The present disclosure concerns embodiments of an improved wheel assembly
for a drive track unit of an all-terrain vehicle that inhibits the
accumulation of snow, ice and/or other matter between the track and the
wheel assembly. In one implementation, an improved guide wheel assembly
for a track unit has a rotatable hub and at least two axially spaced
apart guide wheels mounted to the hub that engage the inner surface of an
endless track. A flexible and/or deformable sleeve covering the outer
surface of the hub is capable of deforming under external pressure
applied to the sleeve through contact with snow and/or ice as the vehicle
traverses the ground. The deformation of the sleeve is effective to
inhibit snow and/or ice from adhering to the sleeve outer surface. Hence,
disengagement of the track from the guide wheels caused by accumulated
ice and/or snow can be avoided.