Wood or Rubber Grouser Tracks on an OC4

[mmoscari]

Has anyone ever tried to bolt on Rubber or Wood Grouser Tracks onto OC4 Tracks?  My OC4 had two holes in each Track Cleat.  I would like to be able to run across or on roads for short distances without causing any damage to the blacktop.  I have some very hard 2 x 6 White Oak.  I'm thinking about making a set.  I dont know if they would hold up to normal use and don't want to invest a lot of time. if they won't. The only thing I would have to buy is the bolts, washers and nuts.

[Blake Malkamaki]

We made some wooden blocks for the steel wheels on our 28-50 Hart Parr several years ago. They lasted part of a day and disintegrated. Luckily we didn't make a whole set - just a few to experiment with.

Rubber would probably work better if you don't pull hard or steer sharp in rocks or gravel.

Blake

[mmoscari]

28-50 Hart Parr, now your really talking Antique.  The Cleats on my OC$ are almost like new.  I dont know what you call them, but the virtical lip is almost 1" high.  They would probably rip a black top road up with the slightest turn.  Rubber would be very expensive and take a long time to fabricate, not to mention a very messy job.  I think I counted 62 cleats per track, so I would have to make 124 grousers, quite an undertaking.  I guess I'll just use planks to cross roads without doing any damage.  Thanks for the info.

[Mike Shanley]

A few years ago I bought a Celtrac HG from a guy near Duluth MN.  The machine had 2X4's bolted onto every other pad on the tracks.  It had been used to make trails and get through hard bottom north woods swamps.  Vern, the guy I bought it from, said that it was amazing what it could go through.
The 2X4's were just plain pine and a few had broken where there were knots.  These 2X4's extended 4 to 6 inches beyond the width of the grouser.  Vern had replaced the Hercules with a Ford Pinto motor and had a sign on the radiator -- Powered by Ford, Have you drivin over anything lately?
Give your idea a try.  White Oak is pretty tough stuff.  Besides, it's winter...time to get the Oliver ready.   Mike Shanley

[Blake Malkamaki]

Years ago my uncle was involved in a low-budget ski resort in New York, made out of an old farm. They had at least one HG-68 with 2x4s bolted on the tracks. Each board was probably 4 feet long and came close to the frame of the tractor and outside from the tracks the same distance. They also had a big roller - probably a 500 gal fuel tank - that had 2x4s bolted to it too. They'd pull that roller up and down the ski hill with the HG and do a good job packing the snow down. The whole outfit would ride up on top of the snow.

Blake