Converting to a 5 man cab!

[Snowy Rivers]

Just to clarify things...

I only solder the big boys that either attach to the battery proper (Heavy cables) and the big ground cables at the battery and engine block/frame

All other stuff like terminal ends and such I use the heavy duty crimp type tool

To solder all the tiny stuff is not in the playbook.

The weather pack connectors are a nice touch for stuff that is/can be exposed to the elements.

Sorry for beating on the hornets nest

 

[1boringguy]

Just adding fuel for the fire ...... I mean thought .....

It's easy to over crimp small wires, leaving only a few stands holding, which then takes very little to break. Exercise resistant.

This is how we splice our submersible dewatering pump electrical cable. The screws are providing the crimp but otherwise it's basically what sno-drifter does. In the higher voltage world, (higher than auto anyway) things get tested pretty well I think (government mandated, keeps people from dieing). At higher voltage thermal expansion and contraction are, I suppose, are a bigger concern too.

 

[Snowy Rivers]

The high voltage stuff....440, 600 and then up into the big voltages, the crimp operations are pretty much the gold standard.

The heavy cables that carry 12/24 volts ...especially at or near the battery are the problem children that will leave you stranded.

GM initiated the side terminal battery in the 1971 vintage

The idea was to stop the terminal corrosion that is/was common with the standard lead acid battery......

The sealed battery was the best thing since sliced bread.... well, almost.....

The GLASS MAT sealed battery like the OPTIMA was a leap forward as well.

Far less corrosion issues..

Sadly so may rigs end up with a cheapy replacement battery from the supply houses that returns all the misery and headache of the old leaky lead acid battery's we had for decades..

The big ball of white oxidation all over the terminals, and the all too often...CLICK BUZZ AND NOTHING when the key is turned to start.....

And not to mention the fact that along with the cables becoming useless....the front corner (Common in cars/trucks) rots off and falls on the ground....

 

[Pontoon Princess]

but but but, three tracks, how did get off track, 2 vs 4 track,

to crimp or not to crimp, that is the question,

Squirrel?

interesting, a forum member of mystery, 'RitchR' gave a 'thank you' to this post, always surprised by how many member there are that so rarely post if at all, this is the first time I have seen this member in the snow cat section, well, I look him up and found he joined back in '05 and think he has given out something like, 15 thanks, long story short, great to see him join in, since their last activity was in '15 and never has posted to a single thread, interesting.....

ah SR, there was manufacture that did build a reverse tricycle snow cat, think they were on the east coast in the 60's maybe the 70's

and tuckers are a huge pile of work, not for the weak of mind, wallet, and a very large shop


let the battle continue, 2 vs 4 track.....

 

[Snowtrac Nome]

in the aircraft industry they crimp only soldering isn't permissible when they crimp the outer jacket is also crimped to for strain relief. the rv industry uses cheap crimp connectors with no strain relief and older electrical issues can be a night mare. I like using crimp and seal connectors it seems to be the most reliable connection I can get

 

[Snowy Rivers]

I agree with most....except I will always solder the big battery terminals.

Aircraft and several other pieces of machinery do not present the same issues that automotive does...and Snowcats are very similar to pickups and such.

I guess it's gonna have to remain a personal choice....Two track vs four...Dodge Ford Chevy/GMC thing....

No worries....I'm cool

I agree about the Tucker thing..been part of a crew that rebuilt an old pontoon Tucker back in my snowmobile club days.

The owner had all the ingredients...Huge shop, fat wallet and plenty of help.

They even had an overhead crane in the one bay a 2 ton trolly on the cross travel... we picked up the frame on the beast and turned it over to be able to fix all the cracked frame parts.

Sweet set up.

They owned a snowmobile and boat dealership and Kart shop.....in Portland....

Many toys to play with

 

[sno-drifter]

Hi KickerM,

Here is my final suggestion: No soldering, no crimping. Park at the top of the hill and let gravity do your starting. No corrosion, no wires, no battery. Perfect setup. I'm dun.

 

[Snowy Rivers]

Sorry I started such a flap.....

Just wanted to pass on some, well at least what I thought was good info gleaned from years of experience...usually in nasty cold wet weather with failing daylight and frozen fingers and it always resulted in a serious attitude issue...

 

[JimVT]

Hi KickerM,

Here is my final suggestion: No soldering, no crimping. Park at the top of the hill and let gravity do your starting. No corrosion, no wires, no battery. Perfect setup. I'm dun.

you could go this way.

 

[KickerM]

I’ve seen an air starter before, but what form is that? Do tell...

 

[Pontoon Princess]

Sorry I started such a flap.....

Just wanted to pass on some, well at least what I thought was good info gleaned from years of experience...usually in nasty cold wet weather with failing daylight and frozen fingers and it always resulted in a serious attitude issue...

no need to be sorry,

what came from this discussion of 2 track vs 4 track and throw in a 3 track machine is lots of good info and Jim Vermont offered up a air starter (3 track machine), lots of good info, well done

I myself prefer to sit on top on the hill and watch everyone attempt the climb...

 

[Snowy Rivers]

Air starters are scary...

I had an old Pete with a Detroit in it with an air starter.

Damned thing would leak off over the weekend and then I would have to hook up house air from the shop on Monday morning..

Ya can't just jump it off the pickup and giddyupgo...

