Pisten Bully 400 service and operations

[ArlyA]

Nice photos Arly. Didya ever take out one of those trash cans by the canal? :thumbsup:

Well, not quite but I have rubbed up again the lamps concrete bases a few times. I really tone down the pumps for this portion which means I go slow. This helps the machine steer more gradually and easier to operate. Nonetheless, in one canal photo, you can see material in front of my blade..

 

[Thunder chicken]

Nice Arly! Good to see ya getting lots of grooming in.
We致e been out in our Prinoth Husky. I think I like it more the the Trail Bulley we had last season. Running a packer first.....
Then we have lakes to cross to get anywhere and today still only 10 inches in a bad spot so we wait. The critters enjoy the trail while we cut brush!

 

[ArlyA]

Thanks for posting Thunder chicken. Always fun to see what others are dealing with. The photos are all on there side. Can they be turned upright?

Nice Arly! Good to see ya getting lots of grooming in.
We致e been out in our Prinoth Husky. I think I like it more the the Trail Bulley we had last season. Running a packer first.....
Then we have lakes to cross to get anywhere and today still only 10 inches in a bad spot so we wait. The critters enjoy the trail while we cut brush!
View attachment 636126View attachment 636125

 

[Thunder chicken]

Sorry Arly, I’m using my iPhone and have no idea how to rotate the pictures besides turning the phone on it’s side!

 

[ArlyA]

Z-MI, I do work for Keweenaw Trails Services and my crew basically does the Houghton to Toivola portion. If you'd care to ride along in da bully, just PM me.

You're grooming my local trails Arly, thanks! Are you working for KSC/KTS or the next club south of here? I only saw Toivola mentioned and I think that's the next club south but am not sure. The groomer barn shown looks better than what KSC says they have and are trying to replace.

 

[ArlyA]

Photos taken this am.

 

[Garauld]

Hi Arly, have you noticed that, over time, the Bully track belts have stretched causing the the track bars to ride up on the drive sprocket teeth due to the longer pitch distance?

 

[ArlyA]

Hi Arly, have you noticed that, over time, the Bully track belts have stretched causing the the track bars to ride up on the drive sprocket teeth due to the longer pitch distance?

I'm not sure I'm qualified to answer that question. But I will say that track replacement is much more rare, than driver sprocket replacement is. Cleats also fail and are replaced more commonly. The belting they use and the very large holes they cut in it for cleat installation* may have mitigated much stretch. The track belts have sooooooo much fiber it in, cutting it is very, very difficult. I swear the belting is all fiber!

*Holes are cut in the belting that are lager than the cleat bolt size and spacers are add to create a very larger holding surface. Holes in belt for cleats might be 1 inch in dia.

 

[Garauld]

I am planning on a different scheme on my Snowzer project as I am somewhat worried about the strength of the belts. For each 5" wide belt (150 lb/in rating) I plan to make up a pair of 5/16" x 5" wide splice plates to clamp the two belt ends together using (3) 5/16-24 Gr8 bolts. Each bolt can produce 5220 lbs of clamp force so that should be sufficient. The bigger question is whether the screws will pull thru the belting if the load gets high. Each splice plate will have serrations like the ones on the Bully to reduce any pullout.

 

[ArlyA]

Out today and remembered to bring da stupid camera. I'm actually out grooming most days... Note the sledder in the middle photos is waving at me. I'm static to let them by but most are taken live. What don't I have my hand on the blade joystick? The last photo is what happens within the lake zone. Bright sunlight and nicely snowing at the same time... Please let me know if you enjoy seeing them.

 

[Trails2004]

Looks great thanks for sharing

 

[aeblank]

We love seeing the pics. Thanks.
Makes me miss my Houghton days....

 

[ronjhall]

Keep the pictures coming.

 

[Trails2004]

This is a link to the snowmobile trail groomers operators manual.

I was heavily involved with the publication of this Manual. This is a great resource for all Groomer Operators.

http://www.snowmobilers.org/groomer_guide/GroomerGuidecomplete.pdf

Happy reading!

 

[johnems]

This is a link to the snowmobile trail groomers operators manual.

I was heavily involved with the publication of this Manual. This is a great resource for all Groomer Operators.

http://www.snowmobilers.org/groomer_guide/GroomerGuidecomplete.pdf

Happy reading!

Thanks for this guide I an a Safety Offices on and Incident Management team and a ski patroller ad this will be very handy. I am really enjoying this post. Pleas keep it going.

 

[ArlyA]

Thanks to all for your kind comments and I'll keep this thread going as I can. Let me add that this organization has a very high rate of turnover. I'm trying to.....

 

[ArlyA]

With some minor break downs, I spent 12 hours on the trails today. Counted over 100 sleds. Seems that fuel filters don't last all that long in these machines...

 

[pmsmechanic]

Seems that fuel filters don't last all that long in these machines...

Are the machines stored inside for night? Like in a heated building. You could have condensation issues or algae in the fuel.

 

[ArlyA]

Are the machines stored inside for night? Like in a heated building. You could have condensation issues or algae in the fuel.

This machine is in cold storage and we put 911 fuel treatment in it. Does that help anything? The mechanic who work in it today says the filters should be replaced with the oil change...

 

[LouNY]

This machine is in cold storage and we put 911 fuel treatment in it. Does that help anything? The mechanic who work in it today says the filters should be replaced with the oil change...

Are you referring to the Power Service red bottle diesel 911?
If so that is supposed to be only for emergency after fuel gelling or icing.