Extra chassis for.........

[ruppluver]

stretching out narrow tracks,that I can't give away.I brought an aluminum tunnel up the other day & will put it partially together,to see if I can "stretch" some of my unwanted tracks.I will put the chaincase on,front drive shaft/driver/idlers & rear axle with sprocket & idlers & see it the track can be stretched to work.It will sit outside,in all kinds of weather.I will probably start on it real soon.After its together,I will post results.I am aLSO GOING TO SPRAY SOME WD-40 OR ATF ON IT TO SEE IF IT CAN BE SOFTENED UP.damn caps lock.

[magnumed]

Good idea, let us know how it works.

[mrmotors]

In regards to stretching tracks, an idea I was toying around with was to take either a 6 of 7 inch piece of heavy wall tubing, split it in two and then weld and flat crossbar in both pieces. In the one half, weld a short piece of pipe in the center of the cross bar. Then use a hydraulic bottle jack with a piece of tubing that would go over the ram with a plug in the end of the tubing for the ram to push against. Place the 1 half of the big tubing that was split into one end of the track with the bottle jack. Put the other piece with the short tube in the other. Use the long piece of pipe to put between them and put pressure on the track with the bottle jack to stretch it out. You probably know, I would be a bit careful of how much ATF I used to rejuvenate the rubber, I'm thinkin it would start getting unhappy pretty fast. Just a thought...

[ruppluver]

Yup,I know this question about reguvinating tracks,has been around a long time.Whether it works or not,is the big question.
I have a device that stretch made,for getting the bad folds out of the tracks,that have been rolled up since day one.Will get that put up soon.

[mrmotors]

I think they can be rejuvenated, what I would be concerned about with the ATF is that it will attack the rubber and start turning it to mush. I might be more inclined to use Marvel mystery oil. In either case, I'm sure you have a dead track around, try these things on it first. Another thing you might try, if you have a friend at the aerodrome there in Wahpeton, get some 5606 hyd fluid and try it out too.

[upmagnum]

The pipes with the bottle jack and Mystery Oil will work. Been there done that. Put it out in the sun, put pressure on it,spray with oil, it will soak in. Every couple days add more pressure and re-spray till it won't absorb any more or you reach the length you need.

[ruppluver]

Let the stretching begin.Got it up & running today.
Even with new holes drilled for mounting the rear
hangers,this track is TIGHT!!! I moved the rear holes
ahead 1" from the original ones.
This is an "INNOV" 15 1/2" wide center drive track,
number 281-003-015,dated 1977.I think I will put a
chain & bottom sprocket on,to make it easier to turn,
when the time comes,or if it ever stretches out.

[ruppluver]

I used an old front driver with this experiment.The tight
track is actually breaking the driver apart.When I put
tension on the track yesterday,the track WOULD not turn
at all.I think the track has stretched about 1/2" or more.
It actually turns,but you can see what it is doing to the
driver.I don't care about the driver,I used a 9 tooth,I
think I should have used a 10 tooth driver.I'll tighten
it more tomorrow.I am NOT using ATF on the track,but a
light coat of WD-40.Yes,it does soak in.
The reason I used this track,because the track clips,
are less than 1/2" across[where the driver rides].
Some clips are close to 3/4" across.

[ruppluver]

The track is starting to turn a little easier today.I put more tension on the track & will leave it for awhile.The track is no longer riding up on the teeth,but riding where they should.I am making another front drive shaft with a 10 tooth driver.I will put that in next week.I have just about run out of room to keep tightening track.It is now back to the original mounting holes.

[teamruppcanada]

In the days of old, we never loosened the tracks when we put them in storage. Yes the tracks were tight when we serviced them in the fall but it wasn't long and they stretched to their proper length again when you started driving them. If you turn the track with some kind of a motor then the track will stretch uniformally.

[Stretch]

I did some online research once upon a time and the whole thing with the WD-40 was to saturate the track and put it in a garbage bag tied up for a week. That was supposed to recondition the rubber and make it more pliable for stretching. The most recommended method was to soak it in hot water... basically, heat and moisture in some form.

I like your set-up Dan, I didn't quite get that far with the 6" PVC but wanted to mount that in a frame, put even pressure on it and rotate it mechanically. I have a downflow furnace in the garage which blows across the floor so thought that would be a good way to heat it up and maybe even apply some steam from a steam cleaner I have. I didn't want to use drivers and idlers because I was afraid of uneven stresses on the track but sounds like if you take your time it works fine.


Another successful experiment from Dr. Dan!

[ruppluver]

Hey stretch,I finally got the stretcher you gave me,working.I put a track on it last week.I had a friend help me get it up in place.I have 2-5 gallon pails,with landscape brick in them.It is starting to take the rolls out.Eack week,I add more bricks.I'm anxious to see how the track turns out.I added MORE weight on 6/3.

Another successful experiment from Dr. Dan!
I'm not ready to call my experiment a success just yet.
I have yet to release the pressure to see what happens.
A friend told me to use Armor All on the inside of track,
in the winter time.NOTHING will stick to the track.
I have to try that also.

[ruppluver]

Well,I had some extra time today,so I went out & worked on replacing the front driver/shaft.I put a 10 tooth in & tightened it down like I would any track I put in to service.I tightened it up & it actually turns pretty darn nice.A friend told me to spray the inside of track with Armor All.That will make it slippery & nothing will stick to inside of track,snow,slush,ice etc.Will try it this coming winter to see if it works.I would call this experiment a huge success.Now,I have another track,but it has really wide track clips,that I will try to make work=by stretching.

Here is track w/10 tooth driver,adjusted & turned.
It turns nice.The number 45 on the side of tunnel,
is what the track tensioner is set at.When I was
stretching it,the number was 85 per side.The other
side is set at 35.I will leave it like this for a
couple of days,then pull the track out.In the
mean time,I have to get another tunnel ready.

[ruppluver]

I pulled the track out & put another shrunk track in,one with wider track clips. I have it tightened to 85 turns,just like the last track.Now to get this track in,I had to drill new holes,yet another 1" forward of the others.So now,there are 3 sets of holes in the tunnel on each side,each 1" forward of the originals.

This is a Rupp track,#15902,with kevlar bars in
it.It also has a Rupp repair kit for fixing broken
track bars.Yup,pop riveted in place.Rupp actually sold
track bar repair kits.I believe I got this from Rick,
many years ago or another retired Rupp dealer.

I know it looks bad,but if it works.................
I've had this track for approx 8 yrs,never used it because
it was shrunk really bad.Back then,stretching never
occured to me,but it does now.Guess what? I don't have
enough parts to put in my last 2 tunnels.Oh darn,damn
the luck.I can maybe put a rolling chassis together,
nope,won't happen.The light at the end of the tunnel,
is really bright,it's blinding me.Ah,at last,I can
maybe stop & smell the roses.It was a fun run.

Both tunnels are 1971's,which will NEVER get finished
in my life time.Come to think about it,NONE of my sleds,
will ever get finished.I will ride them & have fun with
them,just like a hobby is supposed to be.Enough is enough.
The end.