Removing Studs

need a new track. I would never ever cosnider doing it without puting an unstudded track in its place.

I have done it before. It was on a 90 650 strangely enough. ran for two seasons like that. had a vibration though from the little wheels going in the dents left from the studs. Yes it will handle very differently especially on very hard packed or ice. Once you get used to it though its actually fun. you have to set up your corners like a ralley car driver.

ok guys, this may sound kinda wierd to some of you but depending on the type of studs you have you can go about this in a couple different ways.

If you have t-nut style studs, just get short bolts to put in their place. This way the holes left by the studs will be covered. Keep in mind the bolts should not protrude through the t-nuts, as it will damage the idler wheels when they run over them.

If you have the push through style and you do not want the studs and they are not worth saving, just cut them off so that you leave the backing plates there to keep the holes covered.

This may sound retarded to you, but it works, and this way you will not comprimise the integrety of the track.

Polaris is my way out - Other people just use a door.

It had tunnel protectors in it. Actually a couple of hockey sticks screwed to the tunnel.

They are push trough studs, and are still in good shape.
What happens if I leave the holes in the track?
Will this weaken the track?

i think you will be ok,,i was told by a few people that you could remove the studs completely, and the holes wont bother at all, remember guys, a track is made of rubber, and has a crapload of strings (or whatever) embedded in the rubber, i have never seen a track tear apart, unless its a million years old, and dry rotting..i took my studs out (push through style) and i have been riding on it, hasnt bothered the track at all, but i do plan on putting a new track on this summer, so i think you will be fine, but keep an eye open for a good deal on a new or used track.....and your sled will handle differently if you do most your riding on ice, or hard packed trails, but if you ride mostly powder, your studs arent soing anything to help you, as for in powder, nothing for the studs to bite on.

1993 xlt sp 580
xtra 10 suspension

Thanks XLTMAN, why did you take your studs out?

i removed my studs cause my track tensioner bolts were screwed up on my old suspension, and the track come loose one day and chewed up my front heat exchanger, it now has 4 very large grooves in it, but it is not leaking. most of my studs came out using a socket and an allen wrench, but the rest i had to grind the nut off. it was a long tedious process, but i didnt have snow at the time, so it didnt matter.but i have put about 500 miles or more on that same track (with the holes) and have had no trouble. and to fix the tensioner bolts, i put a xtra 10 suspension in....problems solved

1993 xlt sp 580
xtra 10 suspension

Had to remove my studs out of my 95 XLT. That year won't allow much clearance for studs. Didn't feel like taking them all out, not to mention how hard it was to take out, so I just took my bolt cutters to them and they still work great. Mark