My addiction to tracked machines has led to this. Still in the R&D mode but, as of this monin... I'm encouraged. I said I'd do a build thread so, here goes... I started with a powered track-barrow. Added a low profile hitch (so loads will pull down vs the tracks and not up, where traction would be lost)... ignore my gum ball welds please... That's the gearbox right above the hitch, so I opted to not have the hitch touch it. Added a front arm to lift logs on the sleds. The front sled adjustable length hitch (makes it easier to attach to mule with log loaded on sleds) The rear sled.
You do very nice work. Ok gotta ask because there’s some engineering obviously going over my head. The skis narrow on the back half. Is that to help turning? Or maybe to insure the tips stay up?
Those sections were removed for a wheel penetration set-up on a trailer I had. Another old project...
Well... this set-up is no where near what our tracked atv was Lyle, as far as traction goes... but, I think it'll do fine for my slow motion winter loggin'...
Methinks you would not want to go as fast as the atv would go! I can picture you now riding behind the atv hollering, "Slow down!"
Looking at this older thread this monin, I see I forgot to add a pic of the belly "pan". This rig wasn't made for snow, though it does OK in it. Pretty sure one reason is this piece of 1/4" Delrin I added underneath the axles. It has a gloss finish and is super slippery on snow. It's also tougher than boiled owl chit... There's only about 4" of clearance (not optimal for a snow machine, for sure)... but, so far, when the tracks sink in, the belly pan holds the remaining weight up pretty well, and slides along nicely. Here's that pic...
Many years ago I used to make some sleeves bushings and gears of Delrin. It is slippery as snot. There was one we mixed a Molykote dry lubricant in with it to make it even more slippery.
Amazing stuff and a real treat to fabricate with... cutting, drilling, etc. I first ran across it in the experimental aircraft world.
Ha... gonna have to deal with it as is I think. The V plow was to offset that lack of clearance, and the track footprint just isn't quite large enough to "float" on deep snow. Pretty sure it will slide logs out OK. Now, to git the old man willin' more often... Sure is nicer down by the fire... ...
