By Tim Wafer (Iflyrctoo) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I did it again. I bought another ATV. This one is in a little better shape than the Alsport Tracker was. I don't have to completely rebuild this one right away. It's a tracked vehicle called a "Passe Par Tout". If I recall any of the French I took in school it means something along the lines of "Travels over Anything" It seems I have heard of these machines before. A friend told me he saw it for sale, so on a whim I stopped to check it out tonight and bought it on the spot. He actually had two of them and I got my pick! It's about 5-foot wide and 8 feet long. It has twin 18" wide cleated tracks. The engine is a twin cylinder Onan but not sure what HP yet. I took it for a quick spin around the field but that's all so far. Tomorrow I will check it out more in the daylight. Anyone have any info on this critter or know where I can find any? I would think it was made in Canada but the model plate says "Made in USA" in "Michigan". I'm not sure of the age of it. I would guess 70"s or very early 80"s. Anyone out there an expert on them? He has another for sale if anyone's interested.
Tim

By Gary Harper (Garyinvt) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Tim
I may be wrong but I beleive that the Play-cat was the US version.

By Ron House (R_house) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Tim


Here's some info on it:

http://www.spacestar.net/users/stanr/othrtrak.htm

Ron

By Tim Wafer (Iflyrctoo) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Well I dunno! I found a picture of a Playcat and while it is similar, mine definitely looks like the Passe Par Tout. I would think it would be a Canadian company but mine definitely says made in USA in Michigan. It has PPT on the nameplate. The body of mine has been repainted but the other one he had which was identical had Passe Par Tout decals all over it. I saw a little bit about them on the Vintage Trackster sight but mine is apparently a bigger model. Mine is 5' wide compared to 4' and has 18" tracks compared to 12". Anyone else familiar with them?
Tim

By Dave Blackburn (Dave) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Is this an amphibious atv ?

By Tim Wafer (Iflyrctoo) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

No, it's not amphibious. Maybe by Power-Tracs definition but not by mine. It's classified as "deep ford" Looks as if it could handle 18" of water or so. I can find little info on them. What I find seems to be a different model than mine too. I don't believe it can handle as steep a grade as a MAX either. At least not comfortably. I tried it on a measured 41-degree inclined bank. It did climb it but coming down it was pretty spooky. It rolled forward onto the inclined part of the track and I gunned it to get down the bank fast. In the MAX I can stop it part way down that bank no problem. It handles logs and downed trees beautifully though. I'm having trouble now with second gear. It keeps popping out of gear.
Tim

By Dave Blackburn (Dave) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Thanks Tim, yeah it's probably as amphibious as a power-trac,...but then so's my hat!

By Tim Wafer (Iflyrctoo) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Actually I found it will handle about 2 feet of water. They had drilled some extra holes I need to plug up though. It was taking on a lot of water. I discovered that the tranny is leaking oil severely through a shaft seal so today I'm going to pull it out. Looks like the whole engine / power train assembly removes as one unit without too much fuss. Since I'm also having problems with second gear I'm kinda afraid of what I might find inside. Might be part chasing time again. It had stickers from a local farm equipment dealer on it and someone told me they remember them selling them. Tomorrow I may pump them for any info they have. I would love to find some literature or repair manuals on it! The more we play with it the better I like it. It's like a mini tank. I just wish I could find out more about it. I still don't know when it was made. It might be a later version than the pictures that I've seen so far because of being made in the US and being larger.
Tim

By Tim Wafer (Iflyrctoo) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Here is a picture of my Passe Par Tout for anyone interested.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=183597&a=1340079&p=26596161&Sequence=0
I snapped it when I had the machine at work and a couple guys were fooling around with it. I will try to get some better shots soon.
Tim

By Dave Blackburn (Dave) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Hey Tim, It looks like a tank too! Pretty neat! I wonder how many horsepower it takes to climb hills with it, It must be as heavy as my power-Trac at least. I hope you don't find too much damage when you disassemble it.

