A Trackster is a twin tracked, hydrostatic, skid steer, 4 passenger, all-terrain vehicle manufactured by Cushman Motors in the early and mid 1970's. There has never been another ATV built to cover such a wide range of uses.
For the purposes of this description, a trackster owned by a friend on mine in New Castle, Wyoming (Pictured Here) Model 898000-7310 Cushman Motors; Lincoln, NE.; A Division of Outboard Marine Corp. was used.
The body is a one piece unit of molded fiberglass more than 1/4" thick at some points. The hood is a completely separate fiberglass unit without hinges. Instead, it attaches with 4 spring latches and is completely removable. So far, I've only seen blue and green ones for original colors. Many people paint them to their liking which include camouflage for hunting.
The fiberglass body supports the gas tank, seat, windshield, and control cluster. It also forms the fenders and rear storage/seating area. The body mounts upon a frame that consists of a combination of tubular and flat steel. This chassis is where the entire drive train attaches.
In the cab, you first notice the well centered control cluster. This makes it possible for the person sitting on the left or right to comfortably operate the trackster. Each function is labeled in easy to read raised letters that described each control.
The Control Panel (21K)
While you're driving, you sit on a seat much like a 70's school bus only smaller. It's a vinyl covered padded bench about 4 feet wide and a foot long with a small padded back support. On each side is a handle made from a shaped piece of steel tubing. Under the seat is the fuel tank. In back there are 2 platforms molded into the fiberglass body to form face to face seating for two extra passengers. The pads on these seats resemble boat cushions without the straps. This compartment is also where the battery is located.
The power plant (if you can call it that) is a 2 cycle, 2 cylinder opposed, air-cooled, 437cc Johnson snowmobile engine. It came standard with electric start, twin ignition coils, single carburetor and was separated from the passenger compartment by a well engineered removable shroud that acquires the engines combustion and cooling air from above and vents hot air to the outside. Exhaust is handled by 2 large mufflers that function effectively as a dual exhaust system. They fit under the hood and connect to 2 heavy gauge exhaust pipes set under the fenders going all the way to the rear.
The crank shaft of the engine attaches to a coupler apparatus made up of 2 round plates of steel with a heavy rubberized material in between. It acts as an alignment buffer for the main transmission shaft. After the buffer is a heavy gauge fan blade that directs air into the hydraulic oil cooler. This oil cooler is also the oil reservoir and it mounts directly above the transmission and looks much like a radiator from a small car. At this point, the shaft exits the engine compartment and enters the hydrostatic transmission. The transmission is a fascinating system of hoses, filters, cases and controls contained in a relatively small area. Where the crankshaft connects is a large hydraulic pump separating into 2 opposite but identical units making up the right and left track drives. Protruding from each drive is the control lever that diverts hydraulic fluid for forward and reverse operation. Below that is the gear case and final outdrive shaft mounted with roller bearings as it travels through the transmission housing to the track drive sprockets on the drive train.
Hydrostatic Cooler (25K)
The drive train starts with a 9 tooth double sided drive sprocket mounted about 18 inches from the ground used to push 1+1/2 inch high rubber lugs located on the inside left and right side of each track spaced about 3 inches between lugs. The suspension is an aluminum channel beam about 4 feet long supporting a series of aluminum bogie wheels that straddle the rubber lugs mentioned above and keep the track in alignment. There are 2 sets of bogie wheels in front mounted on a pivot. In the center, there are 2 bogie wheel sets supported by a leaf spring system, one system on each side of the track. Above and behind those are a set of upper support bogies that not only support the track but help to give the Trackster that "fast" look. Finally, in the rear of the suspension is a metal/rubber composite system with a large bolt mounted in the frame. This system holds a total of 4 bogies right at dead center of the track and provides a means to adjust track tension.
Front Bogie area (33K)
Rear Bogie Area (29K) 
The track is 176 inches (14 feet 8 inches) long, 15 1/2 inches wide with a footprint of (area on the ground) 960 square inches per track. On each track, there are rows of 1/2 inch high raised rubber bars across the entire width alternating with a row of four 1/2" high round rubber studs.
Standard equipment: (not mentioned above)