T190 16" tracks v. snow

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Creek Jenkins

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Aug 16, 2012
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A friend of mine is looking at buying a low hours 2007 T190. He wants to put a snowblower on it and mostly use it for moving snow. Tracks are preferred as he has a big area in front of his shop that is all pavers. We found a machine and talking to the owner he said he would not recommend the machine for snow removal. He has the 16" factory tracks/rigid suspension and he says it is worthless in snow. The tracks are in really good condition (400 hours on the machine, used only in dirt). We have an RC60 ASV here at work and it goes really well thru the snow, we have a snow bucket that it pushes with no problem. I noticed the ASV tracks have cleats or bars all the way across and the Bobcat tracks have more flat load bearing area. Anyone care to comment on this? Experience? Would the 12" tracks be better? He would use it in the woods a bit during the summer, but probably not going to put on more than 60-70 hours per year between woods and snow removal. We are in North MN so we get a fair bit of snow. I use my 753 with stock wheels / no chains and get around pretty well for snow removal just using the dirt bucket. Plan to get a snowblower next year. Wish I had a high flow machine but will have to go with what I have. cheers, Creek
 
1964Raptor

1964Raptor

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Nov 20, 2013
Messages
20
Creek, I don't know jack when it come to these machines but it seems like the YouTube vids I've seen where guys are moving snow they have the tire machines. I'm not sure if that helps or not. I think that's what you are asking? Stay warm....
 
L

lesgawlik

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Joined
Aug 5, 2010
Messages
355
1964Raptor said:
Creek, I don't know jack when it come to these machines but it seems like the YouTube vids I've seen where guys are moving snow they have the tire machines. I'm not sure if that helps or not. I think that's what you are asking? Stay warm....
Click to expand...
It's a matter of ground pressure. The weight of a wheel machine is distributed over four small patches. For your car, they say it's about the size of your palm. The weight of a tracked machine is spread out over several square feet of track, and may be as little as 4 pounds per square inch. It's possible to run a tracked machine straight, without turning, over a grass lawn without doing permanent damage. That's a lot less likely in a wheel machine. However, that advantage becomes a problem over snow. Your traction will be limited. There are three possible solutions to this. Bridgestone makes a track it claims does better in ice and snow. I watched a advertising video, and it looked promising. Second, some people put carbide studs in the tracks. All I know about that is some people do it. Third, there were big cleats that fit over the tracks. Those were very expensive, are almost unavailable now, and the ride will send you to physical therapy. I use a track machine for pushing snow. I don't have any real problems except on a grade, or over ice. I also have a small wheel machine with chains for those areas. The only advantage to tracks in snow is that you can build and ride up a ramp to get rid of the snow you've just cleared.
 
L

lesgawlik

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Aug 5, 2010
Messages
355
lesgawlik said:
It's a matter of ground pressure. The weight of a wheel machine is distributed over four small patches. For your car, they say it's about the size of your palm. The weight of a tracked machine is spread out over several square feet of track, and may be as little as 4 pounds per square inch. It's possible to run a tracked machine straight, without turning, over a grass lawn without doing permanent damage. That's a lot less likely in a wheel machine. However, that advantage becomes a problem over snow. Your traction will be limited. There are three possible solutions to this. Bridgestone makes a track it claims does better in ice and snow. I watched a advertising video, and it looked promising. Second, some people put carbide studs in the tracks. All I know about that is some people do it. Third, there were big cleats that fit over the tracks. Those were very expensive, are almost unavailable now, and the ride will send you to physical therapy. I use a track machine for pushing snow. I don't have any real problems except on a grade, or over ice. I also have a small wheel machine with chains for those areas. The only advantage to tracks in snow is that you can build and ride up a ramp to get rid of the snow you've just cleared.
Click to expand...
I forgot to add that I have the wide tracks. I have used the machine extensively in sloppy mud, and I am thrilled with what it can do. It was the perfect machine for what I was doing.
 
7

7LBSSMALLIE

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Joined
Feb 2, 2012
Messages
1,294
lesgawlik said:
I forgot to add that I have the wide tracks. I have used the machine extensively in sloppy mud, and I am thrilled with what it can do. It was the perfect machine for what I was doing.
Click to expand...
as tech not an operator im quite intresed in this thread> I guess im im askining is snow pushining feasible on a rubber track loader? if so tips and tricks. please,
 
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lesgawlik

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Joined
Aug 5, 2010
Messages
355
7LBSSMALLIE said:
as tech not an operator im quite intresed in this thread> I guess im im askining is snow pushining feasible on a rubber track loader? if so tips and tricks. please,
Click to expand...
I push snow with a CTL on my property, and around the neighborhood. Like I said in the earlier post, you can spin the tracks. Sometimes working up hill, I have the sticks pushed forward, and I'm sliding backwards at full speed. I have spun around and slid down hills, but in fairness I did that in my little wheel machine, too. I bought an 8' snow box, but I haven't used it so far. I just took the cutting edge and tooth bar off, and carefully used the bucket. The big thing you lose doing that is the spring-loaded trip of a real snow blade. The advantage is that you can lift and stack snow, which in the case of a heavy snowfall is very helpful. My tracks are just about shot. I was thinking about replacing them, but this summer I will have to drive over the lawn. I'm thinking that if I get new tracks I might be more likely to tear up the grass, and it's too much work to keep the old tracks and change them when needed.
 

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