iGrip – A Great Choice
You want to improve the traction of your snowmobile, think of the iGrip products.
Familiar with the famous Ice-Attack XT and Ice Ripper XT tracks for more than six seasons, this year I am trying the iGrip St 24 studs. Having just purchased a new Arctic Cat ZR 6000 129” Arctic Cat, I was faced with these choices: either change the track for a track with preinstalled studs or go with the option of putting hand screwed studs. The ZR 6000 comes with a one ¼ inch Ripsaw track. This track is, in my opinion, one of the most efficient on the trail. It is light, robust and silent. The only weakness is that it needs more grip when there is ice.
As you know, safety is essential in such circumstances.
iGrip offers a low-cost and reliable solution to solve this weakness. These are high performance screwed studs. Distributed in an improved version, the crampons provide the advantage of being inexpensive, easy to install without increasing the weight of the track. It is in the headquarters of iGrip that I had the chance to have it fixed. During this visit, President Patrick LeMay explained to me the technology behind this product. These are not just simple screws that are screwed directly into the stud. It has been designed to resist the worst stresses a track can face. Also, the integrated carbide tips are designed to break the surface layer of the ice to get the most grip. Regarding durability, Mr. LeMay reassures us by stating that in the trail, the screws will hold up throughout the useful life of the track.
But what about trail behavior compared to Camso Ice Series tracks? You will be happy to know that the product has proven to be effective on icy trails. Often ice is located where there are curves or braking zones. This is mainly due to the friction that occurs when a snowmobile stops, accelerates or skids. This friction between the ground and the track generate water that turns into ice. There are also days of warm weather and freezing rain. It is in all these elements that you will appreciate the I-Grips. The screws do an excellent job both in braking and acceleration and provide enough flexibility to allow controlled skidding.
Moreover, it is always useful when you cross a street to be equipped with this feature. This greatly helps to remove snowmobiles that are trapped on the ground due to the carbide/asphalt contact of the front skis. I also noticed that the noise is barely noticeable, whether at low or high speed.
The installation is relatively simple. In my situation, it only took 65 minutes to do the work.
- First, lift the back of the snowmobile to get comfortable.
- Using a drill, drill the desired number of studs row by row. The master row requires five studs and 4 for the two middle rows that follow. (Drill and screw in at low speed from the drill.)
- Once the track is drilled, use the supplied adapter tool to hold the studs.
- It is recommended to soak the threads of each screw in dish soap lightly. (This prevents the crampons of the track from twisting when inserting the screws.)
- When screwing in, follow the recommended depth according to the type of screw.
It took 194 ST 24 screws to complete all the work on the 129-inch track. Please note that the screws can be removed at any time. The screws are distributed in different formats. iGrip also designs other types of products.
In conclusion, I recommend this product to those who want to increase the control of their snowmobile at a reasonable price. iGrip St 24 are efficient, economical and easy to install. Whether in active or more reserved driving, the screws will give you a feeling of safety and control of your vehicle.