By Tim Wafer (Iflyrctoo) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Thanks Dave
I'm still not positive of the horsepower rating of the Onan engine but I now suspect it to be only 18. Still in first gear it has more than enough power to climb to the point of roll over. I pulled the tranny out and partially disassembled it last night. I was pleasantly surprised to find all the gears intact. There was one blown bearing and the bad seal. The problem of keeping it in 2nd gear is just a matter of proper linkage adjustment. As long as it is torn down though I think I'll replace all the bearings and seals just for good measure. The thing is easy to work on. Remove the two roller chains and six bolts and the whole engine/transmission/power train/ steering and everything picks out of the body in one unit. The wiring etc has quick disconnects so that's no hassle either. I'm guessing the weight to be around 1500 lbs. I know it's heavier than the MAX. I have to go down near where I bought it this afternoon. If he still has the other one I think I'll stop and snap some pictures of it too. I copied the manufacture info off the model plate. It says " Passe Par Tout, PPP of Michigan, Division of Twin Bay Industries, Elk Rapids, Michigan. I wish I could find someone who knew something about them. I would like to know when it was made.
Tim

By Tim Wafer (Iflyrctoo) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Oh boy! I hit the jackpot today for information on this PPT. I made a trip to the farm equipment dealer whose name was on the machines. He was a wealth of info. I acquired ad photos, owner's manual, service manual, spec sheets and a parts manual. Who could ask for more? He even knew the machine I had was bought by the County to use in local swamps for mosquito spraying. Its 18 hp weighs 1250 pounds empty and has a .57 psi ground pressure. He knew the company went out of business in the 80's sometime and believes my machine was near the end of production. (The serial # starts with 86 but he thinks that might be too late). There were at least two other previous manufactures of the machine located in Canada. He had a graveyard in back with several scrapped ones along with several Cushman Tracksters, which he also used to sell. The Tracksters might still have some salvageable parts but the PPT's were pretty well stripped. He had a few new parts still lying around but nothing of great value. I might be wise to buy the other machine just to have spare parts available. I sent Richard a copy of the pictures and spec sheets in hopes he will post them. Meanwhile you can check out the ad photos at
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=183597&a=1340079&p=26737635&Sequence=0
Tim

By Dave Blackburn (Dave) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Congratulations, Tim,
All that information really increases the value of your machine!
Wow, power to climb to the flip point with an 18 horse Onan! And my "Power-Trac" with 25 horse Kohler and hydro-drive can't handle 45% slopes!!
I think your in for a lot of fun!
Dave

By Tim Wafer (Iflyrctoo) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I've been reading through the info I acquired. It appears that the PPT was first built in Port Neuf, Quebec then in Edmonton, Alberta and Finally in Elk Rapids, Michigan. I believe the dealer told me it was originally designed for the Canadian Military in the late 50's or early 60's.
One thing I would like to come up with a solution for is the track teeth. The drive teeth on the track are actually bolted to the track rather than being an integral molded part of it. Apparently it was designed this way in case something got caught inside the track, that a tooth could shear rather that breaking an axle or other crucial part. At least three adjacent teeth would have to shear to stop the vehicle and they were easily replaced. The dealer said that he had bought all remaining supplies of the teeth but they were long gone now. Mine are all in place but I do notice a few cracked ones and figure it's just a matter of time before I lose some. They are made of some type of plastic and I don't think it would be too hard to make some if I had the right material. It would have to be something tough, which could be machined and able to be threaded and hold a bolt. Any suggestions on what type of plastic would be suitable and where to purchase it?
Tim

By J. Saylors on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Tim, I would suggest UHMW (ultra high molecular weight) plastic. This is the same stuff that is used for the chain slide tensioners on argos. Also used as commercial cutting boards in butcher shops. Another option is a product called Delrin. Very good stuff but rather spendy. Both should be available through any industrial supply house. I know Grainger and McMaster-Carr have both products in all shapes and sizes such as bar, round, pipe, tubing and sheet stock. Both materials machine really well. Any good machine shop should be able to make any thing you want out of this stuff. Both are weldable with the right equipment. For threads I would use heli-coils. Drill the hole, tap it then epoxy the heli-coils in place. Should last a very long time.

By John on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Tim;
You can also use Nylon.

By Tim Wafer (Iflyrctoo) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I have a Grainger catalog but I must be blind because I can't seem to see it in there or on their web site. I did go online to the other name you mentioned and found it there. I will try to get a catalog from them. Looks like they have everything under the sun. I wonder if Nylon is tough enough. The Delrin is pricey.
Tim

By Tim Wafer (Iflyrctoo) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I have a Grainger catalog but I must be blind because I can't seem to see it in there or on their web site. I did go online to the other name you mentioned and found it there. I will try to get a catalog from them. Looks like they have everything under the sun. I wonder if Nylon is tough enough. The Delrin is pricey.
Tim

By John on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Tim;
Remington made a rife out of nylon the Nylon
66. The company I work for uses nylon to
make stop bumpers for air jacks which cycle
at 60 to 100 strokes per minute. Tough stuff!!!!
John

By Joel Haslett (Rustyjeep) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Tim, My Caribou tracked machine( Seen on the Photo gallery page under General Photos)has what sounds like a similar track drive setup. Mine has a number of the plastic "lugs" replaced with lugs made of hard wood. I don't have my Caribou running yet so I don't know if it is a good idea or not but some of them look like they have been on there for a long while. Good luck.

