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Old "Woody" Restoration (b12) ~w/PHOTOS

T

the old trucker

New member
Hello... I am at the start of restoring a 1947-1951 Bombardier b12 narrow gauge, with no ID tag. Sorry I don't know how to post pics yet, so when I get this written I will see if I can send a few pics to Bskurka. This is going to be a long & slow process for me. It's my first time at anything like this.
Currently I'm waiting to have the frame sand blasted by a local company that is going to fit me in. I have the frame stripped down to the bare bones. I just took apart the rear end to put in new bearings & seals after been laid up for over 30 yrs, & I noticed that there were cuttings in the oil. After cleaning everything up, I noticed that one of the four "spider" or planetary gears has two teeth broke on it.
I'm told it is a Chrysler rear end. Will the gears from an old car or pickup fit ?? The ratio says 4;11 on the crown gear. Thanks !! I will get pics on here soon. Thanks. OT.
Claude Stratton
AKA; The Old Trucker
 

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Re: Old "Woody" Restoration (b12)

I'm a big fan of the old Bombardier machines. But I'm sorry I can't help you with any of the answers to your questions. I'd love to see a step by step restoration of this machine with PHOTOS. That would be awesome to watch the progress.

PLEASE keep us informed with photos along the way.
 

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WOW,now thats is bringing one back from the grave........ the gears should be the same as a 1 ton dodge. of that same year. if you need items for it tracks or grousers,sprockets, spring cans, I would have those normally. most likely that had the 251 chrysler industrial with a three on the tree. I did a 1949 a couple of years ago.
 

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Keep us posted on the progress!!! What an undertaking!!! Glad to see I'm not the only crazy one here.....
 
couchloafer said:
Keep us posted on the progress!!! What an undertaking!!! Glad to see I'm not the only crazy one here.....
Click to expand...

My wife uses the term IDIOT when she talks about my snowcat passion :yum:
 

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Thanks for the input. I'm waiting to see what the frame is going to be like after blasting before I get too committed to it. It's old steel in her & people say it's tough. Guess we'll see.
How do I go about splattering a few pics on here before I get a blast of hot air from Boogie ?? The original heater is still functional. I took it off & cleaned it up, then stuck the juice to her & away she goes. How do I figure out if it's 6 or 12 volt ?? Even the square heater core seems OK. Amazing for something exposed to the elements for at least 40 yrs.
The last owner still has the original 251 Chrysler flat head but says it's stuck. I think he said I can have it if I want it. The 2 front doors, 2 motor doors & the rad door are still at his in-laws place. Again it's mine for the taking.
Boogie can the four spider gears come out without having to tear down everything ?? I don't want to have to do anything with the ( backlash ?)

Thanks, OT.
 

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Sorry BOGGIE for calling you Boogie. Listen I just sent a couple doz. pics to Bob to put on here. It's amazing all the bolts on the spring cans came loose. Even the "swingarms", I call them, were free & full of grease. Everything is too good to be true. The old style track adjusters are even working.
In those pics that Bob has, you'll see the gear I'm talking about. I have a manual with a section about the trans & the rear end in it.

OT.
 

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the old trucker said:
Sorry BOGGIE for calling you Boogie. Listen I just sent a couple doz. pics to Bob to put on here. It's amazing all the bolts on the spring cans came loose. Even the "swingarms", I call them, were free & full of grease. Everything is too good to be true. The old style track adjusters are even working.
In those pics that Bob has, you'll see the gear I'm talking about. I have a manual with a section about the trans & the rear end in it.

OT.
Click to expand...


No prob. Hey I Have been called worse than that.......... never had the spyders out seperate so I 'm not sure? this is really a from the ground up restore. parts of it were sunk into the ground.... the 251 engine is OK but a little under powered the V-8 engines do much better .......
 
I'm having internet trouble, can't get email now. I will post the pics as soon as possible . . . be that a few hours delay or a couple days?!?
 
The last of the new batch of pictures. :clap:
 

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Looks like you've got quite a big job ahead of you. Also, your "woody" looks to have started out pretty much in the same shape as the one in this pic. I'll be driving by this one tomorrow afternoon sometime.


000_0149-1.jpg
 
So, how many people think I'm crazy ?? I know this is going to be a slow & long project if I go ahead with it due to the ol' ticker being half gone, but hey, I got lots of time to get er' done. Measure ten times & cut 3 is my motto.
OT.
 
Groomerguy I've seen that one before on Northern Tracks. Wasn't there a couple of steel bodied machines there too ?? Hopefully she'll look like Cam Mclean's old "Woody". I'll see if I can get a pic of it for here.
 
