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Al Csere
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 10:53 pm: |
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Lets kick this idea around a little , those of you who live in the snowy areas of the country know there are lots of older snowmobiles around . Practically everytime I visit the local landfill there are at least one very complete old unwanted SLED ( this is what they call snowmobiles here ) Why could 'nt two sleds be used and assembled together side by side along with a rear end from a small car for the differential part to separate the power to left & right via the breaks on the rear ,( using a master cylinder for each side )-------however it would be good to shorten the axle section to the shortest possible width. Many older sleds had bogies wheels rather than the plastic wear bars . Bogies would make it an all season vehicle. With a little work a nice creation could be invented from almost free parts. Sleds already have good suspension ,shock absorbers and padded seats .Some have longer tracks for improved traction in deep powder snow . Just an idea |
kush
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 10:53 pm: |
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Would you use both engine's or only one? If only 1 would you pull the other one for weight reasons or keep it as any emergency spare? It seems as if would be pretty heavy. Also a lot of work, why not look for an older 6x6? |
Joel Haslett
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 10:53 pm: |
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Al,I had the same idea a few years ago. I went as far as starting to cut up two old Moto Skis thinking of using the differential idea. I got into several other things ,like getting remarried at that time and scrapped the idea. The old Caribou machine I have is a similar idea. I can get some close up pictures if you are interested in building something. I did hear of such a machine built near here about 10 years ago but never saw it. Last year a local snowmobile club started up an annual race for old one lunger snowmobiles ,this may mean fewer old snowmobiles on the dump for us guys. I've got my onelunger racer almost ready for this year's race. If you build something keep us posted. |
Al Csere
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 10:53 pm: |
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Joel ; Yes I have been kinking the idea around for some time , acually since I allready have two Studebaker Weasels it would be neat to fab up something for the little fellows in the neighborhood ------sort of a miniature Weasel . Maybe with a top speed of 20 mph . I would like to see any pictures of your Caribou machine .I have heard that some of the first snowmobiles were double tracked and slow moving , some even pulled a sled behind the driver engine . Funny you bring up the one lung snowmobile races they started that here too. Are you located in Wyoming ? To answer Kush 's question I would use one engine , and it would be a two seater , probably would have to use two long track donors or splice more track together for the proper ratio length verses width . Yes it will be a lot of work . All good things are 1% inspiration and 99% persiration but the time spent will be worth it when you look out the window and see that little fellow hooked on a positive sport instead of in front of the T.V. or worse . It would be easy to find an old 6x6 and get it going but I like the challenge of making my own design. We must also get the young people interested in more constructive activities . For an example I have just completed adding power steering & power brakes to my 1971 F-250 4x4 ranch pickup which never had the option available on the 4x4 models , using an integral power steering gear box & a power brake booster from a 1978 p-up., fairly easy I thought . Yes 'll keep you up to speed on the project , first I have to find the raw materials . |
phil
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 10:53 pm: |
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TO AL CSERE I have an old 120" snowmobile track in the back from when I was restoring a steel track garden tractor.I thought I might build a light crawler with the rubber track by cutting it in half lenghtwise but could never find the sprockets.Not much in old sled parts in Denver. So I decided to build a Coot from scratch using a GEO 3 cyl engine and transmission. By turning the engine/trans 90 degrees like a 4x4 and linking the drive shafts to subaru diffs the whole system works really nice.The only machining is the CV axel shafts due to them being shorter.I am working on the electronic distributor right now to bypass the cars brain box.For your info the geo engine is 16" long by 18" wide,long intake manifold,and about 120lbs all aluminum block and head. As to the track maybe next year I'll find the sprockets. |
Bruce
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 10:53 pm: |
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I don't want to rain on anyones parade, but I have both snowmobiles, six wheelers, coots and have had dozers, graders, and snow groomers, (tucker snowcats, muskegs, and Piston bullys) I have thought about just what is being proposes here using the snowmobile tracks and suspension. the problem I see is the snowmobile suspension system and boggie wheels will not hold up to the type of abuse that you will give them in the mud and dirt. They were made to run in the snow. I think you ought to consider building a beefed up boggie wheel system using solid rubber or air filled tires. snowmobile boggie wheels are not very strong when forced to hit rocks, stumps, etc... the old snowmobiles had very little suspension travel, so any object that get between the track and the boggie wheel will most likely break the boggie wheel. I think your weak link will be in the boggie system of the tracks. I could be all wrong here...so please keep us posted on your progress and good luck!! |
Al Csere
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 10:53 pm: |
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Phil ; that homebuilt Coot sounds like the cat's meow ! We would sure like to see a photo or two of it., if not too much trouble . If I recall the Coot had four wheels but had two halves that pivot in the center , why don't you explain how you get the power to the two halves and pivot at the same time. Do you use a hollow tube with driveshaft thru it? Bruce; Your most likely right about the suspension being the weak link, but I am thinking of another ATV that once used a similar suspension------the Cushman Trackster . I still see them around in summer and winter , mostly in bad places ,so they must be O.K. I plan to slow the speed down to 20 mph max anyway . As for the bogies and the dirt or mud in the sealed bearings , I would still be happy if the bogies had to be hand packed with grease daily , but you would be surprised how much abuse things can take . We are not going into production of anything , just the challenge and hopefully something the little guy's can take a ride on . Glad to see so much response -----the plan is working you fellows are thinking about the what can be made ! And there are NO limits except your imagination. |
phil
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 10:53 pm: |
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The coot used an 8" pipe that was greased and had a nut/collar to hold it together.This is simpler than my idea of using the hub assy from a frt axel 4x4.The 1" cv shaft will pass through the center. |