By Tim Wafer (Iflyrctoo) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I thought about that too Joel. I also though maybe laminated blocks like a plywood. I just found a guy on E-bay that sells surplus blocks of various plastics so I'm going to see what he has available. I've seen the pictures of your Caribou before. Have you found out any more info on it? I imagine you've already seen this but in case not. Looks like a cool vehicle too!
http://www.vintageskidoo.com/caribou/caribou.htm
Tim

By j.saylors on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Nylon is a DuPont trade name for UHMW.

By John on Unrecorded Date: Edit

j.saylors;
UHMW is polyethylene Nylon is a
different plastic

By Tim Wafer (Iflyrctoo) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I ordered a big slab of UHMW plastic from a surplus plastic place on the web for $40. I Should be able to get more than 30 teeth out of it if I had to. I removed one from the track and found they are held in place with just 1/4 x 2 lag screws. Apparently they don't take as much abuse as I would think. Probably the ones I make will be tougher than the originals. I'm still waiting on a couple bearings so am back to working on the Tracker in the meantime.
Tim

By MoralDK on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Back in my plastic sales days...molybdenum filled nylon (available in sheet, rod and tube stock) was a favorite replacement material for industrial applications such as bushings, sprockets and all kinds of high wear, high impact applications. It never needs lubrication. I used it to replace the inner axle bushings on my Trail Boss. It's amazing stuff, easy to mill and not very expensive. If the UHMW isn't holding up, I'd recommend the molybdenum filled nylon, or, there is a ceramic UHMW available. However, it's pretty spendy.
MoralDK

By John on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Tim;
MoralDK is right you need the tensile strength
and the impact resistance of nylon.
John

By Tim Wafer (Iflyrctoo) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I got the transmission rebuilt and everything back together on my PPT this weekend. I have been playing with it a little bit the last couple nights trying to get the transmission adjusted properly and believe I finally succeeded. It now shifts easier and stays in gear.
A lot of the riding I do is in areas that have been logged off and are strewn with tree tops, brush piles and logs in various stages of decay. It's especially bad in the ravines where access to the skidders was limited. I have often been walled in by this stuff when riding the Max and have to go back and pick another route. With tracks on the Max it was much better but this PPT really shines under these conditions. It has steel cleats and I am amazed at its ability to climb over big logs and brushy treetops crushing them down. It's a great feeling of power! I haven't tried it in much mud yet but expect it to do well there also. Its downfall is with steep inclines. Because the engine and drive train are in the front all the weight is concentrated there. I would not want to go down a real steep incline of any length. Going up isn't as bad but the Max still feels much more stable. By the way I rolled the Max a couple weeks ago trying to test its limits. Thank God for roll cages. I ended up hanging upside down by the seat belt. Amazingly, little to no damage resulted from it. It was a rather gentle roll over, if there is such a thing
Tim

By MaxRules (Brandon_price) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

HAHAHA Tim how did you do that? Thats sure is funny. I don't hear of many people rolling over. I have seen one 6x6 flip over and that is the only major crash I have seen. On pre-2000 Max IVs it looks like it could break the air box on the engine because it sticks out the top of the engine cover (at least on the 25hp it does). The new 2000s have the engine completely covered. What did you break on yours? I spent over $200 on my roll bar and still haven't got to use it!

MaxRules

By Dave Thomas on Unrecorded Date: Edit

OK, call it semantics, but don't you mean "have been fortunate enough to not have needed it". There is on old say that says, ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This is true in everything we do - AATVing included. It applies equally to preventive maintenance and safety. Lube things regularly and they last longer, preventing costly repairs. You're always putting down you old Polaris quad. I'd bet even money that when it was new, you continually bragged to all the other kids at daycare about how great it was. Then neglected maintenance coupled with harsh mistreatment lead to a basic meltdown. Now you slam it. As if your neglect is Polaris' fault. Now Polaris takes the rap for your immaturity. You've had you max for over a year. You boast of not doing maintenance and now it too is starting to fall apart. Wouldn't it be great if manufactures and dealers did background checks on customers? Imagine- "We're sorry Mr. or Mrs. Price but after conducting a routine background check concernig the way Brandon treats his toys, we have decided it is in our best interest to exercise our right to refuse service" Concerning the roll bar, spend a little money and hopefully never need to use it rather than breaking your neck and costing your parents a lot. Funerals go about 8 thousand these days. Saying "still haven't got to use it" sounds as if you're disappointed. Do you feel the same way about burgular alarms, seat belts, fire extingushers? Gee, I spent over $100.00 on smoke detectors for my house and still haven't got to use them!

