Time for a new track?

[fatchance]

A few years back I had a couple single backer Stud Boy pro lite backers open up a window on the track exactly the same size as the backer on the last ride of the season when conditions were terrible going up over a mountain side with allot of exposed ledge on the south facing side. I believe I was nearing 5000 miles at the time so I called Camso. They said not to be concerned with the tear outs if the track still had good rubber and there's not allot of chord showing. I told him I was doing allot of runs on the pond and he said if lugs start breaking that is the tell tale sign the track has had it. While it was comforting to hear this I just couldn't find the confidence to stick with the track since I have such a short runway to begin with at speed on the pond and there just isn't any room for error. I guess what I'm trying to say is picture losing the track where and when you ride and how confident are you in being able to avoid catastrophy.

 

[fatchance]

On a side note, several years back my son was on my big Polaris turbo touring sled with a group of us while riding through some tight trails at low speed. He dropped the track and never even new it happened! The track just basically rolled out behind him.

 

[Upstater57]

I view studded tracks as wear items. After losing one at 120mph on Kevlar Lake many years ago, I change them at about 5 years old if I keep a sled long term. I check my studs often and look for any tear outs. I have found having more studs lessen the tear outs at lower speed use but does stress the track especially of you run a lot of high-speed runs. Everything is a compromise.

 

[Turboflash]

A few years back I had a couple single backer Stud Boy pro lite backers open up a window on the track exactly the same size as the backer on the last ride of the season when conditions were terrible going up over a mountain side with allot of exposed ledge on the south facing side. I believe I was nearing 5000 miles at the time so I called Camso. They said not to be concerned with the tear outs if the track still had good rubber and there's not allot of chord showing. I told him I was doing allot of runs on the pond and he said if lugs start breaking that is the tell tale sign the track has had it. While it was comforting to hear this I just couldn't find the confidence to stick with the track since I have such a short runway to begin with at speed on the pond and there just isn't any room for error. I guess what I'm trying to say is picture losing the track where and when you ride and how confident are you in being able to avoid catastrophy.

Agree with last sentence. It's one thing to lose a track someplace where you have room to coast to a stop safely. It's completely another story if it happens in the wrong place. Then there's the way they come off - best if they just unroll out the back "nicely" but I've seen tracks that broke that jammed the front drive! Depending on speed, now you're talking about a sled that is skidding out of control and potentially rolling. Imagine running 80+ MPH and then locking the track! Also, I've seen a studded track come out the back and somehow hit the operator in the back; both shredded his jacket and let claw marks on his helmet!
Bottom line for me is to not ever have this happen. When in doubt, put on new one! Yes, it's expensive but the carnage caused by loosing one might be life-threatening.

 

[NYTurbo]

A new track is so much more cheaper than a new track that’s being installed after one blows off. Lol

 

[twyztid]

My brother-in-law had 2 double backers side-by-side rip out at the end of last season on his tuned 17 ZR9000. The track was the stock 137" Ripsaw 2 with 192 1.45 studs in all double backers down the middle. Just over 7000 miles on the track. It nearly ripped from window to window and tore up his front heat exchanger. He rides aggressively but isn't stupid with the throttle in low snow conditions or crossing roads.
I'll be installing a new track on mine before 7000 miles.

 

[Fast Lane]

I would be Leary of running and old track with studs. Especially with big power and speeds. Launching a stud into a heat exchanger would suck but losing control and smoking a tree would suck more.

 

[1nc 2000]

How many miles out of a storm 150 with 196 studs would be normal.

 

[fatchance]

Is the Storm, a single ply Tim?

 

[1nc 2000]

Is the Storm, a single ply Tim?

Two ply on the storm 150.

 

[1nc 2000]

4500 to 5000 miles on this storm 150. Studded from day one. 4 lugs missing off the entire track.

 

[fatchance]

This is concerning.

 

[fatchance]

Tim, this is the one thing Camso told me to watch for. You start losing lugs and it's time to replace the track

 

[1nc 2000]

This is concerning.

Yes. 4 spots like that on the entire track.

 

[1nc 2000]

Tim, this is the one thing Camso told me to watch for. You start losing lugs and it's time to replace the track

Now the big decision is what track to run next.
Sled came with 1.75 Backcountry track.
Storm 150 was ok.
Might just try and find a 1.5 ripsaw 2 . 2 ply and stud it.