A Guide for Quick Changes Between ATV Tracks and Wheels
ATV tracks are the ultimate ATV accessories. These tracks allow you to go where no ATV can go. In winter, you can travel along deep snow where snowmobiles would usually sink in. And in spring and fall, these tracks allow you to ride smoothly over muddy and swampy terrain instead of getting stuck.
ATV track kits will evenly distribute the weight of your Honda ATV over a larger surface area. Instead of having your wheels drop down into the snow (or mud), the tracks will glide over so there are no limits to where you can go.
ATV tracks can especially enhance your rides in winter, transforming your ATV into a snowmobile that gets through deep snow. Track kits, like CAMSO tracks, are bolt-on rubber track systems for most ATVs and UTVs. These all-weather tracks can be used on your Honda ATV year-round. Or, you can easily remove them and replace them with your wheels when you’re ready to hit the trails in summer.
Here’s a guide on how to remove and replace CAMSO tracks for your ATV.
Important Safety Disclaimers
When installing and removing ATV tracks, it’s important to follow safe practices and work in a safe, clean, bright, and well-ventilated area. There is a risk of injury if the ATV moves or falls, so use appropriate stands and secure blocks behind the wheels to hold the vehicle in place.
- Do not place any part of your body under the ATV, unless it is secure on stands.
- Do not use a lifting device as a secure stand.
Before installation, make sure:
- The ATV’s engine is off, and the exhaust pipes have cooled down;
- The ATV is secure and cannot move; and,
- To never loosen the tensioner assembly bolt while adjusting the track tension. This bolt is designed for assembly and alignment of the tensioner with the frame. The tensioner must always be realigned when this bolt is loosened.
Installation
First, be sure to read and follow the Installation Guidelines included with your ATV track system for installation instructions specific to your ATV model. Here are general installation guidelines.
- Set the track tensioner to the minimum position.
- Remove the two 202 mm wheels opposite to the track tensioner.
- Install the rubber track.
- Re-install the 202 mm wheels.
- Adjust the track tension.
- Adjust the angle of attack, alignment and track tension, test drive your ATV, and re-adjust.
Note: You can install front tracks in both directions of rotation. For rear track installation, locate the direction of rotation indicator on the track.
Removal
When removing the tracks, do not leave track components such as anchor brackets attached to the suspension arms or anti-rotation bars attached to the skid plate. These can damage the vehicle when the ATV operates on wheels. So don’t leave components other than the skid plate and footrest reinforcement parts.
Removing Tracks at the Front of the System
- Unbolt the top and bottom part of the anchor bracket assembly. Remove it from the suspension arm.
- Remove track systems.
- Re-install wheels.
Removing Tracks at the Rear on an Independent Suspension
- Follow the same steps as the front.
Removing Tracks at the Rear on a Rigid Axle Suspension
- Unbolt the anti-rotation arm from the skid plate under the ATV or from any other anchor point on the vehicle. Leave the skid plate in place.
- Remove track systems.
- Re-install wheels.
Re-Installation
Always clean the wheel hubs on your ATV before re-installing the wheels or tracks.
- Re-install the track systems at the rear.
- Re-install the track systems at the front.
- Tighten the fasteners in a criss-cross sequence to the torque specification recommended by the manufacturer.
- Verify the track tension and adjust if needed.
- Verify the angle of attack and adjust if needed.
- Verify the alignment and adjust if needed.
For more information, refer to the Installation Guidelines for your specific model.
When re-installing the wheels on your ATV, make sure to properly re-install all the original components, e.g., wheels and guards.
Adjustments
Once you’ve re-installed the track system, it’s important to make adjustments and verify these adjustments after the first use of the ATV.
To make these adjustments, place the vehicle on a flat, level surface.
Adjusting the Angle of Attack for the Front Track Systems
To get the right angle of attack:
- Point the tracks straight ahead using the handlebars.
- Apply pressure to the front of the track so it remains flat on the ground.
- The stabilizing bar must be attached to the front anchor bracket on the vehicle.
- Place a flat bar on top of the rear wheels of the front track system. Place light pressure on the front of the track so it stays flat on the ground, and measure from the ground up to the flat bar.
- Loosen the jam nut. Adjust the length of the rod end by rotating the steering limiter support plate on the stabilizing arm. Use a 30 mm wrench to rotate the support plate and achieve 254 mm (10 inches) above the ground.
- Once the angle of attack is properly set, re-tighten the jam nut to 40 Nm of torque.
Note: An adjustment of more than 254 mm measured with the flat bar produces easier steering but a wobbling effect when driving at high speeds.
An adjustment of less than 254 mm produces harder steering but more stability at high speeds.
Adjusting the Angle of Attack for Rear Track Systems
Vehicles with Rigid Axle or Trailing Arm Suspension
Since some vehicles require a particular adjustment, refer to the Installation Guidelines for your model to confirm the correct adjustment.
- Loosen the nut compressing the spring of the stabilizing rod.
- Set the nut to obtain a distance of 10 mm between the nut and stabilizing arm guide.
- Turn the nut until it comes in contact with the spring, then compress the spring by turning the nut one and a half turns.
- Double-check the 10 mm minimum distance between the nut and stabilizing arm guide. Re-adjust as needed.
Vehicles with Independent Suspension
- Loosen the anti-rotation bracket bolts to allow the anti-rotation retainer to rotate on its axis.
- Loosen the jam nut. Rotate the stabilizing arm to adjust the length of the rod end so that no pressure is applied to the rubber cone.
- Position the anti-rotation retainer at 90˚ (perpendicular) with the stabilizing rod. Tighten the two anti-rotation bracket mounting bolts to 50 N•m of torque.
- Turn the stabilizing arm to adjust the length of the rod end so that the rubber cone applies light pressure on the anti-rotation retainer.
- Re-tighten the jam nut to 40 N•m (30 lb•ft) of torque when the adjustment is complete.
Note: The adjustment is incorrect if the stabilizing arm’s rubber cone is compressed and deformed. The stabilizing arm’s spring is then difficult or impossible to turn by hand.
Alignment
You must adjust parallelism with the ATV on the ground, driving the vehicle forward about 3 m (10 ft) and measuring the toe-in distance.
Note: Every time you verify the measurement, drive in reverse, then, drive forward again for about 3 m (10 ft).
Also, verify the condition of the steering system components before adjusting parallelism. Damaged components can prevent proper adjustment and impair the operation of the system.
To perform adjustments on the ATV, first, unlock the nut of each tie-rod end on the ATV. Then screw or unscrew the rod link equally on both sides of the vehicle.
For the following alignment formula, dimension A represents the distance between the outer front idler wheels. Dimension B represents the distance between the outer back idler wheels:
A – B = ± 3 mm (1/8 in)
Get the Pros to Check It Out for You!
Improper adjustments can affect the performance of the track system and cause premature wear of the components. So to ensure that your ATV is in top condition to hit the trails, have your track installation inspected by the pros. Or better yet, have the pros install and remove the track system for you!
With ATV track kits, the trails are limitless!