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Traction tips for CTL in snow??

Kxnate

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2018
Messages
102
Location
Billings MT
I finally got to use my CT322 today for the first to remove snow. I have a large gravel parking area to remove snow from and it worked great. Only problem I had was that my lane out of the parking lot intersects perpendicular with a paved road that is on an incline. As I pushed snow out of my lane and across the road off into the ditch on the other side I packed down a thin layer of snow that got very slick. I did not have any traction issues running perpendicular with the slope. But I turned into the slope a few times to move some snow in a few places the plow missed, and had myself a couple rodeos. I found out very quick rubber tracks do not do well parallel on a slick slope, seemed to do ok sideways on the slope. It's not an extremely steep slope, but I had two scary moments sliding forward, sideways, and even backwards down the hill. Wouldn't be such a big deal except the sides of the road drop off about 30 feet on both sides as it crosses a big coulee. Anyways, long story short, does anybody have any tips for better traction on slick slopes with these CTL's?? I was contemplating going and getting a bunch of really short sheet metal screws and putting a few in each traction pad, but I dont want to risk ruining a couple thousand dollars in tracks. Any thoughts?
 

Tags

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2012
Messages
1,610
Location
Connecticut
Slow and steady and don't spin the tracks, it turns the snow under you into ice. Going over the same spot like you were will also ice up an area because it packs the snow down. If I'm pushing snow to the same place over and over I try to keep it clean down to the base weather it's pavement or gravel surface, this is obviously easier if there is a good amount of frost in the ground. If there's ice pack under what you're clearing it's tough,move gone on a few scary rides sideways and backwards before and ended up with nothing more than a puckered arse luckily. There are some tracks that do better in snow and ice than the block patterns do, when I need to change my tracks next time I'm going to go with something like these...https://camso.co/en/construction/products/ctl-sd

Here's an interesting comparison too....
 

KSSS

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2005
Messages
4,316
Location
Idaho
Occupation
excavation
Bridgestone makes a Polar Track (or at least they used to) that is good for icy conditions. The cross bar type tracks are better than the block type in the snow.
 

Theweldor

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2018
Messages
556
Location
Western, NY
Occupation
The Village Idiot
Bolts with large fender washers work better. Only need a few on each side to keep it from sliding. You just don't want to constantly spin the tracks as to rip the bolts out.
 

Kxnate

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2018
Messages
102
Location
Billings MT
Bolts with large fender washers work better. Only need a few on each side to keep it from sliding. You just don't want to constantly spin the tracks as to rip the bolts out.

So do you mean you drill a hole all the way through the track and put a bolt through with a nut?? Or like a wood thread type lag bolt???
 

Kxnate

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2018
Messages
102
Location
Billings MT
I'd try something like an i-grip track stud, but here in MD, we rarely get enough lasting crappy weather, to justify...


That was kind of my thought behind some hex head coarse thread sheet metal screws. And with the thread diameter being pretty small, track damage should be minimal if they tear out I would think.
 

Theweldor

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2018
Messages
556
Location
Western, NY
Occupation
The Village Idiot
I drill a hole thru the track and put the nut on the outside. With the bolt sticking out another 1/4 of an inch. I only put 10 or 15 on each side. You do have to use your head and not sit there an spin the tracks. There only purpose is to keep the machine from sliding. Doesn't take much.
The track studs that DIYDAVE suggested are not a bad idea either.
 

Twisted

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 29, 2007
Messages
389
Location
MN
Some of the screws WILL pull out and when they do they are guaranteed to find their way into your car tires.
If using screws I like the dedicated ice screws vs. sheet metal screws.
 

Hysert

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 6, 2017
Messages
61
Location
Ontario
as a snow contractor you probably dont wanna be pushing snow into the ditch across the street? You can get fined???? Polar tracks are great however 4-5k for a set and if you run them in the summer they will melt off!! we ran camoplast SDs as mentioned and are comparable and all season!!! But basically tracks kinda suck for snow work, just to much surface area....
 

Kxnate

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2018
Messages
102
Location
Billings MT
Some of the screws WILL pull out and when they do they are guaranteed to find their way into your car tires.
If using screws I like the dedicated ice screws vs. sheet metal screws.

Very good point, I did not think of this problem.
 

Kxnate

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2018
Messages
102
Location
Billings MT
as a snow contractor you probably dont wanna be pushing snow into the ditch across the street? You can get fined???? Polar tracks are great however 4-5k for a set and if you run them in the summer they will melt off!! we ran camoplast SDs as mentioned and are comparable and all season!!! But basically tracks kinda suck for snow work, just to much surface area....

I live in a rural area in the county outside city limits, no fine issues to worry about. Thanks for the track info.
 

DIYDAVE

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2007
Messages
2,409
Location
MD
You could also rig up a bar magnet, to sweep for screws, if they pull out. I like the ones that are purpose made, they look like they will stay, plus they have a hard center... I wouldn't go overboard and load the track up, just enough to fo the job...;)
 

Twisted

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 29, 2007
Messages
389
Location
MN
I have installed 10,000's of dedicated ice screws over the years. They do occasionally fall out even when used for their intended purpose so I could only imagine they would be more prone to failure under a high load such as a SS track.

Operating on hard pack snow and ice is a different animal than dirt. The more the tracks spin, the worse it gets. I would suggest changing the operating procedure for the conditions or use a bolted solution.

Good luck.
 

suladas

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2016
Messages
1,731
Location
Canada
Parking it and not doing snow is the best advice I have! I cleaned my storage yard and house driveway and that was more then enough snow removal with a CTL for me. So inefficient, and pays horrible at least here anyway it's not even worth it.
 

Kxnate

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2018
Messages
102
Location
Billings MT
Parking it and not doing snow is the best advice I have! I cleaned my storage yard and house driveway and that was more then enough snow removal with a CTL for me. So inefficient, and pays horrible at least here anyway it's not even worth it.

Not doing it for pay, clearing my own property.
 
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