Plastic or aluminium backers

[unclearpine]

Just put 144 studs in track and 3 plastic backers cracked while installing , should I have been better off with aluminium backers.Are the plastic backers any good ?

 

[Mighty]

I had a High HP Mach Z back in 99 that I used both in. Started out with plastic and had the track recalled by Doo. I re-used the studs in the new track but went with aluminum. The aluminum's held the studs more ridget and hook up was better.
Yes it was the same model track and yes I used the exact same pattern. Only difference was the backers......

 

[BLUE LIGHTNING]

yup i second the aluminum backers, the plastic ones seem to break when you tighten the studs to the woodys torque setting. also woody says to only used aluminum ones on there site. just don't want to do the job twice if you use the plastic ones first. this is my 2 cents, other people will have different opinions. have had studs on the attak for 2 seasons and the woodys big nuts on them and have no problems, and like mighty said they are alot stiffer and , which in turn will make the head of the stud not dig into the track and cause tear outs ( not an engineer , just my thought) good luck
BLUE LIGHTNING

 

[lucky_7]

There is no way that a plastic backer could hold up to the torque, abuse, or longevity that an aluminum backer could.

What was your thoughts on why to go with plastic?

One thing to think about is that studs should be the 'install and never touch again' component. If I had plastic backers, I would constantly be nervous that they would break or pull-through.

 

[unclearpine]

There are three reasons I went with the nylon backers,first the track has 3000 miles on it and two lugs were torn off showing cords so I don't want to put to much strain on the track second I have always had aluminum backers and never a pull-through(Vmax4,mach1)so I don"t ride that aggressive .The last is they were $1.49 each complete so I know the track is just about done .My friend that was helping me stud it has the some thoughts as you.He has a 06 vector I have a 06 nytro so we will see if there is any advantage .We discussed this in great detail

 

[RacerDave]

I put 3,700 miles on my 02 XC700 and 2,700 miles on my 06 Fuse6. I ran 144 up the middle useing 48 doubler diggers and 48 Fas Trac hd round backers. 1.175's on the 7's 1 inch track. 1.450's on the Fuse 1.25 ripper.No breaks on either sleds plastic backers. These sleds were both modded, not babied and ran in good to terrible conditions. I just did the same setup on my Apex

 

[QCRider]

I've had very good luck with Nylon backers. I have had aluminum backers bend and leave studs pointing in strange directions. Nylon backers don' do this. They flex, but return to the oringal position. Never used them on a sled with less than 140HP and never broke one. I am easy on studs though. I don't spind my track much and tend to coast across pavement when possible.

 

[mark]

Used fast trac plastic ones for many years. Never a prob in my apex or machz.

 

[Mighty]

I wasn't commenting on their durability rather how they flexed and didn't provide as good of hook up.

 

[Len Todd]

 

[unclearpine]

Thanks for all the replies ,I went out sledding last Thursday nite for a rip 60 km (30miles) .I had a great time the trail are not open yet so I had to scoot up the shoulders of side roads and ditches 6-8 inches .Anyhow I check out the studs today and about half are cracked so i must have tighten them down to much when I installed them. Is there a torque specification or is it just snug them up.

 

[Len Todd]

I have seen that on several RXes. Not sure what set you have. Can't help you with torque spec. Someone may chime in with that.

I watched the RXes very closely the first year, and did not stud mine. After seeing all the problems associated with studding a 1 1/4" track, I decided to get an ice ripper. After two years with no problems and lots of miles, I am glag I did.

 

[BLUE LIGHTNING]

Thanks for all the replies ,I went out sledding last Thursday nite for a rip 60 km (30miles) .I had a great time the trail are not open yet so I had to scoot up the shoulders of side roads and ditches 6-8 inches .Anyhow I check out the studs today and about half are cracked so i must have tighten them down to much when I installed them. Is there a torque specification or is it just snug them up.

15 ft.-lbs./180 in.-lbs for WOODYS studs/aluminum backers i know as per woodys tech support, we were puttin plastic ones on and had a few break when tightening, then we called the place where we got them and they said your over tightening, so i guess just snug them up? no idea on how tight depends on how well the washers are made. we had a line in the centre ,where the mold was and this is were all the backers cracked , a straight line through!!! , GOOD LUCK!
JP

 

[**sj**]

for a trail sled...fast trac's H D backers...double single pattern....perfect for a trail sled...if you are launching often...recommend aluminum