I saw an article in Snow West magazine where these guys drilled 300 1" holes in the center belt (between the lugs) of a 159" seried 4 Polaris track last winter. Not only did it allow for more hyfax lubrication and cooling of heat exchangers (by a claimed 10 degree drop in coolant temp), it also reduced the weight by a few pounds and that's rotating mass. They said they did 20 tracks and knew of 20 more and no one had track failure probs. Has anyone tried this? Sure makes sense to me, especially if you run on hard-packed trails for any significant amount of time but I'd hate to tear a new $500 track.

What do ya'll think?

G

I've seen pictures on snowest.com of tracks with holes cut out. It does make sense if all you ride in is powder, but I think time will tell. I like you would hate to destroy a track just for trial basis. I think that if I could find a used track cheap, I would try drilling the holes in the center belt also.

Here's a picture of one. This guy drilled different size holes, but he also drilled in the outside belt.

Here's a picture of a track with the center belt drilled.

That's the one FZ! Thanks for the pics. If my sled starts to run hot (which can easily happen here in the Cascades where spring temps are up in the 50's) I may just do the center holes.

Cheers!

G MAN

tHAT'S crazy. I bet the track balloons a lot more like that. That's a lot of severed cords, which are supposed to give the track its strength.
It may work for mountains, where the track doesn't take much abuse (lower average speeds, and never contacting a hard surface) but I can't see it working out on a midwest sled.

Originally posted by performancex@Nov 19 2004, 07:25 PM
tHAT'S crazy.* I bet the track balloons a lot more like that.* That's a lot of severed cords, which are supposed to give the track its strength.
It may work for mountains, where the track doesn't take much abuse (lower average speeds, and never contacting a hard surface) but I can't see it working out on a midwest sled.
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I would like to know the numbers on that track at year end. I mean what is the length of it before the year and after.

Drilled 100 holes in mine, 6000 mile old track, rode it 1200miles last season without any problems (yet), track is still in great shape. Know several others that have been running them for a few years. The magazines are kinda late reporting this one IMO, someone gave it the name 'rednecking" or rednecked track. Not sure I like the way I see some of them done, guys get drilling and go too far IMO. It's not a weight mod, it's about flexability, and it does help.



gman, got any riding in yet?

Originally posted by hillpounder@Nov 19 2004, 11:10 PM
gman, got any riding in yet?
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Nope :( The snow level went back up to 7,000 feet and all the local parks start at 4,000 so I'm still waiting. Did get my Summit registered today and it's ready to roll. I've got a new Camo finger track so curious to see how it does in Cascade concrete. The Rev is in pieces - awaiting a dual rate suspension from HyGear racing. It's killin me so much that I popped in a Cat promo video for their '95 sleds last night just to see some powder - How TWISTED IS THAT??? (GAWD those were some ugly outfits, I didn't think it was THAT long ago?!)

You?

Cheers,

G

G, just road riding, I'd almost rather go dirt biking LOL. Want a good chuckle watch the new yamaha promo dvd starring johnny skeptable.