By Sam Keys on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Dave:

I agree with you 100% but you know that a 15 year old kid would not be interested or even able to understand what a home owner
is going through.

Everyone needs to keep in mind what Richard wrote on the introduction page, that everything on this board is just someones opinion and that it may or may not be true. Remember a 15 year old is not an expert, just a user.

Sam Keys

By Tim Wafer (Iflyrctoo) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I didn't actually try to roll the Max although we were trying to see how steep an incline you could navigate on. I hit a hidden boulder while traversing a side hill and it just went over. There were small saplings that slowed the roll and prevented much damage. All I really broke was a couple boards on the rear cargo rack I had built. Had to use a winch to upright it again but I was amazed how easily it started afterward. I let it set for a bit and checked the oil and made sure it would turn over by hand in case the cylinders were full of oil. I cranked it a few turns and it took off and hardly smoked at all
I'm 42 now but apparently still have a little kid in me. I'm beginning to slow down though. I remember years ago sending my 4-wheeler end over end down a ski hill with myself doing the same right in front of it. My friends thought I was dead for sure but I came through with only minor cuts and bruises. I was wearing a helmet and protective gear. The machine was a little worse for wear however. Of course then I was asked to repeat it so they could get it on film. I didn't oblige.
Tim

By MaxRules (Brandon_price) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I really do not bash my Polaris. It only broke down once and that was when the spark plug wire broke in half for no reason. That was a very unique break down and I didn't care at all.
My Max is in fine running condition, just not good enough to suit me. The chains lasted ~250 hours with very little lube and always sitting in water. The bearings leaked because of no lube after 250 hours. I could have run it longer but with new chains I don't want the whole inside constantly wet. It is not like I blame RI for not coming over and lubing my Max. I do not care one bit that I have to buy some new things for it. A little time and $200 later it will be back to new. If you play you gotta pay.
After fixing all that, you think maybe I might lube it and baby it around? Haha no way I'll be twice as hard on it and flip it over.

MaxRules

By Dave Blackburn (Dave) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Tim, Glad to hear you got her running again it sounds like loads of fun! I also have lots of treetops on my place. Two years ago when I had it selectively logged (nothing under 28" and no clear cut slopes) I had been assured all tops were removed. I guess they figured being in a wheelchair I'd never know the difference! any way I tried driving my Power-Trac over some, got the d--- thing stuck on a 8" log! front tires went over but the middle ones wouldn't, then it wouldn't back off it either! I wish I'd had my camera to get a picture of my daughter pulling it off with her horse! would have been great for my website.
Hey congratulations on your success again, have fun!
Dave

By Kile Parent on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I also have a passapartout. I picked it up from a friend who had it for years. It had ran for him, and he tells me it was a un-stoppable machine. After he snapped a track he gave up on it. Alass how I ended up with it. I have not gotten to it as I am in the middle of a attex project. However I have have located a few possible replacement tracks.

By Anon. on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Just an interesting interjection here on the name of this vehicle that 'Passepartout' was also a character in Jules Verne's famous novel 'Around the World in Eighty Days'. He was the likeable but gullible french batman/manservant of Phileas Fogg, Esq., the main protagonist. An excellent story to read! It's also an appropriate name, considering the adventures they undertake.

By john madison on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Ihave a complete parts book and service manuals on the PPT and Playcat. If this is any help. I am also looking for some track lugs for both machines

By tom benedik on Unrecorded Date: Edit

pas par tout means pass for two in french is what the machine was named

By Dave Hege (Lilben) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

I owned a PPT for about 2 years. It is an excellent machine, I loved it - but had problem finding parts. Broke my wallet when I had to machine everything from scratch. When I was younger and foolish, I sold it. 4 Cycle engine was definately the way to go - mine had a 440cc snowmobile engine, and had often vapor locked in the summer. My manual said the PPT was capable of 60 degree banks. I scared the "H" out of the guy who fabricated my rollbar. He "tried it out" on a large dirt pile, was white fisted, returned it to his shop, and never got on it again. Good luck! (PS: I used it for Search and Rescue). Dave

By darren baker on Unrecorded Date: Edit

passe par tout actually means passes over all literally or goes anywhere if loosely translated.

By David Keeso (Argomag) on Unrecorded Date: Edit

Dave Hege- this the wrong thread but what is vapour lock?