1974 JDX4 Special,Track

[farleyjd400]

Does anybody make a reproduction track for this sled? Does anybody have a good used one? I though i remember hearing Kimpex made a track that was not cleated just a full rubber track which i would be ok with. Mine is in good shape but badly weather checked (cracks). Want to start looking so i have one on hand. Thank you

[Steven Rempel]

I have not heard of any reductions that would work for the jdx4 special. When I got my sled it still had the factory one on with the full width cleats which I learned was recalled. I just replace it last year with one off a jdx6 track the 2/3 type that was in good condition. But if you do find a full rubber track and it does work I would be very interested, not sure how one would work with the sliders I would be worried about not getting enough snow in the track for the sliders to get enough lubrication.

[AirborneX4Special]

The original full width grouser bar track was bolted together with large headed bolts and locknuts. The recall could have been about that system because the locknuts would come loose and cause catastrophic failure. The replacement track arrived with full width bars sort of molded into the track, but not to the extent that they'd actually remain attached for longer than twenty minutes of anything but casual riding in the most ideal conditions. There was an update on that track involving a drill and pop rivets. The 2/3 grouser bar track was available for the Blitz Black Brigade sleds with slide rails at the time I encountered this situation, but the full width version with the moderately attached bars was less expensive. It just needed some labor to make it useable a bit later into the mission. I don't know if the 2/3 track arrived on the 1976 Liquifire / Cyclone, but it was standard for the 1977 and 78 production. By '79 Deere went back to the full width bar setup. As for finding an all rubber track, I don't know of such an option.

[JDGuy]

Pat:

the 76 liquifire & cyclone came with the junk Goodyear made track with the bonded-on cleats that stayed on for about 100 miles or so. Deere offered the later and then new 2/3 cleated track to those ill fated customers at a so called discount price which was pretty short on discount. So much for track warranty. I bolted mine on with stamped stud bolts & nuts. The bolts had a shallow hole at the nut end made to peen over the nut to keep the nut from loosening. Seems I remember buying a 50lb bag of those bolts from Dennis Kirk, but I exaggerate a bit on the 50lbs, but it seemed like more than that by the time you drilled, installed, peened, etc.

[AirborneX4Special]

Guy
My replacement for the failed bolted grouser bar track was the Goodyear you mentioned, but it's been so many years I forgot it was a GY track. When it started dumping bars they handed me the appropriate number of pop rivets, a Deere Service Bulletin, and said good luck. I think the replacement bars for those lost were complimentary, but the ensuing blisters and callouses from using the hand operated rivet tool made them very expensive. Seems to me that people I knew with 2/3 bar tracks had their share of issues and ended up replacing them with a full bar unit. Wish I still had that Service Bulletin....