"Track Lug Stud" from Bottom Line Traction

- Screws directly into track lugs
- 1" Threaded Shaft
- Carbide or Heat-Treated Steel Tip
- 5/16" Hex Head
- Works on all deep lug tracks

It shouldn’t take one too long to figure out that a Track Lug Stud (TLS) has its place in the stud biz. With the increasing popularity of deeper lug tracks, there has been an unfilled need for a product like this.

Riders who have the greatest need for traditional studs (hard pack and ice) have less of a need for deeper lug tracks. But what does the rider with the 1.5”, 1.75” or 2” deep lug track do for traction on ice? Owners of sleds with deeper lug tracks would still like to have better traction on glare ice than just plain old rubber!

That’s where a product like the lug stud comes in. It isn’t intended to compete with or provide the same level of acceleration or braking as a traditional stud. It is designed to give those with deeper lug tracks better traction on the icy road or corners they encounter. All of the sleds with deep lug tracks who can’t use regular studs are prime. And there will be a number of 1”-1.25” track owners who don’t need the full-blown traction of regular studs; they may just be looking for some more safety on the unexpected icy corner.

The Track Lug Stud comes from Bottom Line Traction, makers of exceptionally long lasting wear bars and the pyramid shaped TCD traction devices. There have been other screw-in style traction products available in the past, but none of them have taken the concept to this level. Think of this as a “hybrid” of technologies. Ralph Prybyl at Bottom Line has been developing the Track Lug Stud for almost five years, and after seeing the track lug heights increase year after year, he knew it was the right time to bring this one to market.

The TLS features a one inch threaded shaft, so they can only be installed into tracks that are 1” or taller in lug height. This shaft length provides a large number of threads for improved stud retention in the track. The stud tip is available in longer lasting carbide-tipped and more economical heat-treated steel. The stud tip itself projects 3/8” taller than the track lug, so the penetration is actually pretty good.
With a new product like this it is difficult to predict exactly what will happen in the real world and all of the side effects. We were worried about stud retention; how many would come out of a track during the course of a season? Testing performed by C&A Pro last season indicates this is less of an issue than you’d think. One might also suspect an increase in track lug damage, but this doesn’t seem to be much of a problem either. Again, field testing by C&A Pro indicates this isn’t as big of an issue as you’d think. Nor was stud bending or breaking.

With the studs mounted into the track lugs, there should be a bit more deflection which could explain the lack of bending or breaking, but this should also mean you won’t get the same level of traction as regular studs; which may or may not be perfectly fine with you. For many riders with taller than 1.25” tracks, this is about the only option you have if you want the added safety and traction of studs in your track. You will however still need some form of tunnel protection. They do qualify as “metal traction devices”, so a stud sticker will be required for use in Minnesota.

Installation is really quick and easy. A 5/16” socket and a drill or air ratchet is about all you’ll need. No need to drill pilot holes or anything; just get them started straight do they don’t come out the side of the lug. Many tracks have small pilot “dimples” in the lugs already, waiting for you to fill them up with Track Lug Studs.

Bottom Line recommends the use of at least two studs per bar; but this could be too conservative. The more you use, the better the traction, and they can be mixed with other studs types too. We plan on testing this new product this season, and will likely start with 48, then 96, then 144, and we’ll keep screwing them in until we find the right amount for our riding conditions and sled power. Bottom Line suggests, based on their testing, that the traditional number of studs per engine horsepower chart still applies somewhat, but that this number is far more forgiving due to the lug mounting. Even when you load up a track with hundreds of these things, you will have far less rotating weight than a normally studded track.

TLS carbide tipped studs are available in 48 packs for $45.60 and 96 packs for $91.20. The less expensive TLS Heat-Treated Steel studs sell for $36.00 for a 48 pack, and $72.00 for a 96 pack. For trail use any anything that encounters dirt and frequent road crossings the carbide tipped is a better selection. For the western riders and those in plenty of snow, the heat-treated steel is plenty good since you don’t need the same wear resistance as flatlanders.

While manufactured by Bottom Line Traction, the Track Lug Studs are being distributed by C&A Pro in Mentor, MN (218-637-8100) and will also be sold through a wide dealer network, including Diggerz (888-427-4484) and High Performance Engineering (218-681-2390). Contact any one of these to order Track Lug Studs or obtain more information regarding your specific application.