1973 Tucker Sno Cat 1443 New to Me

[Track Addict]

Omaha orange back to school shoes? Tucker Time must be getting close.....

 

[Track Addict]

The orange hue from the Tucker gods as one season season ends preparing for another.

 

[Blackfoot Tucker]

THAT is a beautiful photo! Wow doesn't do it justice...

 

[Tucker Someday]

Time to charge the grease gun I guess.


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[Pontoon Princess]

Omaha orange back to school shoes? Tucker Time must be getting close.....

nice 2 pontoon machine

 

[Track Addict]

That pic was taken by a random boater just hanging out in the marsh. Pulled up to me and said he had a good pic of my boat and texted to me. Boaters are much like the snowmobile and cat community very friendly.

Two new cats hanging in the barn. Moved enough stuff to start on the Tucker this week! Wife appears to be over the addition of the newborn she’s sitting on.

 

[Track Addict]

The mighty slant six.

First fall task is to address the exhaust leaks. Gasket blown out and the firewall side stud is broken off. Triage looks like a new manifold which I will probably ceramic coat. Might as well do the intake while at it.

Was going to convert ignition over to electronic but a princess decreed a very compelling fairytale for keeping it simple. That and a few other ideas.

 

[Track Addict]

Frosty mornings spark Tucker time. Moved into position for dismantling.

 

[Pontoon Princess]

orange you glad you have a tucker and no rollers to grease

 

[Track Addict]

Most days but not others.

 

[Tucker Someday]

He sold his old greaser local so he can still come work the grease gun if he gets the itch.


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[Track Addict]

NH snowmobile grass drags and water cross today.

Good day for the kids race team. Few new deals a few hand me down deals resulted in 4 happy kids on some quads and sleds they were not on this morning!

 

[Track Addict]

Maybe tomorrow we can work on a real tucker.

Looks like a 2000 series.

 

[Track Addict]

Finally started some tangible tucker time.

Linkage pics so I can get it back together.

Exhaust manifold is warped so will be replacing with a doorman repop, arp studs, and gasket TBD. #13 rear stud has been broken off below the block surface since who knows. The front exhaust port was leaking due to the gasket disintegration. Manifold came off easy and the intake is in great shape for reuse.

Got 12/13 of the studs out and and threads cleaned. Going to use a mechanics drill guide with left hand bits to remove. Should be able to reuse the stock threads when done if it goes like it hope. That tucker tool tray was a rare option and is very useful. Good example of how nice the tilt forward hold is for access.

Found #13 manifold keep down resting on the motor.

Also working on a Tucker pontoon side project I think you all will enjoy. Not new thread worthy so it will be sprinkled in here.

A little patience would have prevented the ecto cooler spill. My helper got a giggle from the tucker incontinence.

Sno up on Washington and winter on the brain finally!

 

[Pontoon Princess]

right side up photo

good job on the repairs, the engine will be happy when all done...

 

[Track Addict]

Getting ready to drill and try to extract the stud. This tool by OTC is an asset. Need some final adjusting but here is how it works.

Been soaking the stud and will clean the hole prior to drilling. Going to drill out up to 5/32 in 4 steps up and try to extract. If not will switch to left hand bits after with Tucker Sr guiding me. The surgical assistant will apply copious amounts of suction as that stud is in the water jacket.

Just need to source some new bits and precious time....

These quads multiply like gremlins when kids get them wet!

 

[Track Addict]

Had lots of time to think about stud removal killing time in RI at juniors 2 day swim race. Thinking about starting a railroad empire and building some mansions to summer! He placed 1st-3rd all 11 races at 8 years old in the 8-10 bracket. 20 mins of excitement with 8 hours of research downtime I between. Sauna like
Humidity temps and benches if you got there early. I commend those before me that didn’t have hand held time killers.

I was skeptical about the stud coming out with the extractor. Had to give it a go tonight. Drilled as planned then tried a couple extractors. They all got to the point I said to myself “this is going to break off if I keep it up.” I took my own advice and went to plan B.

With a nice 5/32 hole centered from the drill guide I was able to step it up by hand from there with the oversight of Tucker SR. At 1/4” I was able to chase and clean out the treads with a tap keeping the oem 5/16 hole and thread. Most of the old stud came out like a helicoil. Slow and lots of removals and cleaning is key.

