Muskeg Identification

[morewood]

It's right at 8' in total width. 11'6" in length, add 2' for the winch, add approximately another 3'6" for the cutter. My absolute wild guess is between 10k-12k in weight, topped off and ready to work. It has a long date with a hot water pressure washer. If you guys see anything you can tell me about or have questions I'll answer as best I can.

Shea

 

[redsqwrl]

I am not a heavy iron guy, like my light weight snow iron....
But that thing is cool! If you are anywhere below 4500 us $ you are in a good spot money wise. Tracks idlers grousers will yield your money.
It likely runs and just got replaced with a 100hp skidsteer and the old guy liked it and it stayed around.

Update with your adventures as you get it back on its feet!

 

[morewood]

I got it for $3K. The gentleman that bought it owned a bridge building of company for a long time. His son is slowly selling the iron and equipment. Everything appears solid, we'll see as I get it cleaned up and moving.

Shea

 

[J5 Bombardier]

Definitely the flat style grousers , don't see that to much up here . Very nice machine , good that you saved it .
J5 Bombardier

 

[morewood]

Thanks guys. I'm a complete newbie with these things so I may not fully understand all the jargon or nomenclature....but I try. I plan on using the excavator to see if it moves freely and get it in a better position to get a big rollback to it. Not having to move it far, shouldn't cost much. I'm going to remove the cutter and related stuff to get the machine going before getting the cutter renovated and going again. Got plans for all kinds of weird stuff.

Concerning the grousers. I have plenty of high elevation private developments where I get work on occasion. Because the grousers are u-shaped (with a flat bottom) they would leave marks on the asphalt and that is a big no-no for these people. Has anyone ever seen either inserts that would keep the metal off the asphalt or some other option? The only plan they have in bad weather is hope a guy can plow UP a 13-15% grade.....HA. I have plenty of guys who know hydraulics and a close friend does custom metal work, that's helpful. Be sure that I will have plenty of questions.

When I get the small hood removed, what other than the fuel tank will that give me access to?

Shea

 

[pixie]

The differential is under the hood. Change oil, check gasket for leaks, check brake band lining.

The onlt way I can think of to make the tracks less marring is to bolt rubber pieces on but I don't think they would last long.

 

[morewood]

Thanks. I'll have it moved by midweek and hope to have some time to start going over some things.

 

[morewood]

Got it pulled up by the roadside pretty easily. Everything moved freely and rolled well. It'll be picked up and moved in a day or two.

Shea

 

[redsqwrl]

nice looking rig

 

[morewood]

Got it moved to my friends shop last week. Started pressure washing it yesterday. All the little things seem intact. Bolts, grease fittings, etc. Everything for the belts on the right side seems great. Odd question.....how much overlap on the belts where they joined. These are 12-18". Hadn't noticed the join before. Also, I assume that the cab configuration isn't factory since it has hydraulic controls and electrical equipment in the cab. When they built it they left a gap between the body and the cab. Doesn't make any sense to me. Either way that will change. I don't want the environment in there with me. I hope to get the rest of it done today and clean up anything in the engine bay too. This hot water pressure washer is the ticket.

Shea

 

[J5 Bombardier]

Got it moved to my friends shop last week. Started pressure washing it yesterday. All the little things seem intact. Bolts, grease fittings, etc. Everything for the belts on the right side seems great. Odd question.....how much overlap on the belts where they joined. These are 12-18". Hadn't noticed the join before. Also, I assume that the cab configuration isn't factory since it has hydraulic controls and electrical equipment in the cab. When they built it they left a gap between the body and the cab. Doesn't make any sense to me. Either way that will change. I don't want the environment in there with me. I hope to get the rest of it done today and clean up anything in the engine bay too. This hot water pressure washer is the ticket.

Shea

Not a factory cab for sure , they didn't cheap out on the bolts attaching the cab to the original nose ,lol . As your machine started life as a M.T.D....Muskeg Tractor Diesel it was an open cockpit. Belt overlap ,usually 3 or 4 , 18 -24 bolts is enough to remove and install.
J5 Bombardier

 

[morewood]

Thanks, the cab doesn't look like anything I had seen on any pictures. Makes sense now that I know they started life as open cockpit machines. Without being at the machine at the moment I think there were at least 4 grousers across the overlapped section. The grousers/nuts/bolts/backing plates all look good and solid. Thanks for the info, much appreciated.

Shea