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Skidozer or Spryte?
- Thread starter Thinice
- Start date
Thiokol2track
Bronze Member
If you get a spryte , get one with the Oc-12 if your pulling a drag with it, hook a cooler up for the rearend oil. We had trouble with steering the bombardier while pulling a drag, might have been to big of a drag. So if you go with a sv252 watch the weight and size of your drag.
Thiokol2track
Bronze Member
The bombardier didnt have as much trouble going down hills, up was a nitemare as far as steering goes. The sv had the 300 cu in engine, and the spryte will only be 170 or 200 cid, but the spryte has gear reduction thru drop boxes on the oc-12 . I believe this is why it steered better. I will say the bombardier had a few more hp. I ran a spryte model, that had a ford 30 six and a c-6 autotrans, that did very well. The drags we using are mogul-master copys around the same weight as yours. We just purchased an arrowhead as well with our last groomer and it works very well also. What is your terrian like that you are grooming??
Snowtrac Nome
member formerly known as dds
i would think adding ram steer would be a good idea if you have brake steer
Our topography is flat as a 2x4. Our only challenge would be roads ditches. The Skidozer has a 2 speed rear end and the 300 ford six w/C-6 trans. I like both units, but the skidozer has the grousers closer together for a smoother ride. As we do have a few road routes (1/4 to 1.5mi) We used to have a Tucker 1544, it would go thru alot of snow, but sometimes the ag land we cross doesn't have much more than a few in. of snow and you and the mach. get beatup pretty good. Also Tuckers need the snow for lube so sproket issues were frequent. I also did not like the 7 tooth design of the Tuckers as only 1 tooth is driving a track at a time. The driveline in those was pretty cheesy IMO too. Especially when your pulling a 3000# drag full of snow. Not sure, but they sure did not seem to be designed for snowmobile trail grooming. I like the twin track units much better. They seem to handel the low snow issue much better and the sproket issues are not nearly as bad.
pagreybeard
New member
I'll preface this by saying I never operated a Spryte, but as a 252 private owner, when you look at the specs, the 252 is a much more powerful, heavier and operator friendly unit. For grooming, the 252 should be able to handle a bigger drag (but not too big, 8X16 is plenty unless it is flat land). The 252 is an automatic (high and low range) with power assist steering (I think they all have that). What to look for in any old cat is updated belts, wheels, bearings, driveline and just general exceptional maintenance. As we say in our club, "they all break, just try to keep it infrequent". Didn't break anything this year, not eough snow to wear anything out.
pagreybeard
New member
I use it as a groomer.Not much this year though, very little snow. The SkiDozer is in NW PA but I live in NE Ohio. It is a gas unit (300ci Ford 6cyl). It is totally restored, a very cool toy. It is a handfull to drive sometimes in the narrow hilly twisty trails where it lives. Reminds me a little of the ASV Track Truck our club has and I used to drive in the respect that you are constantly correcting and fussing with the controls. A major difference is the SkiDozer has traction, a roomy cab and will climb anything. Best of luck with your search.
300 H and H
Bronze Member
Our club has a 252 Diesel with the 4 speed and the two speed splitter. It will climb out of most any ditch we encounter. Cann't say for the sprite, except to my eye they are not built as heavy as the Skidozer. We have a drag that folds up and stores on the rear deck, and is set up with ram steer, although we rarely use it. Cann't think of the name of the drag off the top of my head as we have yet to even use it this year. Works well for us. When there is snow that is....
Regards, Kirk
Regards, Kirk
Alaska Snow Cat
Member
The Skidozer is definitely a more stout cab and chassis but is also heavier which can be both an advantage or disadvantage depending on you area of operation. The Spryte is very well constructed and held up to all the work I ever threw at it and the lighter weight worked better in the mountains for my use. The engine, transmission and options like 2 speed splitter are for the most part identical from cat to cat. Track lengths and widths too, although I had never thought of the grouser spacing which, when closer together, would be better in low snow.
I would say either unit is up to the task but I agree ram steering will be a hugh improvement when pulling a drag with one.
I would say either unit is up to the task but I agree ram steering will be a hugh improvement when pulling a drag with one.