revrnd Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 I've been buying carbides since the 80s. A cardboard box to hold 2 'blades' & 2 nuts? No wonder they're so expensive. Also not really sure of the need for the host material to be hardened when the inserts protect against wear. A carbide scriber will barely scratch the surface. Any idea how long a patent lasts before an outside vendor could produce them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strong Farmer Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 54 minutes ago, revrnd said: I've been buying carbides since the 80s. A cardboard box to hold 2 'blades' & 2 nuts? No wonder they're so expensive. Also not really sure of the need for the host material to be hardened when the inserts protect against wear. A carbide scriber will barely scratch the surface. Any idea how long a patent lasts before an outside vendor could produce them? Normally 10 years I believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poo Man Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 Buy some snowtrackers 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coldfinger Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 Make them l will place an order Revrnd . 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muskoka Bill Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 17 minutes ago, coldfinger said: Make them l will place an order Revrnd . Me too at about $145 a pair from ski-doo I am always looking for an alternative 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revrnd Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 22 minutes ago, coldfinger said: Make them l will place an order Revrnd . I could probably copy the 'blade' out of CRS & run a bead of hard weld along the bottom. I'm not sure if my skills in silver soldering would be very productive in attaching the inserts, (if I could source them). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muskoka Bill Posted February 11, 2020 Share Posted February 11, 2020 (edited) 45 minutes ago, Strong Farmer said: Normally 10 years I believe. The patent # is US20150314800A1 but I could not find any other info on the patent using the US patent search web site Edited February 11, 2020 by Muskoka Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revrnd Posted February 11, 2020 Author Share Posted February 11, 2020 6 minutes ago, Muskoka Bill said: Me too at about $145 a pair from ski-doo I am always looking for an alternative As Ricky from Trailer Park Boys would say, "It's not rocket appliances". I'm sure any of the other traction companies could offer them in a heartbeat if it wasn't for the patent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muskoka Man Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 1 hour ago, Poo Man said: Buy some snowtrackers Only thing I put on my sleds ,makes them run straight 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
infernobuster Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 HA. Try pricing out bergstrom triples for a sidewinder .. its practically a car payment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
volunteer2 Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 8 inch Woody's duellys was half of my truck lease payment lol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soupkids Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 Try buying a belt for a polaris 800/850 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irREVerent Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 4 hours ago, Poo Man said: Buy some snowtrackers Don't think Snowtrackers are compatible with Pilot TS skis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodyf Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 4 hours ago, Poo Man said: Buy some snowtrackers My wife has a 2016 Blizzard 900 ace. She could never find the correct adjustment on the ts skis. My friend convinced me to install semi-aggressive carbides on her ride. She just loves them. It's like having power steering in all conditions. No more adjusting, no more fusing... She can steer with a single hand. No darting. They are worth the money. Set your front track shock at 80 to 90%, lightens the ski pressure and enjoy the power steering. No more ts skis in this household. Great on paper, not so much in application. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodyf Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 10 minutes ago, irREVerent said: Don't think Snowtrackers are compatible with Pilot TS skis. Yes they are, but you lose the adjustability. However thank goodness you lose the adjustability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revrnd Posted February 12, 2020 Author Share Posted February 12, 2020 1 hour ago, volunteer2 said: 8 inch Woody's duellys was half of my truck lease payment lol 1 hour ago, soupkids said: Try buying a belt for a polaris 800/850 But there are aftermarket choices arent there? 10 minutes ago, irREVerent said: Don't think Snowtrackers are compatible with Pilot TS skis. I have read that there is an aftermarket carbide that fits the TS Pilot but are in a fixed position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soupkids Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 1 hour ago, revrnd said: But there are aftermarket choices aren't there? Junk !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revrnd Posted February 12, 2020 Author Share Posted February 12, 2020 1 minute ago, soupkids said: Junk !! I've never bought aftermarket belts. Weighing the longevity vs the cost of the Bombi/BRP belts over the years & I've had no complaints. Up to this sled, I've used Woodys carbides which were cheaper than the 'doo offerings. No wear issues to my untrained eyes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookster Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 me and my wife love are TS skis adjust for conditions is great , we do not find darting issues and I have 6000km on mine and her sled has 11,000km and they are still fine shape, only had to shim skis from get go, set toe, and set snowmobile up for riders weight. I find to check this stuff as my dealer never does and is always off. I have had one set of snow trackers on a Yamaha I owned one time, ya they where great one hand steering but found I could never back up and turn around on any type of loose trail without spinning /trenching and getting stuck. on a super hard pack road/trail yes you could. for that reason I will stay away. I also tried the 7" plus the extra .25" ts carbides on my sled when it was brand new never tried the stock except maybe for a quick rip around home, but changed them and went north, found they where to much and put stock back on, the 4 stroke does not need the extra bite . i will not complain to much on price they last for us. " just my 2 cents." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbo Doo Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 If you have to ask how much?., your in the wrong sport...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revrnd Posted February 12, 2020 Author Share Posted February 12, 2020 I guess considering how long they last, it all comes out in the wash. Maybe BRP realizes they aren't selling as many (& a captive market) so they can pad the price? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper Posted February 12, 2020 Share Posted February 12, 2020 18 hours ago, revrnd said: I've been buying carbides since the 80s. A cardboard box to hold 2 'blades' & 2 nuts? No wonder they're so expensive. Also not really sure of the need for the host material to be hardened when the inserts protect against wear. A carbide scriber will barely scratch the surface. Any idea how long a patent lasts before an outside vendor could produce them? Rev, you could easily make those in your shop, could you not remove the worn carbide and solder in new inserts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revrnd Posted February 12, 2020 Author Share Posted February 12, 2020 1 hour ago, snapper said: Rev, you could easily make those in your shop, could you not remove the worn carbide and solder in new inserts? The problem might be the inserts. Machining inserts nowadays are indexable & retained w/ a very small screw on a holder. Even the cheap soldered on lathe carbides don't resemble the sled inserts. I imagine it could be doable. Mind you I did see pics of a pair of destroyed TS carbides (ski was euchred too) that had no evidence of having carbides... Nobody could believe it was possible to do that much damage. Owner never did give a 'straight' account as to what happened... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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