Kristi KT3 track idea?

[GKP]

I was looking at the tracks on my KT3 last night and got the idea of using snowmobile track slightly cut down. Has anyone tried this or heard of it? My sled track is 15” wide by 144” long with 2” lugs. I was thinking of cutting some track narrower and linking them together. I would use the stock bottom guides with a 1”x.25” steel bar on the top. This would eliminate the need for the wooden grousers. My last sled ran at about 110mph wide open and had 172hp, it never lost a track-so I think they could take the abuse of a light weight Kristy????

 

[Snowcat Operations]

Is the spacing on these tracks for the drive sprocket the same as on the Kristi KT3?

 

[Melensdad]

Mike, I was going to ask Gavin the very same question. If the sprocket spacing will work, then the idea will work. If not, then you will have to heavily modify the track to get it to work. You'd also need wheel guides to keep the track centered on the wheels. I will admit that I've thought of the same thing. Snowmobile tracks are pretty tough, stringing a couple together to get the correct length would be the easy part, but getting them to work with the sprockets and wheels may be more trouble than its worth???

 

[GKP]

My idea is to use a track section on each side of the drivers, so spacing on the snowcat track does not matter.

 

[Vance]

(oops, you corrected your plan before I replied)

I'm not following what you plan.

Are you going to use 4 snomo tracks on each side(R&L) to get the length and width needed?

Aren't the Kristi tracks around 11' end to end and 24" wide?

Of course the track material can hold up but keeping it on the cat is the issue.

Vance

 

[Vance]

My idea is to use a track section on each side of the drivers, so spacing on the snowcat track does not matter.

This should work but you still have to stiffen the track across the middle so it doesn't flop over.

Maybe you could use the track as is and add a section to each side to widen?

Vance

 

[GKP]

Hopefully this scetch will help. I am planning on cutting each track to about 13" wide by trimming one side. I will join the track to get the correct length. I w2ill use one "band of tracks on each side of the wheels and guides. They will be sandwiched between the bottom metal wheel guide and a 1"x1/4" metal bar on top.

 

[Melensdad]

OK now I get it.

Now that I see what you are proposing I would say there is absolutely no reason that it would not work with proper guides and connectors.

 

[Vance]

Ah, thanks for the pic.

Did you know that the new Yamaha Phaser tracks are 13"? Problem is they might still be expensive.

I really like the idea of the track mat'l but it's my thought that with only the 1/4 x 1 (laying flat) that it will bend around the tire guides. Now maybe if you joined the track halves with 1x1 like the Thiokol tracks it might work...

JMHO,

Vance

 

[GKP]

My thinking is that the strength of the bottom guides along with a top strip will be strong, but I may have to go to a larger top piece? I will bend some differnt size bars and see what happens.