Almost every “these tracks wore out fast” story we hear traces back to a setup number, not a quality problem. Tension set by feel, toe-in never checked after the install, angle of attack left wherever the bolts landed. The manufacturers publish exact figures for all of it — free, on their own websites — and essentially nobody reads them. Everything below is transcribed from those documents, with the figure number so you can verify it yourself.
Why these four numbers decide wear
A track system is a closed loop of rubber running over wheels and a guide. Three of the four numbers control how squarely that loop tracks, and the fourth keeps it bolted together:
- Tension too loose lets the track derail and hammer the guides; too tight loads every bearing in the system continuously and steals power.
- Toe-in out of spec drags the tracks sideways through every foot of travel. This is the one that quietly destroys guide rails and wheels.
- Angle of attack trades steering effort against high-speed stability, and it changes how the front track climbs.
- Torque is what stops the other three from drifting out of spec while you drive.
Set correctly, all four are a one-time job plus a re-check. Set by eye, they are a consumable-parts subscription.
Track tension by system
Tension is specified as a force applied and the deflection that force must produce — not as a gap, and not as a feel. You need a way to apply and read a known force; guessing defeats the specification. Note that the 4S1 uses different front and rear figures, while the X4S changes with the season rather than with position.
| System | Setting | Force → deflection | Fig. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camso UTV 4S1 | Front | 13,5 kg (30 lb) force → 19 mm (¾ in.) deflection | 31 |
| Camso UTV 4S1 | Rear | 11 kg (24 lb) force → 19 mm (¾ in.) deflection | 31 |
| Camso X4S | Summer — front | 15 kg (33 lb) → 19 mm (¾ in.) | 28 |
| Camso X4S | Summer — rear | 15 kg (33 lb) → 19 mm (¾ in.) | 28 |
| Camso X4S | Winter (snow) — front | 11 kg (24 lb) → 19 mm (¾ in.) | 28 |
| Camso X4S | Winter (snow) — rear | 11 kg (24 lb) → 19 mm (¾ in.) | 28 |
Camso UTV 4S1: Camso 1099-01-1154 Version A, MFY2024. Camso X4S: Camso 1099-01-1754 Version A, MFY2024.
Both manuals specify the same closing step, and it is the step most installs skip: ride at low speed for about 1.5 km (1 mile), then re-adjust. A new track settles. The tension you set in the shop is not the tension you have after a mile.
Toe-in
Camso specifies toe-in for the 4S1 as a comparison of two measurements, A and B, taken across the front track systems: A − B = 0 to 3 mm (1/8 in.), where A must be equal to or greater than B and must never exceed B by more than 3 mm. The measurement is taken after rolling the machine forward about 3 m (10 ft) — and if you need to re-measure, the manual is explicit that you drive in reverse and then forward again first, because rolling direction changes where the tracks sit.
Adjustment is at the coupling rods, turned an equal number of revolutions on both sides. Camso's own note is worth repeating: some of those nuts have reverse threads. Starting from an open setting and closing in gives you a more precise result than approaching from the other direction.
Angle of attack
Angle of attack is set by rotating a support plate until the front of the system sits a specified height, measured with a flat bar. It is the one setup number that is a genuine trade-off rather than a correct-or-incorrect value — which is why it is worth understanding rather than just matching.
| System | Specification |
|---|---|
| Camso UTV 4S1 | 308 mm [12 1/8 in.] |
| Camso X4S | 270 mm [10 ⅝ in.] |
Camso specifies this as an adjustment target reached with the flat bar, not as a free dimension to eyeball.
Camso states the trade-off in both directions:
- More than spec: easier steering, but the front track can wobble at higher speed.
- Less than spec: heavier steering, but more stability.
The 4S1 manual adds a check most people miss — after adjusting, the measurement should still come out at the specified figure; if it doesn't, re-adjust rather than accepting it.
Torque by bolt size and grade
The 4S1 manual publishes a general torque table. Bolt grade is stamped on the head, and it matters a lot: the same M10-1.5 takes 50 N·m at grade 8.8 and 70 N·m at grade 10.9. Torquing a 10.9 fastener to the 8.8 figure leaves it loose.
| Bolt size | Grade | N·m | lb-ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| M6-1.0 | 8.8 | 10 | 7 |
| M8-1.25 | 8.8 | 25 | 18 |
| M8-1.25 | 10.9 | 33 | 24 |
| M10-1.5 | 8.8 | 50 | 37 |
| M10-1.5 | 10.9 | 70 | 52 |
| M12-1.75 | 8.8 | 90 | 66 |
| M12-1.75 | 10.9 | 125 | 92 |
Camso 1099-01-1154 Version A, MFY2024. Camso specifies a Loctite 262-type thread locker at the places marked in the manual's exploded views.
