1973 Tucker Sno Cat 1443 New to Me

[CFS]

Hi All,
First time on this forum and new to the snowcat world Hoping for some advice. I own a 1999 VMC RT01. Has a Volkswagen diesel motor and a hydro-static transmission. It has just over 500 hours on it and appears to have been well cared for. Runs fine going down the trail but when I get into deep snow or even a slight grade it pulls the motor down or kills it. I'm not sure if it should spin the track or not but it won't even pull itself up on a tilt deck trailer very well. Hydraulic oil is up and filters have been changed. Also having problems breaking the grousers. They split on the 90 degree bend of the cleat. I have tried welding a wide bead on the bend and had limited success but still having problems. I know a guy in Salt Lake City who builds new grousers that are much stronger than the originals but I was hoping to avoid that cost. I would appreciate any advice I could get from those who are familiar with this machine. Thanks in advance.

Brad, when you say "pulls the motor down or kills it" are you talking the diesel engine or the hydraulic motors? If it the diesel what is your exhaust looking like when this happens. If it is the hydraulic motor/pump, do you have a pressure gauge at the hydraulic pump? I'm wondering if there is a defect in the hydraulic pump which causes a loss of high end pressure

 

[Cidertom]

Hi and welcome to the insanity.


May I suggest you start a new thread for your machine in the "repairs, Parts and Problems" area.

By having your own thread it will be easier to track the input from others and not confuse the two thread items.


Again welcome.
CT

Hi All,
First time on this forum and new to the snowcat world Thanks in advance.

 

[Track Addict]

Winter looking nice up north. Looking for some sno motivation to get these tracks on south.

Took the boys on their first real trail ride this am against the wife advisory board.

-3 degrees to start warmed to 4. 20 plus awesome miles maxed out 25 mph hammer down! Nobody froze so that’s a win.

 

[DAVENET]

Better get those tracks back on. Supposed snow storm finally coming this weekend . . .

 

[Track Addict]

Ready for Sno!

 

[Track Addict]

Also don’t forget to tighten down the tie rod clamp after paint and install or you get to resquare everything again!

 

[Track Addict]

First Mile shakedown good to go!

Nice to be back in the sno.

 

[Track Addict]

5 miles all is well. Kids race team ran well. Antiques fired right up.

Took fam and friends for an evening wine cruise before we head to the super bowl.

Go Patriots!

 

[Track Addict]

Both legendary. Tucker Sno Cat/New England Patriots !

 

[Track Addict]

Single track club meeting up the Maine way near Canada Eh

 

[Track Addict]

Successful 3 days of riding the single track cats.

Lots of sno up north everywhere!

 

[Track Addict]

Back from the snowy north to lack of south.

Tucker got backed out for some light therapy to ease depression. Saw a loose grouse bolt so inspected the tracks found two for replacement. If all goes well a little adventure coming Saturday and maybe some local sno?

Stretched the legs on some machines and the race team got in some laps.

 

[Track Addict]

We had some trespassers in the last 24 hours. I’m very particular about my grass but the amusement factor wins here.

Unruly kids! https://youtu.be/u8gt_R8AXtc

No moms: https://youtu.be/PMWpItOuiUw

 

[Track Addict]

Some services for a friends dad changed my plans to head north for a sno cat ride today. Bet it was a blue bird day up there. Hope they post some pics.

Around 2 pm got the call to sled over at a friends farm so we loaded up and headed over. No need to critique the tie downs. None required for this local trip.

Got a few miles on so now can go over all the front end work and re- torque. Front roller working well. I need to add some shins behind the roller as when reversing I can see some tolerance that needs to be taken up.

Kids had a blast. Betweeen the cat and the kids shuttling they got lots of runs.

Last run of the day one of them lined up poorly and took and airborne launch at high speed into the thicket. Few cuts some tears and he shook it off. We had to pull him out in the basket the way he went in.

Sad winter this year but we are working with what we got! You get what you get and you don’t get upset.

 

[PJL]

How do you like the dovetail trailer with the folding ramps? I'm about done with the removable ramps on our deckover. Scariest part of the trip is driving up and down the ramps.

 

[Track Addict]

Love the folding ramps. This trailer has three and the middle one slides left and right. Move a lot of row crop tractors ATVs side by sides the middle ramp allows easy wheel width adjustment. Have a dump trailer I use often with slide in ramps and it’s a hassle.

The trailer would be more useful as a complete flat deck but I think loading in general especially low items would be tricky. Ramps would need to be longer also.

 

[PJL]

I'm looking hard at the the PJ F8 series. One of our local SnoTrac owners has 2 cats that he fits on a 26 foot PJ. I let my new boss drive a few hours last week and he loaded it when we were done. Then we looked at the PJ sitting next to us. I didn't need to convince him.

