My Senior design project - a "Swamp Thing" tracked vehicle clone

[Garauld]

Springtime update! We didn't get much snow here this winter so I only drove Snowzer around a few times when there was sufficient snow on the ground needed to reduce lawn damage. Since I have to keep the wife happy I got to thinking how I could make the tracks less aggressive. The easiest way to do that would be to box out the grouser channels by welding a flat strip over them - all 126 of them. In the attached image, you can see both the original and modified grousers. I hope this works!

 

[ArlyA]

Springtime update! We didn't get much snow here this winter so I only drove Snowzer around a few times when there was sufficient snow on the ground needed to reduce lawn damage. Since I have to keep the wife happy I got to thinking how I could make the tracks less aggressive. The easiest way to do that would be to box out the grouser channels by welding a flat strip over them - all 126 of them. In the attached image, you can see both the original and modified grousers. I hope this works!

Could do them at a 45 for pretty much the same volume of work. Side hill slippage will suffer.

 

[Garauld]

Hi Arly, I'm not sure by what you mean by 45. Yes, I would assume it might slide a bit sideways which should not be an issue in my yard. The next owner can fix that.

 

[ArlyA]

Cut the lugs ends off at a 45%, then cap. (not good pic)

 

[Garauld]

The original grousers were plasma cut from 1" sq. tube x 14" long and 3" from each end were beveled (sloped) down by 1/4". To modify these I first cut the channel ends at 45° and then box the channel by placing a thin strip (1/8 x 7/8" x 14-3/4" long) on the open top and tig welding it down. I then grind a groove in the strip near each end to weaken it and hammer it down to the bottom corner. The remaining joints are then tig welded to seal it. I tried to mig it initially but even using .023 wire put down bigger weld beads than I wanted. I am using 1/16" ER70S-6 tig rod which works nicely and looks good.

 

[airbiscuit]

 

[Garauld]

I may try that!

 

[trackhead]

My grousers are 1.25” square tube and turn easy, side hill ok, but definitely don’t bite as well as a more traditional grouser.

 

[Garauld]

My grousers are 1.25” square tube...

Please post a photo or two of your grousers/tracks. TY.

 

[trackhead]