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A few questions about early PistenBullys

I

ImTippmann

New member
Hello all, new guy here.

I have known of a small machine a few blocks from my kids school for a few years, its probably been sitting for 10. I could only see one corner and had originally thought it was a Thiokol Imp. The other day I stopped to ask if they would be willing to part with it, but when I could see the rest of the machine I discovered it is a PistenBully. It appears to be either a PB120 or a PB145, I would have looked closer to see what its actual model number was, but nobody was home, and I know how I would feel if I caught someone looking over something of mine.

Unfortunately there is little to no information on these machines, so Im looking for information on them. How fast on level ground? Common failure points other than the usual engine, pumps and motors? Ease of drivability?

I am in western South Dakota and have spent a lot of time making repairs to the local search and rescue teams snow-cats. We have an LMC, a Bombardier and a UTV international with hydro-static drive. I personally don't have much/any real need for one, but I like a good project to go tinker on in the shop that is not your standard hot rod.

As stated above, before I go back and try to get a hold of the owner of the property again, i would like to know a little of what Im looking at.
 
go to bing.com and select images. put in what you think it is.
I was told on my smaller one that properly maintained hydraulic pumps should go 6000hrs.
jim
 
I used Google to get the same results as Bing just gave me. It just seems that there is very little information on those two particular machines. I will just hope thats a good sign that they are durable and last forever, never needing major repair.......... or it means they usually fell apart withing a few years of use and were all in the scrap heap before people could post about them on the internet. I kinda wish I lived somewhere that there was more of a selection to stumble across.
 
pistenbully has a 24-7 line for any troubleshooting you need. it is for any owner of any model. they have 3 guys in reno that are really good. I called on computer issues a few times
 
The 120D was made in only one year, 1983, and they only made 44 of them. The PB145D is an older model made from 1971-1976. They built many more of the 145D, somewhere around 800 of them. You could nab a couple of photos and email them to PB in Reno, most likely someone could tell you what it is, and what the parts situation is for that particular model.
 
I will be stopping in again to try and catch the property owner today before I pick the kids up from school. Im going to snap a few pictures try to find the model decal and leave a note that I was there in an attempt to contact them. If it were a running operational machine I would probably be asking what they are worth, but seeing as its not I will have to shoot from the hip.

Any idea if the PBs known to be a slow moving machine, or do they usually keep a decent pace? I know specifics are usually different from one model to the next, but as a brand how are they in speed reliability and such.

I would like to thank everyone for the answers so far, Im no expert on snowcats, and the more knowledge I have on hand before trying to made a deal, the better the deal I can work.
 
I have the older PB200D(87) and a PB 260D(93) and they both are advertised to do 12mph top speed. All the newer ones with the exception of some PB100s and the flexmobile are also advertised at 12mph top speed.

I also had a Thiokol 3700 Hydromaster many tears ago and it was also advertised at 12mph as are most of the Br 400 and other models of large alpine groomers.

I tend to groom at 5-9 mph and will occasionally hot 11-12 mph going down hill but I am pulling a very large drag. I can tell you this, the difference in fuel consumption between 9mph and 5 mph in the PB260D is quite noticeable.

I read the history of the Pisten Bully machines on the internet once and as I vaguely recall they started out using the Sunsrtand hydrostatic transmission, just like Thiokol, so I would imagine 12mph top speed is the norm.
 
the one I have is a canyon and runs faster 15mph but it was only built a few years and about 50 made. it is powered by a 1.9 tdi diesel vw
very few of them around mine is number 11 and a 2004. I think the run ended in 2007 and the pb scout replaced it.
 
When you go to look at it, the S/N is probably visible, it should be stamped on the outside of the frame on the right side (passenger) at the front. Once you have that, PB can answer anything you want to know about parts, etc.
 
Add some pics, if you get a chance to snap some, there are few of these machines out there for recreation, it would be good to see some more around. The smaller older PBs, are great machines, keep in mind speed is hard to compare when talking Juice machines to brake steers, and you absolutely cannot compare a 70 or that platform of PB to the big Juice machines. I own an older PB 70DR, and everyone moans and groans coming from commercial background that they are small , hard on pulling, etc etc. ...apples to apples, my old girl can pull, can push and can climb. Where i come from is a private interest in mini-cat skiing cat kind of stand point, rather than flat trails, so i am super happy with its performance, i dont mind the crawl, it just does not get stopped and in steep and deep. Although Brake steer machines eliminate the hassle of hydraulics, and motor, and are hard to break, there is nothing like an old mini-big stick juice machine to mow on top of the snow, and still really light...I am sitting at 2000 kilos max, or somewhere in the realm of 5000 lbs max right now, with a box and blade (tiller removed) which means easily tow-able and the profile is nice and wide (only 8 foot maximum width but wide tracks for its size.) Fuel consumption is good but it is driven on a 4 banger Mercedes. Pisten Bully Western Canada called Oak Creek has been amazing in dealing with parts, and finding information. From what i hear JimVt Oregon Chapter has been excellent as well, and I have dealt with the Idaho (? i think) Chapter and they are great. They dont seem to poo-poo older machines and will deal even though you arent fleet. I have no idea what a new pump, or drive motor will cost me if when one goes one day but at 2-3000 grand, who cares, the Mercedes will run forever and compared to a rebuild on an OC12 and the going rate on those, its pretty much a worthy choice if you fall into one. There is also a serial Plate inside the cab in the foot well but probably hard to see. Let me know what you come up with, the more Recreation PB's the better! Let me know if i can help answer anything too, i have manuals and have gone from one end of the electrical to the other.
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