Stud Backer Question

[Boston RX1]

I came across these from Shade Tree. Does anyone have any experience with these? They are the Sno-Stuff Ultra-Lites. Sounds

Sno-Stuff Ultra-Lites
* Designed to incorporate a backing plate and lock nut into one light-weight piece
* A track using 114 to 240 Ultra-Lites will weigh 5 to 7 lbs less than a track utilizing steel or aluminum locking plates
* Super strength nylon "locks" the stud in place! The result is superior hold, light weight and great looks.
* 24 per package

http://www.shadetreesnowmobile.com/cgi- ... ckers.html

 

[Mighty]

I ran 240 of them on a 97 machZ that wouldn't hook worth a crap. I had to replace the track and used the same studs but used square aluminum backers and couldn't believe how much better the track with Aluminum hooked. Both tracks were the same, only difference was the backers. My guess is that the plastic backers flex under pressure.

I recommend Aluminum

 

[Bossman]

Plastic backers are garbage for trail riding, they break and you will loose picks. For a drag racing application they might be fine but they just don't hold up on the trails. i tried them one year and would never waste my time on them again. All I ever use is square aluminum.

 

[Flipper]

They have changed the web site so I couldn't see the product.

Looks like you are talking about polymer backer plates.

Bossman, I have run the Fast Trac polymer round backers. Put over 12 000 km on with my Viper and only had one stud pull. For me they worked great.

All my riding is on groomed trails.

 

[Mighty]

I didn't loose any of them, they simply weren't as rigid as the Aluminum.

 

[BigDog05]

I have a Camo 9830 that has 2800 miles on my 02 SRX7, and had approx. 4000 miles on my previous SRX 7 before putting the track on this sled, and never broke or pulled a polymer backer. They are the angle type backers. Groomed trail running. I do run a lot of studs though. 192

 

[Boston RX1]

Bossman, I don't understand your experience. If you race, you are running extremely hard, that is where I feel they would break down the most. Trial ridding I think is a great deal less hard on the studds. Between the two types of riding, I feel if they are going to breakdown because of a harsh enviroment it would be from racing. Just my opinion.

 

[Bossman]

We had them on 3 different sleds and everybody had the same problem with them cracking. I don't remember the manufacturer but I know they had an angled back. Our sleds were all 1000cc 2 strokes but we mainly trail rode and lake raced. Maybe we didn't have enough picks in but after putting the aluminum backers back on we never had a problem again. To me I would rather have the peace of mind with the aluminum because there isn't much to gain with the plastic. That is our experience but odviously there must be people that like them if they are still selling.

 

[Indy]

Dana, those are the exact same backers I posted about several months ago. I like them. They have a longer thread shank, I think they would hold up fine. I'll do a search and see if I can find the post;

 

[Boston RX1]

Indy, they seem to be a very good idea. Again, I don't want any problems or to be the guinea pig, if you know what I mean.

 

[Indy]

Dana, here is the link from my post;

http://www.rx1.info/viewtopic.php?t=4888&start=0

 

[NEED SNOW]

My borther and I had square polymer backers on our CPR piped VIPERS, and they held up very good. We do a lot of drag racing and trail riding. But on my new RX-1, I think I will go back to aluminum. We think the polymer backers flex a bit more under under pressure. If it wasn't for that I would stay with the polymer.

 

[Mighty]

I guess I don't understand what proof you guys want You can't get a better example then the one I gave you with my 97 MachZ. Same model track, both with 240 studs the only difference were the backer. The track with the plastic backers didn't hook worth a crap. Went to the aluminum and it hooked way better :ORC