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Muskeg Questions

Landskeg

Landskeg

New member
Hi Everybody,
I've been looking at this forum since coming to the realization that I need a tracked vehicle to access remote bogland for wood harvesting and construction of a house.

After Research, I'd settled on a J5 but now am considering an older Muskeg Carrier with exposed cab style operator position...

The machine I am looking at is OLD, probably 50s. it does not have the optional PTO for a winch.

My few Questions are; can the exposed operator style be converted to enclosed cab style with some mods? were the different styles offered classified into sub models...

(I would like to eventually restore and modify it something like to the state of J5s Isuzu powered muskeg.)

Can the Transfer case for a driven winch be added relatively inexpensively?...

What to look for mechanically in terms of sounds or symptoms regarding the health of the differential Gears/Pinions Bearings, brake bands, axles beams etc...

I've heard and read of the high cost of replacement parts! and definitely am on a budget. any info will be appreciated

thanks, Landskeg
 
Welcome to the forum!!!!!
Can't answer all your questions, but someone here will!!
Big difference from a j5 to a muskeg, have had both. With 20 bogies on a muskeg and only 10 on a j5, the muskeg is a real heavy duty machine and should be great for what you want to do. As they say a muskeg will never throw a track.
Muskeg vs J5 is like a 1-ton dump vs A mack dump!!!
Parts for any older machine get harder to find. Good luck and definately some photos if you buy it!!!
 
OK, thanks northeast heavy for the welcome and advice!

I figured it out... Muskeg Tractor VS Muskeg Carrier... engine is reversed for the carrier and a transfer case added to re direct power to the front Diff.

I am looking at two Muskeg Tractors... one in Rough but running condition with some spare parts, (it needs an exhaust manifold, the radiator leaks, tracks are gettin' there and some bogie wheels and one sprocket need replacement... it also turns very hard either due to brake bands needing adjustment or they are worn out.) spare parts include; an extra running industrial six with a three speed trans., 5 tires and wheels and maybe a sprocket or two.

What would you guys that deal with these think an acceptable price would be for this unit with it's spare parts?

thanks, Landskeg
 
Thanks, I've been there multiple times beginning with trying to buy a hustler snowcat locally a few months back...
 
Instead of dealing with making a PTO winch, use a 12V electic winch, you can put a battery spliter on it to a second battery so you don't draw down the one running the machine. Very easy to do and even it the machine dies, you can pull it out of a hole.

Welcome to the Forum!
 
OK, Settled on a 1960 Muskeg tractor with a fabbed up logging winch PTO'd from the crankshaft snout...owned and used by a new england ski area since the 60's

Needs some stuff, most notably is one set of two bogie wheels are askew due to the Pin that holds them to the walking beam being bent. needs a diff fluid change... milky from water ingress... anybody know where the drain is?

Also, Can anybody familiar with servicing Muskegs give a quick procedural on steering band adjustment? and possibly a diagram of the walking beam configuration/ wheel pair removal procedure?...

thanks all.
 
Landskeg said:
OK, Settled on a 1960 Muskeg tractor with a fabbed up logging winch PTO'd from the crankshaft snout...owned and used by a new england ski area since the 60's

Needs some stuff, most notably is one set of two bogie wheels are askew due to the Pin that holds them to the walking beam being bent. needs a diff fluid change... milky from water ingress... anybody know where the drain is?

Also, Can anybody familiar with servicing Muskegs give a quick procedural on steering band adjustment? and possibly a diagram of the walking beam configuration/ wheel pair removal procedure?...

thanks all.
Click to expand...

Let's see what you bought.. everyone here loves photos.
I can't help with Muskeg questions, but someone will be along soon with all sorts of advice.
 
I hope you realize that for Muskeg tractor or carrier you need an over the wheel trailer. They are too wide for most. They are built like a tank! I love mine, the previous owner repaired rusted gears and wore out steering belts in the differential. These are a controlled differential design, very efficient with power. The tracks can be an issue. They are a double D design. The grousers have two rounded projections. The road wheels ride in those projections. As a result they have incredible traction but are hard on lawns and paved roads. I've heard of a flat track version but never have seen one. The tracks consist of 3 belts with a grouse going completely across, with very early ones slightly different. Replacement belts are available but the cheapest I've been able to find is over $600 each.
 
Dont just drain the differential, pull the cover and see what you have---could be pitted gears and bearings. good luck
 
Exhaust manifolds for the 251 are becoming rare, I hear.

Is this a picture of the one you are considering ?
 

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Parts are still available, contact Boggie on this forum. Prinoth took over the Muskeg line from Camoplast which was spun off from Bombardier, IIRC. Prinoth also has the Go-Track line and others. Belts for track repair are available from several sources.

I haven't had much luck trying to save money by using conveyor belting and punching my own holes. 5 and 6 ply belting is hard to find at any price. So I'm going to purchase the prepunched real thing from one of several vendors.

The engine is either a 251 flathead Chrysler industrial engine or a 318 V8. The 251 is the same as used in some of the Power Wagon series, aka M37. You can find parts at Vintage Power Wagons. Their catalog is very useful. I also get engine parts at Napa by specifying a 1965 Dodge WM300 1 ton pickup. The 251 flat head was the only engine used in that vehicle. Napa lists those parts on line but the in store system doesn't list the WM300! Note that the Muskeg engine has a water channel "bump" on the head gasket which the American one didn't have. The Canadian version will work with American engines IIRC. Odds are the engine in your Muskeg is Canadian. Distributors are in 2 models and not compatible. Vintage Power Wagon catalog describes how to tell the difference. Carburetor does not appear to be compatible. Least ways the rebuild kit I got from VPW didn't do much good.

The 251 engine has lots of torque even at low rpm. I think it is almost impossible to stall. Well worth the effort to keep IMHO.

The transmission looks like a synchronized version of the American M37 non-synchro transmission. Canadian M37's did have improvements over the US ones, the transmission is probably one of several such improvements. Even things like the rubber pedal covers look the same. I'll know shortly as I'm ordering them for my Muskeg. I suspect that Bombardier used parts left over from Canadian M37 production.
 
If you are interested I can Quote you on belting for the Muskeg. 6 ply or 5 ply steel reinfored. 1-888-797-8799 ext:242
 
Thanks guys and girls for the reply's... Oh yeah, I realize that at 7' 3" the Muskeg needs to be loaded on a wide trailer.

Anybody got any advice on how to remove the second pair of wheels back behind the spring between the two wheel pairs on the first walking beam?...

Slacken the track,? remove the track? jack it up?... can't seem to post pictures from my computer... only by URL address?
 
Here's a picture of the rear axle.
http://www.forumsforums.com/3_9/showpost.php?p=370255&postcount=20

I believe the stub axles are welded to the walking beam. If not welded, than pressed in. You will need the remove the whole walking beam..... and tracks.

My Muskeg doesn't have the spring between the walking beams. I know that early ones did and I wonder if something was changed or they just decided it wasn't needed ?
 
rhino said:
where did you find 600.00 dollar track belting?
Click to expand...

Midwest track. Individual belts are $615, all 6 would be $575 each. 5-6-5 ply. Also available in 6-6-6 ply. That is what I was quoted by Ron Wahlsten. IIRC others were in about the same ballpark. Be aware that the price on their website is out of date and too low.
 
I'am not going to advertise my price on the form but if you are interested I can quote you on these belts Goodyear 5.5 x 6ply 75 hole. I can tell you I'am cheaper.
 
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