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Author Topic: DIY Snowcat  (Read 2636 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.
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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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