Track cutting options?

[cbc76am]

I've watched videos and I don't want to tackle this with a circular saw... Camso I have heard does it. Any one have any recommendations? I'm in Seattle area.

Need to cut an 11.5 to 10.5.

 

[eric82930]

I heard you could ship to tracksusa. But if you are building a sx track make sure you pick a track with the skinniest windows. Some windows are wider and there won't be much rubber left on the edge. They rip really easy as it is.

 

[cbc76am]

That's why I'm cutting. 6 broken, 4 in a row on a 15sx. Putting a riot track on, same windows. I can leave a touch more and have it fit in the frame. 11 and a quarter is the actual frame width

 

[M5-]

I cut down a track from 15 to 14.5 for my wifes old Phazer. I built a plywood guide and bolted it to my circular saw. its messy but its pretty easy and it works well.

 

[eric82930]

I had at least 4 in a row of broken window strips on my sx. It worked fine until a stump derailment broke the end of the fiber glass bars. I added an anti stab kit after that.

 

[cbc76am]

Hummm... Just looked like a ****ty few hours. I was considering the table saw or spacer off the drive lugs similar to that with a circular saw...

I'd honestly rather pay someone than cut rubber for 4 hours.

 

[M5-]

Whole deal was like 45 minutes both sides cuts them selves are fast, maybe less. its sucks balls I'm not going to blow smoke up your ass but its easy and works

 

[cbc76am]

Thanks M... Consideration changing

 

[NEWDUCK]

Find a machine shop/fab shop with a waterjet. Ask them how much to cut it for you. Shouldnt be more than an hour of billed time.

 

[chumbilly1]

I use a 10" beam saw with old blades. 4 old blades and 1 hour. Not that bad till they overheat and warp, then you change em. Shipping will kill you on cost

 

[suva]

I used a table saw to cut down a 153 for my old snowhawk. I turned it inside out first, I'm not sure if that would be possible with a 120. I don't remember it being that time consuming, but having a second pair of hands would have been helpful. It made a mess.

 

[Hawkster]

Skill saw works pretty fast with a couple of C-clamps and lumber . clamp the lumber on the inside so it sits on the driver lugs , takes longer measuring and clamping than cutting .

 

[niner]

I’ve cut quite a few tracks down. Turn inside out. Put a 4”x4” inside the track. I use a 220 heavy duty table saw. Buy a carbide blade with a high tooth count. When cutting use cutting oil and spray the blade to keep it cool so it doesn’t warp. Works best as a 2 man job. One guy feeds the track through the saw other guy sprays the blade. Takes me 20 minutes.

 

[cbc76am]

Thanks everyone. I'll tackle it myself as result of the input.

 

[eric82930]

I like the water jet idea. Does it really work?

 

[J&L Snowhawk]

I just cut down a 155” with my Bosch jig saw. Worked better than my skill saw as went way fast. Use soapy water to lube blade and rubber. That keeps cool and less sticky rubber on blade.

 

[NEWDUCK]

I like the water jet idea. Does it really work?

Yeah it works really well. My brother just had his done at his work.

 

[wonderdummy]

I did mine with a skill saw with a piece of alum angle riveted to the base to use as a guide and used a carbide blade on backwards (i was told it cut better this way) used one blade per side. Set the blade depth so it just cuts through the track belt use good olfa knife to cut the paddles. Cut from the inside I put the middle of the track over a car hoist arm and set the track on the ground making a triangle. Took me 45 mins and looked good. I was told it works better outside in the cold and snow but it was -40 when i did mine so inside it was.