When the exploded view overrides this table
This is a generaltable. Specific fasteners carry their own specifications — the anti-rotation bracket bolts, for instance, are called out at 50 N·m (37 lb-ft). Where the manual's exploded views give a value for a particular fastener, that value wins. Use the general table for hardware the exploded views don't call out, and never as a substitute for reading them.
Front track direction
A genuinely easy mistake with an expensive outcome. On the 4S1, the front track's inner driving lugs are not centred across the width of the track. The narrow side has to be installed inboard, toward the machine. Install the front track backwards and it will run, badly, while chewing the guides.
Related, and equally easy to get wrong: front and rear tracks on these systems are different part numbers. Don't order a replacement by appearance or by measuring the old one.
Your speedometer is lying by about 35%
Camso states plainly that its track systems affect speedometer and trip meter readings, and that the displayed figure is roughly 35% higher than actual. A displayed 30 mph is closer to 20 mph on the ground.
Two consequences worth acting on. Speed limits and manufacturer maximum speeds refer to real speed, so the number on your dash is not the number the limit applies to. And any service interval you track by odometer accumulates roughly a third faster than the machine is actually travelling — so hour-based intervals are the more honest measure while you're on tracks. Our guide to track top speeds covers the rest.
Where these numbers came from
Every figure on this page is transcribed from a manufacturer document that is free to download from the manufacturer's own website. We list the document number and the date we last checked it, because a spec page you can't audit is just a claim.
- Camso UTV 4S1 — 1099-01-1154 Version A (MFY2024). Checked 2026-09-26.
- Camso X4S — 1099-01-1754 Version A (MFY2024). Checked 2026-09-26.
If you find a figure here that contradicts your own manual, the manual is authoritative and we want to know — tell usand we'll correct it.
What we don't have
We only publish specs we can cite. That leaves real gaps, and it's more useful to name them than to fill them with inference:
- Camso UTV ENDUR — no published service manual we could find as of 2026-09-26. For a system at this price point, that is worth weighing before you place a deposit. Ask the dealer for the manual and the parts catalogue in writing.
- Kimpex, Soucy, Polaris OEM, Mattracks — not yet transcribed. These sections will be added to this page rather than to new pages, so the comparison stays in one place.
Key Takeaways
- Tension is a force and a deflection, never a feel — and the 4S1's front and rear figures differ.
- The X4S changes tension by season, not by position: 15 kg summer, 11 kg in snow.
- Ride 1.5 km (1 mile) and re-adjust. A new track settles, and almost nobody does this step.
- Toe-in spec is A − B = 0 to 3 mm, with A never less than B. Out-of-spec toe-in is what quietly destroys guides.
- Bolt grade changes the torque figure substantially — check the head stamp, and let the exploded views override the general table.
- Your speedometer reads about 35% high on tracks. Use hours, not miles, for service intervals.
Common questions
How tight should UTV track tension be?
Tension is specified as a force and a resulting deflection, not as a feel. On the Camso UTV 4S1 the front track takes 13.5 kg (30 lb) of applied force to deflect 19 mm (3/4 in.), and the rear takes 11 kg (24 lb) for the same 19 mm. The Camso X4S uses 15 kg (33 lb) in summer and 11 kg (24 lb) in snow, front and rear. Always check your own system's manual — the figures differ by system and by season.
What is angle of attack on a UTV track system?
It is how far the front of the track system is raised relative to the ground, set with a support plate and measured with a flat bar. Camso specifies 308 mm (12 1/8 in.) on the UTV 4S1 and 270 mm (10 5/8 in.) on the X4S. More than spec gives easier steering but invites high-speed wobble; less than spec gives heavier steering and more stability.
Does a UTV speedometer read correctly on tracks?
No. Camso states that its track systems cause the speedometer and trip meter to read roughly 35% higher than actual. A displayed 30 mph is closer to 20 mph on the ground, which also means odometer-based service intervals accumulate faster than the machine is really travelling.
What torque do Camso track system bolts take?
The 4S1 manual publishes a general table by bolt size and grade — for example M10-1.5 grade 8.8 at 50 N·m (37 lb-ft) and grade 10.9 at 70 N·m (52 lb-ft). Individual fasteners can have their own specification, and where the manual's exploded views give a specific value, that value governs over the general table.