JD to AC rubber track conversion ???

[mnjd4life]

Okay so I have read many times that, "I have done the rubber track conversion", on the liquifires. Is there a post that gives more detailed instructions for the arctic cat conversion. Buddy has a 77 liquifire with a bad track and has found an 81 panther track. Now do we need to have the drivers off of the panther also. Do you press the AC drivers onto the JD shaft because it is a different pitch? I know the JD is a 121 x 15.5 x 2.52 and the AC is 121 x 16. I know this is an easy one for you guys so thanks in advance.

[harleysportster]

The AC track that has been used in the conversion are AC # 0102-317 = 16 x 121 and AC # 0602-116 = 15 x 121.
both tracks have a 2.52 pitch, they fit the 85-88 AC Cougar, El-Tigre, Pantera and 86-88 Panther. The center rail distance is slightly different between the JD and AC tracks. There is not much room for error when adjusting/ centering the track on the sled.

[JDXspec]

The AC track is a basic drop in (or at least as close to one as you can get) The tracks can have either 3.29 drive pitch or 2.52 drive pitch. I have not figured out which track is which based on Part number. As you stated the 77 has 2.52 drive pitch. If your track has the 3.29 drive pitch you could use 80 LF drive shaft and sprockets. AS Harley stated the rail center distance is slightly different so the tension must be closely watched.

Here is my custom JD it has an AC track with a LF suspension. So far it seems to work well but 20 miles isn't enough to say for sure.

[mnjd4life]

Okay thanks guys. I found the thread finally that lists all the AC drop in tracks. Just took a little more digging.
Here it is, nobody disagreed with him so I'm going with it. It was posted in "Suspension and Track Swap for 77 Liquifire."

"I know that it has been a while since anyone has replied to this post but I may have some more info that I have dug up. From the research that I have done it looks like there may be a even better track than the panther 3.29 pitch track. The lising for the replacment track states the following:
NOTE:
For 80-81/84-85 Panther this is a 15 inch conversion track from 3.29 pitch to 2.52 pitch and requires sprocket numbers 04136 qty. 1 and 04137 qty 2, which must be purchased separately.

Further yet listing for this track lists model fittment:
Part 01406 fits the following machines:
1985 Arctic Cat Cougar 500
1986 Arctic Cat Cougar 500
1987 Arctic Cat Cougar 500
1988 Arctic Cat Cougar 500
1985 Arctic Cat Cougar S.E.
1987 Arctic Cat El Tigre 5000
1988 Arctic Cat El Tigre 5000
1985 Arctic Cat El Tigre 6000
1986 Arctic Cat El Tigre 6000
1987 Arctic Cat El Tigre 6000
1988 Arctic Cat El Tigre 6000
1989 Arctic Cat El Tigre 6000
1989 Arctic Cat El Tigre EXT
1989 Arctic Cat El Tigre EXT Mtn. Cat
1985 Arctic Cat Pantera 440
1986 Arctic Cat Pantera 440
1987 Arctic Cat Pantera 440
1988 Arctic Cat Pantera 440
1989 Arctic Cat Pantera 440
1980 Arctic Cat Panther 440
1981 Arctic Cat Panther 440
1984 Arctic Cat Panther 440
1985 Arctic Cat Panther 440
1989 Arctic Cat Panther 440
1990 Arctic Cat Panther 440
1991 Arctic Cat Panther 440
1988 Arctic Cat Wildcat 650

If I am reading all of this correctly then the oem tracks that the models that are listed other than the 80-81/84-85 Panther 440. Should be a 121x15" x 2.52 with the correct or close to corect slide rail mesurment for the 76-78 cyclone/liquifires. If this is true than that would be the track that I would be searching for. I have gone even further to look at a camoplast aplication guide and none of these models listed are in their catalog ,which only has the more common 121 x 15 x2.52 tracks on current model sleds.

If I am completly wrong let me know but all of this makes sense to me.

Jayson"

[lwb140]

im in the process of finishing up a conversion or 2 myself if you are using the 78 skid it is pretty simple to narrow up to 7 3/4 to accomidate the cat track , havent looked that hard at the older skids but it may not be terrible to do , .the cross shafts can be put in a lather and .125 be taken off of each end , the front arm has to be narrowed the same on each end and the mounting brackets for it have to be clearanced a bit , the only other issue is the rear axle which can be easily mobified in a mill or a new one made with the correct demintions , if you plan to run the 16 inch track i would reccomend narrowing the skid because as harley metioned alignment is an issue because of the tight clearance , my thoughts wade

[Cabindweller]

Say I have a 1991 Panther 440, Its kind of a beater but it runs good. I have been debateing what to do with it. Now with this info It may get parted out now.

[harleysportster]

The track that I have experimented with was AC # 0102-317 from a 1988 Cougar. Since the track was used, some of the track clips were out of line and "cut-in" to the front drivers. This was on a 78 Liquifre. Some guys have not experienced the problem I did and have good luck. since this is not my main running sled, I have put this on the back-burner for now.

[mnjd4life]

I see, I was wondering if a person could modify the skid if he was desperate or had problems. I haven't had my skid out yet but maybe over vacation next week. See how crazy a person gets over this brown Christmas.

[JDXspec]

The track I used was out of a 1988 wildcat it had the 16" track and has the 2.52 pitch