bites are strong, I have used them many times, but they do not have the penetration of a gold digger.

 

[POWERHAULIC]

Also dropping down to a 1” lug for trail riding is stupid. This will kill traction on the snow, which is what 90% of your riding is.

With a 1” lug you’ll be smoking the track off at 60mph in the snow.

People asking what it takes to really hook one up, I answered.
Trail traction is always a compromise, you must decide where and in what conditions you want the best traction.

 

[ClutchMaster]

Read the post, I said nobody wants do the maintenance required.

Mega bites are strong, I have used them many times, but they do not have the penetration of a gold digger.

Chisel studs cannot be run on the trail period. It’s not a maintenance issue. They will literally be gone in 100 miles. Trust me I’ve see it.

Big power turbo sleds will bend those gold diggers especially the long ones M2C

 

[POWERHAULIC]

I have done 2 winders with gold diggers, they are holding up just fine.
My sled is at 270 for trail and all is good.

 

[ClutchMaster]

I have done 2 winders with gold diggers, they are holding up just fine.
My sled is at 270 for trail and all is good.

Megabites won’t bend as easily as gold diggers take it for what it’s worth.

I just don’t want to see someone buy a set of chisels thinking all they have to do is sharpen them every 500 miles. That’s not the case, they would literally need sharpening ever 20 miles of trail riding maybe less depending on conditions. When I raced most guys wouldn’t even cross a parking lot with chisels as it would roll the sharp edges over.

 

[Crossfire12]

Megabytes the strongest, tough but spin on ice. Hardback is what their made for!

 

[DooZ]

I think most would agree that the thinner stud profile with a carbide tip, the more penetration (Woody's Triggers, Studboy Lake Racers, INS/Roetin Hornets) for trail use. The thinner profile does provide less durability than say a megaspin...oops megabite lol. I think many of us know the guy that says he runs chisels on the trail...his idea of trail riding is riding down to the lake from his lakefront home...lol Like previously mentioned, studding for trail riding and studding for ultimate hook is a compromise.

 

[ClutchMaster]

Megabytes the strongest, tough but spin on ice. Hardback is what their made for!

After 500 miles of riding you can’t even tell the difference between Megabites and Gold diggers. When they are new yea the Gold diggers bite the ice a little better but after 500 miles you won’t even be able to tell a difference. You will get almost double the mileage out of Megabites they hold the carbide much longer before it falls out.
That’s my experience with both studs.

 

[lakercr]

About 400 miles now on my 1.625 Lake Racers (192 on 137 track). Mix of single and double Superlite backers. Studs mostly holding up well, have a few bent over from a rock that was hit in a bad trail section. Running the rear Yamaha protectors with track fairly tight and no marks in tunnel so far. Sled hooks hard.

 

[Crossfire12]

Look up BITeharder carbide stud sharpener, sharpen up those worn dull studs, works unbelievable I sharpened my megabites and they are now pointy, watch their you tube video. It sharpens around the carbide insert.

 

[ROCKERDAN]

Look up BITeharder carbide stud sharpener, sharpen up those worn dull studs, works unbelievable I sharpened my megabites and they are now pointy, watch their you tube video. It sharpens around the carbide insert.

Same as at NBSSR....sharpened studs are what work on ice, and you dont need many. 2 per bar sharpened and cut down to 1" track, sled hooks hard on ice. I was testing T0ms thinking he needs more studs, but nope.

Hooking up on trail is alot diff though....

 

[fatchance]

My 1.45" are Snow Studs Big Shots double double and 2 single up the middle. I really didn't think the quiet pads interfered after the 3rd go around with the torque wrench after a ride and basically a day in between each tightening. Those extra large heads sunk right into the track and are pretty damn straight. I actually didn't think this was going to be the case at first.

Reason i asked about what's hooking is this will be the second time putting in studs and i'd like it to be my last!

I probly should just ask if the guys that are tuned with 192+ studs at 1.62" and longer standard trail stud are hooking decent or just spinning ?

 

[Doc Harley]

I'm with ya, 144 1.375's last yr. 144 1.5's this yr. Guessing is taking too much work. Lol!

Idk......192 1.63 is probably a very good starting point.

Ultimately, too many conditions to get the "one stud fits all"

Ice, hard pack, groomed trail, loose cover, Etc, etc.

 

[fatchance]

What makes matters worse is I don't have much ballast for traction. I either need to add an extra gas pack and saddlebags or go on a wicked Donut eating, Beer drinking binge before next riding season!

 

[Rich Kay]

Don't know what to say.... I would say I have driving studded tracks since the early 90,s.... just a conservatively (very) a average of 2,500 miles per yr ad up to over 60,000 miles with out a track problem. What ya use, how long,how many, how ya drive it and the conditions they see have a lot to do with it. and the installation.