Lesson: Make sure that your G2 comb is always FULLY FLEXED, and the Tracksetter is not
forcing the comb up off of the snow!
The reason for this is simple, but not intuitive: The G2 Tracksetter gains a tremendous advantage
because the “pitch” is fixed to plane parallel to the trail surface. As an analogy, imagine the work you
can do pulling a hoe or rake through soil with a normal length handle, and then picture trying to do
the same work with a 6” long handle. Aside from having to bend down, you have also lost the
leverage advantage of the long handle that helps work against the resulting rotational force as you
pull the hoe or rake through soil. With the long handle, you do not have to exert much
down
force or
fight a large
rotational
force to get the hoe or rake to bite – you basically just have to
pull
on the
handle. The G2 Tracksetter works on the same principle! Other tracksetters have a pivot right at the
center of the tracksetter (a short stubby hoe/rake handle) and must apply sufficient down force to
keep the tracksetter planing on the snow, as well as a pulling force.
Please note that the gas spring exerts a
rotational
force on the Tracksetter (and you don’t need
much, see our above hoe/rake analogy). This is not one for one equivalent to the
down
force applied
by weight plates added to the G2. It is not necessary, for example, to add 75 lbs of weight plates on
each side of the implement just because you have added the second 75 lb gas spring. In fact, we
have found that 50 lbs per side is the most ever needed, and often 25 lbs per side is sufficient. Some
experimentation is required to find the best combination for your terrain and conditions. In theory, you
will get a more dense and durable track with the more force applied, but the tradeoff will be the
added pulling weight of the implement. The G2 Tracksetter is designed to apply force in the most
efficient manner possible, thus requiring the least amount of total implement weight.
The G2 Tracksetter has a sideplate attached to each side. Please observe how this sideplate not
only provides positive tracking and keeps the tracksetter from sliding sideways, but also protects the
teeth and trackshoes from damage if the Tracksetter is run across a surface other than snow (like a
PN 040101-02 G2 Tracksetter, Assembly and Operation Rev 1/2019
7
