Cutting down a 16" Wide Track to 15"

maierch

Active VIP Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2008
Messages
1,565
Reaction score
2,512
Location
Calgary
I've heard rumors that it is possible to cut down a 16" wide track to a 15" wide. Does anyone have any first hand experience with this? I'm somewhat skeptical... wouldn't it be a high risk of flying apart?
 

Dobir

Active VIP Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2006
Messages
747
Reaction score
41
Location
Fort Macleod
I've heard rumors that it is possible to cut down a 16" wide track to a 15" wide. Does anyone have any first hand experience with this? I'm somewhat skeptical... wouldn't it be a high risk of flying apart?

why?
 

Johnny

Active VIP Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2007
Messages
156
Reaction score
276
Location
Kootenays B.C
A buddy trimmed down a bit off a 16 wide, no problems yet. I think it was a 16x174 and was going on a cat chassis.
 

OnlyPolaris

Active VIP Member
Joined
Apr 28, 2008
Messages
1,964
Reaction score
524
Location
Lloydminster, AB
i saw a guy that used a table saw to cut 1/2" off each side. I believe he then took a torch to the edges of the track. seemed to work for him and he had no troubles.
 

Catman10

Drinking the Doolaid
Joined
Sep 30, 2008
Messages
780
Reaction score
2,248
Location
Red Deer Alberta
We have done a couple so far, check out the 174 thread under the m series, there is pics. Its a big job to get the track inside out and you do need to use the right blade and a few other little tricks to do it right. If you look at our tracks you can hardly tell they have been cut.
 

maierch

Active VIP Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2008
Messages
1,565
Reaction score
2,512
Location
Calgary
It seems to be nearly impossible to find a 15 wide challenger extreme 153 x 2.5. Apparently M series cats won't accept a 16 wide so I've got a buddy that's looking at cutting one down.
 

OverBore

Active VIP Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2009
Messages
343
Reaction score
48
Location
Sturgeon County
It doesn't make any sense to me to cut the width of a track. The flotation foot print is calculated as width x length. If you want the same foot print and cut the track down from 16" to 15" you would need to increase the length of the track.
 

sirkdev

Active VIP Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2008
Messages
3,126
Reaction score
4,962
Location
Stony Plain
It seems to be nearly impossible to find a 15 wide challenger extreme 153 x 2.5. Apparently M series cats won't accept a 16 wide so I've got a buddy that's looking at cutting one down.

What I have heard is guys that have made the switch are kind of pizzed off too much power loss due to weight increase of the camo vs the power claw. If you are staying with the 153 personally I think I would stick to the powerclaw.
Just my 2c
 

Longhairfreak

Active VIP Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2008
Messages
3,261
Reaction score
3,096
Location
Spruce Grove
It seems to be nearly impossible to find a 15 wide challenger extreme 153 x 2.5. Apparently M series cats won't accept a 16 wide so I've got a buddy that's looking at cutting one down.

DSCN0376.jpg

DSCN0374.jpg Heres an M8 with a 16 wide. Its is impossible to find a 153x15x2.5. they dont make one. They make a 150 155 and a 156 15 wide.
 

maierch

Active VIP Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2008
Messages
1,565
Reaction score
2,512
Location
Calgary
It doesn't make any sense to me to cut the width of a track. The flotation foot print is calculated as width x length. If you want the same foot print and cut the track down from 16" to 15" you would need to increase the length of the track.

We're not looking to get a larger footprint. We're looking to get the 2.5" Challenger extreme under a cat. Since they don't make one to fit we're looking at cutting one down to make it fit.
 

Johnny

Active VIP Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2007
Messages
156
Reaction score
276
Location
Kootenays B.C
Ill stop in today and check out exactly what my bud did and what the application was for. I did see it after being cut and was hard to tell, (nice job). Im pretty sure it was a 174x16x3" going into a turbo pussy cat. :beer:
 

Johnny

Active VIP Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2007
Messages
156
Reaction score
276
Location
Kootenays B.C
I did check in and yes the 174x16x3 (now 15.4 or so) is in buddies cat. Its a climbing demon, I was riding with him last spring and it hauls some serious azz. Brian at Canadian Power Machines. (250 359 6990)
 
Top Bottom