RE: "Tyng Track System" construction...what have we learned? [TANKS]

["Steve Tyng" <STyng-at-ACPTrust.com>]

Grant,

 

Sorry for the late reply.  I was down in Barbados for 10 days (without a computer ;-).

 

> It has been necessary to make a few material substitions.

> I've made the centre guide tooth(toothed pieces that attach to the inner

> wooden track) out of 3/8",7-ply aircraft grade plywood. The treads are

> made of 1/4" 5-ply aircraft grade plywood.  I plan on using brad nails as

> described in your article with Goop adhesive.

> Has there been any new thoughts or advancement in technique with the TTS lately?

 

My new TTS is being made out or 1/2" 5ply aircraft plywood for the track pieces and maple for the guide teeth.  I am using Titebond II glue and brads to attach the guide teeth.  Goop and brads will be used to attach the track pieces to the treadmill belt.

 

> I'am hoping 3/8" guide teeth are tall enough to prevent the track from

> jumping off during full skid turns and when rocks, gravel, twigs, stcks,etc.

> get lodged between the drive or idler wheels. 

 

Are you using a friction drive?  If so I wouldn't worry to much about the track jumping off.  How tall are your guide teeth?  My current ones are 1/2" wide by 1" tall.

 

> I'am also concerned about

> the guide teeth getting snapped off with the lateral forces caused by debris

> gettting jammed in the tracks and normal wear-and-tear.  What do you think?

 

I've never considered building guide teeth out of plywood.  The failure mode will probably be the tooth snapping off at the base (if it happens at all).  A few teeth broke on the original TTS about two thirds of the way up on the tooth.  Right about were the brads ended in the wood.  The broken teeth did not affect performance.

 

> Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated as I plan on assembling

> the tracks this weekend.

 

I hope it went well!

 

 

Steve Tyng