Yep, I posted them there a while back. Don't think he's too interested in selling though. He's got a wide guage, a couple narrow guage's and the woody. Apparently, he's got another one stored inside his garage and keeps the others as parts machines.
 
the old trucker said:
How do I figure out if it's 6 or 12 volt ??
Click to expand...

I'd check out the starter if you re-use the 251. If not, it really doesn't matter... you're starting from scratch on the electric anyway.


the old trucker said:
So, how many people think I'm crazy ??
Click to expand...

I'm glad to see another being restored. I hope the frame is good. It's amazing how steel will last when it's not exposed to salt!

Are you located near Quebec? I see online there are some B12 clubs and forums, that may be able to help source parts.
 
I live in Newfoundland & I know of a couple of places that sell & build new parts for these machines. Did you hear of northerntracks.com ? Their in northern MB. Also Shaver & Sons in Stonwall, MB. have a lot of parts.

Aulen2002 what part of Nova Scotia do you live ?? So are you saying I could hook up that heater to either 6 or 12 volt ?? :unsure:
 
the old trucker said:
I live in Newfoundland & I know of a couple of places that sell & build new parts for these machines. Did you hear of northerntracks.com ? Their in northern MB. Also Shaver & Sons in Stonwall, MB. have a lot of parts.

Aulen2002 what part of Nova Scotia do you live ?? So are you saying I could hook up that heater to either 6 or 12 volt ?? :unsure:
Click to expand...

Yes, a few in NL too I hear. I'm near Bridgewater (south shore).

Wasn't thinking the heater fan. If I were you i'd probably try to pull the heater fan motor for a look-see. If it's been out in the weather it probably needs to be cleaned up anyway (or replaced)! It might still have a legible tag.
 
the old trucker said:
The original heater is still functional. I took it off & cleaned it up, then stuck the juice to her & away she goes. How do I figure out if it's 6 or 12 volt ?? Even the square heater core seems OK. Amazing for something exposed to the elements for at least 40 yrs.

Aulen2002 the heater works just fine. I will test the core also. I want to know how to check it to see if it's 6 or 12 volt.

Aulen what clubs & or forums do you know about in Quebec ?? I have a couple of friends that own these machines that live there.

OT.
Click to expand...
 
Lol......Boogie....lol......:yum:




Dont feel bad. When I told my wife the name and address to ship some stuff to "Boggie" she wrote Boogie...:yum:
 
the old trucker said:
So, how many people think I'm crazy ?? I know this is going to be a slow & long project if I go ahead with it due to the ol' ticker being half gone, but hey, I got lots of time to get er' done. Measure ten times & cut 3 is my motto.
OT.
Click to expand...
I always follow the Snowcat threads, Trucker.
It's amazing when you guys can take a hunk of rusted skeletal equipment and restore it to something that was once beautiful.
I'll be gawkin' at your progress :smile:
Good luck!
 
pirate_girl said:
I always follow the Snowcat threads, Trucker.
It's amazing when you guys can take a hunk of rusted skeletal equipment and restore it to something that was once beautiful.
I'll be gawkin' at your progress :smile:
Good luck!
Click to expand...

Pirate Girl, do not take this personal, but you gals have all the skills already
it not much different then when you get ready in the morning, a little filler here and a little straightning there. a little paint here and there. step back look at it. change it some. look at it change it some more. tune it, tune it somemore, you know, get it...... it is all the same. :whistling:
 
Boogie....that's gotta be the best reply I've seen in a while. Sorry, but I gotta spread the reps around first.:yum:
 
groomerguyNWO said:
Looks like you've got quite a big job ahead of you. Also, your "woody" looks to have started out pretty much in the same shape as the one in this pic. I'll be driving by this one tomorrow afternoon sometime.


000_0149-1.jpg
Click to expand...

Groomerguy, I wish mine did start like that one. At least I'd have a few old panels & angles to look at & make new ones again.
 
I will try to get the big rusty nut off the crown & pinion off today. Guess if I nipped the crown in the vise between two pieces of wood shouldn't the gear.
 
Old Trucker....... I don't know much about B12's so I don't if ether of these are like your model, but I think you might enjoy these pics anyways:thumb:
 

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Weatherby, the bombers in those pics are 1952's or newer c18's. Maybe Cranman can close in on the years. He has a lot more experience about these than I do. He is often referred to as one of the three wise men of Bombardiers.
If I knew how to post pics I would show you a couple of b12's.... I have my machine narrowed down to between 1947, first year for rubber on the brake & clutch pedals.. I was told 1949 was the first year for the dimmer switch on the floor, & 1951 was last year for the wooden bodied machine.

I think your 601 is "the ultimate machine". I admire your work.

The Old Trucker
 
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