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Author Topic: DIY Snowcat  (Read 2996 times)

Offline LDennis24

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DIY Snowcat
« on: December 13, 2023, 11:50:26 AM »
I want to build my own little snow machine. I have two Lombardini 7hp diesel engines I could use on it. Anybody know a good build someone has done in the past on something like this? I'm thinking of using a golf cart to work off of or possible start from scratch. I was leaning towards using two snowmobile tracks on the rear and probably just two large skis on the front? Or I could go with the standard track set and have to design a steering system as well. All input is appreciated.  Or find me a broken down Cushman Trackster!

Offline Special T

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Re: DIY Snowcat
« Reply #1 on: December 13, 2023, 01:18:24 PM »
Sounds like you have some motors out of a logging carriage.
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Offline LDennis24

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Re: DIY Snowcat
« Reply #2 on: December 13, 2023, 01:32:47 PM »
No they are out of old highway arrow boards. They just ran an alternator for 12v lights on a flasher switch. They were scrapping them and I knew the motors were fine so I told them to set them out for me and they did. They can be used on all sorts of stuff. Horizontal shaft too.

Offline Special T

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Re: DIY Snowcat
« Reply #3 on: December 13, 2023, 01:40:29 PM »
They are cool motors.
In archery we have something like the way of the superior man. When the archer misses the center of the target, he turns round and seeks for the cause of his failure in himself. 

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Offline wadu1

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Re: DIY Snowcat
« Reply #4 on: December 13, 2023, 02:07:18 PM »
The Cushman Trackster would be a cool base for your project. Craigs list has some snow machines that are being parted out under $300. An ARGO would another possibility.
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Offline CoryTDF

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Re: DIY Snowcat
« Reply #5 on: December 13, 2023, 02:19:41 PM »
There are a bunch of FB pages for making Tack Sleds (Track Sleds of The North) is one I believe? Not really the same thing but you might get some ideas from those folks.
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Offline LDennis24

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Re: DIY Snowcat
« Reply #6 on: December 13, 2023, 05:33:16 PM »
Yeah I am open to any and all ideas with what I could build with them. I could build a generator backup or possibly throw one of them with a hydraulic pump and run something that way. I haven't decided.

Offline Boss .300 winmag

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Re: DIY Snowcat
« Reply #7 on: December 13, 2023, 07:04:17 PM »
Facebook marketplace has several for sale.

I always thought it would be cool to have one, but a snow machine is cheaper, kinda.😂
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Offline Alex4200

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Re: DIY Snowcat
« Reply #8 on: December 14, 2023, 03:55:07 AM »
Back in the early 70’s there was a twin track, sit in style snow machine. I believe they were called Raider. Don’t know much about them. But if you can find any info on them that might give you some ideas to build from.

Offline bearpaw

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Re: DIY Snowcat
« Reply #9 on: December 14, 2023, 04:22:30 AM »
I would use those motors for something else, I don't think 7hp is enough for an efficient track machine. Cushman uses 25 or 29 hp motors.
http://www.cushmantrackster.com/specs.html
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Offline Ridgeratt

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Re: DIY Snowcat
« Reply #10 on: December 14, 2023, 04:34:35 AM »
This might be the answer without a lot of trial and error.

https://snowdog.com/

Offline Bearomatic180gr

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Re: DIY Snowcat
« Reply #11 on: December 14, 2023, 05:17:41 AM »
YouTube “grindhard plumbing company” they build all kind of whacky stuff. A guy out of north idaho he is the YouTuber. Super smart he use to be on a show on the history channel. He makes a lot of different unorthodox winter machines just scroll farther back in his vids. He makes a three wheeler out of a snowmobile, also a few tonka toy chassis’s with diesel engines. They has got to be a golf kart in there


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