Have a new doorman exhaust manifold on the way. Test fit for the studs and have a new remflex gasket which has great reviews. Working on ceramic coating the manifolds. Maybe Chrysler red on the intake and black on the exhaust.

Looking for input on the best sealant for the studs as they enter the water jacket?

 

[olympicorange]

…. the ''Boulders ''' , built by the Vanderbilt's,... well worth the fee to tour ,... we took it in years ago , when my son got married at the Yatch club,... Newport is a very busy place,....

 

[olympicorange]

… oops'' ,.. ''The Breakers'',... too many fingers....

 

[Track Addict]

Got the new manifold from doorman via great deal Rock Auto Fits well but needs grinding by the thermostat housing.

Shying away from the ceramic coating or any paint. Don’t want to take the mechanism apart to do correctly. Been unpainted 45 years what’s another 45?

Ordered some new hardware. Next step is to mock up both manifolds for fit and go from there.

 

[Pontoon Princess]

correctly done ceramic coating will draw heat off the manifold, which is a good thing,

I do agree with you thoughts about just leaving it as, just like originally done

 

[PJL]

Nice work getting that broken stud out. I like that tool you used.

 

[Blackfoot Tucker]

Nice work getting that broken stud out. I like that tool you used.

Totally agree!

My so-called "success rate" with E-Z Outs in removing a broken bolt/stud is probably about 5%. But being able to center the drilled hole, and then carefully upsize the hole and use a tap should improve that significantly as the E-Z Out won't be needed, and that's not a good thing, it's a GREAT thing! Thank you for the nice write-up and information!

(I ordered the OTC tool.)

 

[DAVENET]

Had lots of time to think about stud removal killing time in RI at juniors 2 day swim race. Thinking about starting a railroad empire and building some mansions to summer! He placed 1st-3rd all 11 races at 8 years old in the 8-10 bracket. 20 mins of excitement with 8 hours of research downtime I between. Sauna like
Humidity temps and benches if you got there early. I commend those before me that didn’t have hand held time killers.

The only thing even remotely comparable is a track meet. We did it for 8(?) years and while great for them & their buddies, the last summer meet had me dancing in the yard. NOTHING sucks as bad as a 90+ degree day, no shade other than EZ-Up's and a pool full of water you can't get into!

 

[sno-drifter]

Nice work Mr. T&A. I will get one of those extractors. The only EZout I have had limited success with are the ones with the four straight tapered sides. The spiral ones only expand to make the stud/bolt tighter in the threads.

Thanks for the posts.

 

[olympicorange]

….. always a challenge , each time to remove broken hardware.... everyone dreads that job,... ''quenching'' works well,....

 

[Track Addict]

Here the coating plan. After much research on exhaust coating I have landed on Calyx as a compromise: https://www.eastwood.com/calyx-manifold-coating-3-oz.html

I envision this much like a product we use on the boats called woody wax. This might be useful to some that trailer cats in salt: http://www.woody-wax.com/woody-wax-kit.php

Intake manifold is going mopar red hopefully I posted the paint I used here somewhere?

 

[m1west]

Finally started some tangible tucker time.

Linkage pics so I can get it back together.

Exhaust manifold is warped so will be replacing with a doorman repop, arp studs, and gasket TBD. #13 rear stud has been broken off below the block surface since who knows. The front exhaust port was leaking due to the gasket disintegration. Manifold came off easy and the intake is in great shape for reuse.

Got 12/13 of the studs out and and threads cleaned. Going to use a mechanics drill guide with left hand bits to remove. Should be able to reuse the stock threads when done if it goes like it hope. That tucker tool tray was a rare option and is very useful. Good example of how nice the tilt forward hold is for access.

Found #13 manifold keep down resting on the motor.

Also working on a Tucker pontoon side project I think you all will enjoy. Not new thread worthy so it will be sprinkled in here.

A little patience would have prevented the ecto cooler spill. My helper got a giggle from the tucker incontinence.

Sno up on Washington and winter on the brain finally!

Are any of the steel track parts in the picture up for grabs? I could used some spare components? Marty

 

[Track Addict]

Unfortunately no. The best coarse of action with the rails is to build new ones out of the plow steel they are made form. Others have used stainless and mild steel.

Sourcing a parts cat or two is wise when owning Tuckers.

 

[Track Addict]

Mocked up the intake and the new exhaust manifold. Little more grinding down the casting seam. Fits well.

Went with loctite water jacket and head bolt sealant for final assembly.