 

[Mill666er]

I have the PJ T8 and can load the the heavy rubber belted Tucker without much excitement. The pontoon Tucker does slip and slide on the ramps and dovetail so I have plywood inserts that snap into the ramps. I also carry strips of rubber ‘stall mat’ to cover the dovetail. There is a bit of pucker factor getting the Snowtrac on the trailer, I’ve slipped off of the ramps and slid sideways at the dovetail to deck transition as it tips forward. I have since started putting 2X4s into the stake pockets to make it a little more manageable. I have been looking for a longer gooseneck version so I can load both of the smaller cats. I also have a PJ dump with the slide out ramps and as Brian said they are a pain. I try to back into a pile of dirt to avoid using them when hauling the skidsteer or mini.

 

[PJL]

Thanks for the trailer tips. I had a sideways event 2 weeks ago. Ended up on one ramp that had only one hook still attached. No damage to the cat but one ramp is tweaked.

 

[Track Addict]

A litttle gift from Mother Nature today with some fresh inches. Miles and smiles enough to Tucker this guy out for a cat nap.

The youngest race team member learned about sidehiling in his first rollover.

 

[CFS]

I'm looking hard at the the PJ F8 series. One of our local SnoTrac owners has 2 cats that he fits on a 26 foot PJ. I let my new boss drive a few hours last week and he loaded it when we were done. Then we looked at the PJ sitting next to us. I didn't need to convince him.

We used a Hudson Bros and a Big Tex trailer on the farm (Hudson Bros was better) but either way I've heard good things about the PJ trailers. Our Hudson Bros trailer had wood on the ramps and our tracked vehicles loaded better with less slip, especially if you are loading on less-than-flat ground. I'm not sure if PJ offers that. If you do get the wood ramps you will definitely want spring loaded ramps because of the additional weight.

 

[Track Addict]

That’s a wrap for Tucker season this year. Boat Season begins.

Off season Tucker hunting will continue. On deck for the fall Tucker project list is hydraulic hose replacement, steering piston rebuild and some bushings, new exhaust manifold for the slant six, valve adjust and whatever else I stumble across in those projects.

Also going to check the torque on the track grouser nuts to ensure they are all proper 20 ft lb torque. Saw a few loose ones end of season.

 

[olympicorange]

I have the PJ T8 and can load the the heavy rubber belted Tucker without much excitement. The pontoon Tucker does slip and slide on the ramps and dovetail so I have plywood inserts that snap into the ramps. I also carry strips of rubber ‘stall mat’ to cover the dovetail. There is a bit of pucker factor getting the Snowtrac on the trailer, I’ve slipped off of the ramps and slid sideways at the dovetail to deck transition as it tips forward. I have since started putting 2X4s into the stake pockets to make it a little more manageable. I have been looking for a longer gooseneck version so I can load both of the smaller cats. I also have a PJ dump with the slide out ramps and as Brian said they are a pain. I try to back into a pile of dirt to avoid using them when hauling the skidsteer or mini.

ive borrowed a buddy's tilt deck this winter a few times... its a deck over... made by Econoline...taillights are recessed into the triangular shaped tail of deck. easy off and on … unlatch the front deck pin so it can tip...keep your l/f track even with edge of trailer...drive up till it starts to do the ''fulcrum'' pivot...drive ahead another foot till tracks touch headboard...its a 20f00ter... and throw on the straps. lock front pin...one man operation. nice thing about it is that its solid full width. don't have to worry about aligning ramps or dropping off a ramp...

 

[Track Addict]

Reason number many why New England is awesome:

Sea trialing in the 43 degree ocean waters today while 100 miles north Mt Washington still avalanche warning, my old Tucker is enjoying a ride, other friends snowmobiling, going skiing this week, and picked up the new lawn mower.

Kittens and Kristis and Walkers oh my!

 

[redsqwrl]

That’s a wrap for Tucker season this year. Boat Season begins.

.

Imagine if you will a world in which a person could literally wrap a snocat for storage. You know, pull in the shop give it a look over drain and dry a few componenets wrap it in shrink wrap and hope the mice don't find it.....

then come fall rip open the bag and wet-ten up a few things and go about the silly season.....

Well time to wake up and find my good pneumatic impact, grease gun, .......

 

[Track Addict]

Still winter today!

Didn’t see the 442 making any laps this am?

 

[Track Addict]

Took the model J. Tucker out today! Orange ? life !

New England is also closer to Florida for east coast Tuckering.

 

[Track Addict]

Schools out bump for summer!

 

[DAVENET]

Some places you ride by have the smell of manure, some the smell of fresh cut fields, some the smell of cooking food. Just north of here all you can smell is the grease from a grease gun . . .

 

[Track Addict]

The jewel of the Merrimack Valley!