Al Csere
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 10:53 pm: |
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Phil; Used Snowmobile parts can be found from Central Snowmobile Salvage , look at www.centralsnowmobilesalvage.com , if I recall right get a catalog from them. |
Al Csere
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 10:53 pm: |
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Well fellows , I now have one donor Polaris snowmobile model TXL 340 complete with a running 340 liquid cooled engine , and a good track . As soon as I find one more I will start sorting out what is needed to put the two together side by side and create a non- hydrostatic version of the Trackster . You ask would it not be easier to find a Trackster -- yes but I want to build something the kids can drive out of Junk , like they do on T.V. 's JUNK YARD WAR's show only not in 10 hours . |
jerseybigfoot
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 10:53 pm: |
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Should be an interesting ride with 2x340's on tap.:-) |
jerseybigfoot
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 10:53 pm: |
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Should be an interesting ride with 2x340's on tap.:-) |
AL CSERE
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 10:53 pm: |
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There will only be one engine used to drive both sides via either a small front wheel drive manual trans with a converted four spider gear differential instead just two or a small conventional rear end from a small rear wheel drive vehicle also coverted to have four spider gears . I would like to know more about those planetary gears inside an automatic transmission , seems like they could be used if a suitable gearbox was fabricated from some sheetmetal . I know it would be easier to get a used T-20. |
John P. Funk
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 10:53 pm: |
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I am studying Mechanical Engineering at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. It is interesting that I found this conversation because I am in the process of designing a 2 person enclosed snowmobile with twin tracks. I plan to use a hydraulic drive system and am starting from scratch. The biggest problem I can see is finding a lightweight engine with around 50 horsepower to drive the hydraulics. The suspension is a little tough as well, but I have a plan to give the tracks enough flex to not shatter the wheels. I plan to make it comfortable enough to take your wife into the woods to enjoy the scenery and not do 85 miles per hour. A person is liable to get hurt going that fast. I very much believe in the KISS(Keep It Simple Stupid) principle and I know there are lots of engenious folks out there. Please send info on any engine alternatives that are simple without a lot of electronics and fairly lightweight, I would like to keep vehicle weight to less than 1000 lbs(500 kilos). Thanks |
Attex Bob
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 10:53 pm: |
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John: I think your best bet would be to go with a Geo Metro engine. They are cheap and there is lots of them around. They put out about 50 to 60 HP, are water cooled and are not loud like a 2 stroke. Other than that the only thing that I can think of will be a 2 stroke Rotex that puts out that kind of power to weight ratio. I hope you have a fat wallet, with hydraulics in mind. Last time I checked the hydro- motors for my prunning tower were $1,500 a pop!!!! Ekkkssss!!!! I agree with you on believing in "KISS", but I don't think hydraulics is "KISS". You have a big buck pump, lines, cooler, and big, big buck motors. True, you can get some stuff using junk yard parts (an AC evap. for a cooler ect) but most stuff that you get for this thing will be "hand the big cash over type of stuff." I also don't think you will make the weight limit you are setting. Look at the weight on the Hydro-Traxx, 1,300 LBS. But you may have a much smaller AATV in mind. I don't know what a Trackster weighs but I think it is somewhere around 1,000 lbs. Let us know what you come up with and I hope this all works out for you. |
Bill Vincent
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2005 - 10:53 pm: |
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Phil: I second Al's comments about posting info on the your homebuilt coot. I have spent many an hour trying to figure out the 4x4 system. Your system seems very simple. Please post pictures and give us all a description. Thanks. Bill. BTW, I tried to email you directly, but my email came back as undeliverable. |
Anonymous Posted From: 209.42.79.202
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2005 - 06:20 pm: |
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Hi there! My son would like a picture of a layout of building a 4 wheeler any ideas on where to look for this information..Thank-you!! |
Rogersmith
Member Username: Rogersmith
Post Number: 27 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 4.244.96.78
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Sunday, April 17, 2005 - 12:30 pm: |
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Take a look at this 1/5 scale model wooden Sherman Tank a Dad made for his son http://www.gizmology.net/tanks.htm |
Jim Macius (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted From: 4.246.218.164
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Friday, December 23, 2005 - 03:14 am: |
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Gentlemen; I recall a 2 person enclosed dual track snowmobile back in the late 70's / early 80's. It was sleek and had a very low profile. I can not remember the make, and have been searching the web for one when I came across this posting. I saw and spoke with the couple back then and looked it over quite well (it was not home built). Back in those days, trails in Wisconsin near Eureka were groomed from town to town (bar to bar). Any who, does any one know of such a snowmobile any more? |
liflod
Intermediate Member Username: Liflod
Post Number: 63 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 24.3.236.145
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Friday, December 23, 2005 - 10:45 am: |
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Are you thinking of an Alsport Tracker ? Search this site for more information. |
Argohunter
Member Username: Argohunter
Post Number: 24 Registered: 02-2005 Posted From: 152.163.100.203
Rating: Votes: 1 (Vote!) | Posted on Saturday, December 24, 2005 - 12:07 am: |
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Maybe like this one?
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jim stefanowicz
New member Username: Maxindetroit1
Post Number: 9 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 64.12.116.203
Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) | Posted on Saturday, December 24, 2005 - 02:11 pm: |
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Seems to me a snowmobile that was called, I believe a Raider, comes to mind for some reason, it was a snowmobile with dual tracks and you sat inside it, I think they stopped makeing them, because a few people got killed, when they rolled them on hills, and they did not have a roll bar on them. I think its Raider, but could be wrong. Happy Holidays!! |