OK to remove studs?

[Grassfirebob]

I know this sounds like a stupid question but...

I just bought a sled for my daughter and it has a 3/2 pattern of studs (probably 140ish if I had to guess). I don't want studs. Doesn't fit our riding style, tears the crap out of my trailer (and my garage).

The track is in excellent shape. Can I just remove the studs and leave 140 or so empty holes or will that cause problems (ie will the track start to tear around the holes).

Thanks!

 

[RedRocket]

I've run a track before after removing the studs because I was sick of replacing bent and broken ones. The track had about 1500 miles with the 144 studs in and lasted another 2000 miles without studs. It was well worn but just the lugs and none of the stud holes were torn. It may have actually helped keep the sliders cooler and was a little lighter too!

 

[Grimm]

I think you'd be okay to remove them.

It also might be a good idea to take a torch to the holes and melt the rubber a bit, prevent the threads from pulling out and tearing the holes open.

 

[Len Todd]

If this was mine, I would just take out the studs. Heat ages and actually weakens rubber.

 

[kinger]

I run with stud holes and no studs in certain spots no heat, doesn't seem to effect anything. We'll see what I say when I hit 130+ mph across a lake and it spits out on me

 

[Gone Blue]

The holes left in the track will be just like track porting that the guys out West are into. G.B.

 

[LazyBastard]

The track only experiences abrasion on the tips of the lugs. Don't worry about the little holes. Holes only really matter if they are due to missing big chunks, especially on the edge of the track where the missing chunk could actually snag on something.

Most track failures are due to having a lug HOOK on something and peel off (i.e. spinning the track over sharp things). The next biggest cause of failure is broken suspension parts poking in to it.