I am a Flat Lander and want to cut my Lugs down to 1.75" from the 2.25" that is on it. What method has worked best for you when cutting the lugs?

Thanks for the help!

STOP!!!
there are hundreds of guys n gals on here that are trying to go to a bigger lug. Now wouldn't it make more sense to take it off and trade someone for a track that they want to upgrade to??? This will also give you a chance to see all the bearings and seals that you surely want to inspect right???

No, it would not make more sense. I change the bearings once I reach a certain Mile Mark. The sled sits at our cottage almost 400 miles from me. I am traveling up there next weekend to cut the track and have it ready for season.....

well, since you are set on cutting it...say hello to Mr. Razor...

I have to completely agree, track swap is the smartest thing to do. It will take you more time to cut down each lugs then to swap out the track. Simple straight forward job that will take you about 1 1/2 hr with basic hand tools. If you,ve done this before then its only 45min. It will take ya a good part of an afternoon and you,ll have some very sore hands after cutting so many lugs.
Take another track with ya, do the swap and then bring the other track back and sell it.

Another consideration is that cutting the lugs down will make for POOR track performance, deep snow or trail. Though it will be a good digger

Ya a RAZOR is the only way.......good luck.

Is there such a thing as a 144x16x1.75" lug track out there to swap with? I only see the 144x15x1.75" Backcountry http://www.tracksusa.com/back_country.html

Then you have to compare mileage on the tracks and condition.... and shipping.... And what swapper is going to pay both ways to ship a track??

Personally I wouldn't cut the track and just run it. I run with a pack of Summits in west MI and the 2 or 2 1/4" lugs are fine.

Anyways, another option to trim the lugs is to use a Nipper. Just cut a block of wood the length you want the lugs to be, set it next to the lug and clip the tips. I have not done this, but heard other guys have.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/disp...temnumber=38496

That brings back bad memories! I used that exact nipper to cut the outer lugs down slightly to clear a rear tunnel extension mount for my '03 when I went from a Beav to a 136. It works but is a total PITA. And, like others have said, you need the ends of the lugs to be somewhat flexible for good all-around snow performance. Cutting a track down by a full half inch will absolutely ruin it for everything but snirt riding.

Have FUN!

G MAN

A few years back I did the same thing. I simply made a gauge block to use for measurement (lug height) and marked every lug with a chalk pencil then used a SAWZALL with a fine tooth blade (metal blade). Took about 40 min to do the track. Did a good job but I'm a carpenter by trade.

This method was my initial thought. I have 2 pieces of 1/4" x 1 3/4" Steel that are about 20" long for guides. Figured I could clamp them to the lugs and have at it.

I have heard of tons of people doing this. Why are some of you so negative about it? I ride in the flat lands and spend 1/2 my time on the trails. We don't get 10' of snow at a time around here.

How is shaving this track going to negatively effect how it goes through the snow? It is still going to be 1.75" and should move a ton of snow out of the way. Again, I am not climbing Mountains, just playing in some of the off trail areas....

haha I cannot believe that somebody would take the time and energy to cut down lugs a track...just seems stupid to me. I'd either trade it and make somebody's day and get a track thats been built to the specs you want or I wouldn't even mess with it and just run it the way it is. Are you gunna lose any performance by leaving it? Probably not...Are you going to gain performance by cutting it down? Probably not. Just seems like a waste of time and a good track

Track was free, lugs were too large to fit in the tunnel and being a WORKING MAN with a budget, it was a very economical way to get a 1.75" track on my sled. As well, when the track is cut, it leaves a much thicker lugg with less chance of tear off .

Cutting the track works fine if you are riding on hard snow. Hill climb racers do it all the time to their stock sleds to get better traction on the hard stuff. Deep snow performance is affected but not by as much as you would thinki. I did it and used a board for a guide and a razor and it worked fine. Only took about an hour on a 151 in. track. Just be sure you have a few spair blades because they will get dull quick.

They DOOOOO, HOLY.....thats new news for me.... and i,am a sponsored hillclimber. I know we have swapped out tracks from mid winter to spring meets, but cut them hehehehe

I don't understand this concept either, I bet you are worried about overheating on the low snow conditions.

Best advice, keep the big lug height and buy scratchers. That way when the snow is deep you still have the advantage of good lug flexing but then when the trails are beat or low snow throw down the scratchers.

On my old 670 I made the mistake of trimming the 1.75, it did nothing but hurt the performance.

P.S. I used a hook blade to trim mine, it sucks! Better off swapping............. trust me.

I have had no overheating problems with this sled. I ran scratchers for a little while but broke them off when I forgot about them backing up. I would say 1500 miles on the sled on the trail with no over heating. If the snow gets that low, I ride my 144" F-7 that has a 1.25" Lug on it.....

My biggest concern is that the lugs are stating to "fold over". I have heard of tons of people cutting tracks down so I figured I would do it and get the track to where it had more meat touching the ground.

I don't know what I will do now. I can't believe cutting it down is going to hurt anything. I am not playing in the mountains, just off trail in Michigan......

Then run that till they are completely folded over and then look for a used track on craigs with the lug height you want.

i used the end nippers to notch a track for an A cat. Placed the nippers with the jaws on a block of wood, and hit them with a hammer. Destroyed the nippers, but my hands didn't hurt. Took me an hour. That was only 2/3 of the total number of lugs, and only about half of each lug. Then I had to razor blade the notch........ more work than it was worth.