Pump up the air with a tire pump ???? Arrrrrrgh

 

[JimVT]

you still need battery cables.

 

[PJL]

BF-109 airplanes used an inertial flywheel starter. Just needed a guy to crank it up for you.

 

[redsqwrl]

Solder or crimp.... I have been busy sqwrling nutz away for summer and really missed the fun. Ironically we had a simple clowder this weekend. I selected a nutted up sno trac to facilitate the festivities.... Ironically the vice grip did an admirable job keeping the positive cable to the battery. I find the spring in the handle of the vice grip handy as it is a dynamite attribute to hold the AUX wire that powers the light pod.

Now to be fair to the small wires, I do have to touch a couple of them together to fire the starter picking the right two is why I am a licensed electrician and regardless of your degree or status with a PE, You will get bored before you figure out which to touch to what......

Given: two tracks is the only sno snow or sn-oh- cat, further more four tracks is just showing off....

all here shall pause for a moment and recognize where it all started!
Only one tracked vehicle to care about.

Killen Straits.

it all started in a shop not far from dysfunction Junction.

Appleton WI.

Oh and long as I am being cheeky.

The rig had 3 tracks

:th_lmao:

 

[KickerM]

Sorry for the slowdown in progress on my cat but It’s calving season on the ranch and I need to focus on the one thing that’s supposed to make me money to fund my snowcat addiction; I mean hobby...
I thank everyone for the spirited opinions on “battery” cables and I went with Marine Grade Annealed Fine Strand cables crimped fittings with the Silicone Heat Shrink Tubing to make it water tight and hopefully less susceptible to corrosion.....

 

[BearGap]

I found this picture of Jim VT. I think this is what he had in mind

 

[Snowy Rivers]

Bummer about the engine.....

One good thing...at least you will know what you have when it's done.

Better to find the issues out now than out on the trail somewhere.....


That cat have an auto tranny or a stick ????

If it's an auto...be a great time to service the gear box.....

 

[KickerM]

Engine is all good and ready to drop in, just need to get tub and cradle prepped and painted...The tranny is auto, FMX to be exact, I had my tranny guy go thru it and inspect it, change filters and make sure it’s ready to go!

 

[Snowy Rivers]

Sweet....

You will not regret spending the coin on the power pack..

One thing I have noticed right off is that working on these cats is generally not easy when it comes to the engine/trans

Seems that many cats are built like electronics.....Layered in with one thing on top of another and this can certainly make doing what would normally be simple repairs a nightmare...


Having all the goodies tip top will give you a long service life with lotsa fun trouble free hours of running

Been ages since I last had my hands in an FMX mid 70's I think.... Good little gear box...

 

[KickerM]

Got the Cradle sandblasted, Now it’s ready to be primed and painted today! It’s amazing that this 30# formed steel holds the entire powerpack....

 

[Snowy Rivers]

Looking good.

The weight is hanging nearly directly straight down on the side bars....you could lift the entire machine with those two side pieces.

Does the cradle sit on the bottom of the tub ????

I assume the cradle bolts into the tub at several points ????

Plenty strong hold the little 6 cyl and tranny....

 

[KickerM]

The cradle is suspended above the bottom of the tub, and you are correct in that it sits along the lip of the tub edge, but it is only held in by 4 bolts into 16ga sheet steel, mine was rusted so the entire deck of the tub was torched off and I welded 3”x3”x3/16” angle iron down the top edge from fore to aft, so now the cradle is well positioned to hold anything....original plan was for a 6BT!

 

[Snowy Rivers]

Yeah...you got it plenty beefy now ...

 

[KickerM]

Getting some good time to work on cat in between checking the cows. Welded all the cracks in the tub, made up skid plates (I even welded directions on the skid plate, so when your upside down in the snow you know which way is forward!) then drilled holes and fitted cage nuts in the tub for said skid plates, then Wire-wheeled the tub, stripped, primed and painted! Now to set the cradle and drill the holes thru the angle iron

 

[KickerM]

After 2 years and 3 months the power pack is back where it belongs! Now to start the process of fine tuning all my measurements and make sure all my paper ideas fit into the actual machine!

Measuring up the Transmission cooler lines to replace with single piece hydraulic hose lines, the old ones transitioned between steel and rubber with adapters and pipe clamps I can’t count how many times.... KISS!!!!

 

[Snowy Rivers]

Looks great.

Having a bullet proof oil cooler set up is nice.

All the clamps and splices is definitely not a good idea.

Just don't need a leak somewhere....

 

[KickerM]

Well it’s been a long time coming, but finally got enough parts and time to get a bunch of work done on the snowcat

Radiator hoses were a challenge but after searching the internet, books and asking the pros on here I was able to get close. Hopefully this helps others out!

Lower hose is Gates 20608 with Gates reducer 26391 (perfect fit)
Water pump measurement is 1.88” with the lower radiator being 1.5”

Upper hose is Gates 22434 cutting most of the hose off (close not perfect)
Top radiator is 2” and the Thermostat housing is 1.75”

 

[KickerM]

Well its time for an update...Started on the snowcat in earnest and going as fast as I can go, cows permitting...

 

[KickerM]

Here’s a YouTube Timelapse/Video of the first week of the cab build...kinda like building a house...the frame goes up fast but the interior part drags on and on...lol