It was a small towing vehicle like a Snow-Dog that I was asked to go to places where an ATV could not reach on a woodlot in the winter and bring out some wood.
I was not convinced when I left because mathematically a Snow Dog has a small towing capacity on snow and it drops to almost 0 on the slightest hill. Simple reason the pilot is dragged like an anchor behind instead of bearing his weight on the traction. On a small plastic sled standing with a floating pole (perfect for taking a landing) then when he is seated on the ground, the movement of the pilot's body does not help in the handling of the machine.
But I quickly have ideas in mind by changing the vehicle configuration and especially the configuration of the sled in order to drastically improve efficiency.
Some would say that it is impossible to tow any load with a motor of only 10hp. But if you compare the torque transmitted to the track this Small-TrackTor has 1822 lbs of pulling force on the LOW. A Tundra 600ACE has 1067 lbs of pulling force (no low) and a Skandic WT 900ACE (a big workhorse) has 1918 lbs of pulling force on the LOW! The TrackTor is geared to sneak into the woods at 20km / h max, not for trail running.
Much more force than it takes to spin the track. If the weight of the load and the driver were tied behind the vehicle with a floating pole like with Snow-Dogs. The pulling capacity would be low especially since the towing vehicle weighs only 205 lbs. But the Small-TrackTor is configured as a miniature semi-trailer. Approximately 45% of the weight of the rider and the load (65% rider and 37% load) will be pressed directly to the middle of the tracks (between the 2 casters)
So in the case of a half cord of wood (750lbs) + the driver and the sled (300lbs) therefore 1050lbs to be pulled, but in reality it is as if a vehicle of 672lbs (472lbs is added completely on the track not to the rear of the vehicle) was pulling a load of 577lbs which becomes rather easy. Plus there isn't a big deadweight on the front skis when stationary like in a snowmobile bus. (some of this weight shifts to the rear when the snowmobile is moving forward, but when it is stopped the weight in the front does not aid traction for take off). The only thing that might be missing is some 'swing' (picking up speed down a hill) to go up a slippery slope for those who want to play Russian roulette with big loads.
It痴 not for big rides or a big job, but to have fun on its own it had to be better than a Snow Dog or an old snowmobile that is expensive to maintain if it痴 just for that.
The Huskies of the '70s already had much better sleds than the Snow-Doos and I checked afterwards, the pole was on the towing vehicle and not behind, however the rider's weight was almost all hard on the skis.
The riding position is similar to that of a felt snowmobile or an ATV, you can transfer your weight quickly or stand up straight on the running boards. I built the frame to the minimum possible height, so easier to bring back if it goes to the side. The handlebar pole is adjustable in length and rotation.
With 205 lbs (without sled) (it is rather sturdy and simple I could easily cut several pounds with more time and more expensive materials) no need for a winch to get it out of a hole, and it can go up alone behind a suv.
The compact sled can hold half a cord of wood and more (4 * 4 * 16, but loaded in 32 鋳) the driver, the chainsaw and there is room to put a box between the motor and the pole.
In addition to dragging a grader with adjustable height to lower the bumps and fill them while coming out of the wood. The scraper frame is very short, but it hangs between the track and the skis behind, so it's the equivalent of a "grader"
The engine is very smooth, it's a Loncin. the first time I have tried one (not widely available in Canada). Idling is ultra smooth and quiet, no vibration. The motor head is better designed than on a Honda GX (rocket on shaft, not on a pivot point) There is an oil catcher on the wind. It's made in China (like almost everything now) I don't know who they copied those from.
Polaris Fuji ATV transmission with a reduction of 7 on the LOW (not including the external chain). Puzzle to fit clutch and sprockets, hardened shaft so not able to machine them, I machined the inside of the clutch and partially machined the shaft has the angle grinder, its in between tight and spins right.
Sprocket 5 teeth pitch 2.86 "(the first manufactured)
I was not convinced when I left because mathematically a Snow Dog has a small towing capacity on snow and it drops to almost 0 on the slightest hill. Simple reason the pilot is dragged like an anchor behind instead of bearing his weight on the traction. On a small plastic sled standing with a floating pole (perfect for taking a landing) then when he is seated on the ground, the movement of the pilot's body does not help in the handling of the machine.
But I quickly have ideas in mind by changing the vehicle configuration and especially the configuration of the sled in order to drastically improve efficiency.
Some would say that it is impossible to tow any load with a motor of only 10hp. But if you compare the torque transmitted to the track this Small-TrackTor has 1822 lbs of pulling force on the LOW. A Tundra 600ACE has 1067 lbs of pulling force (no low) and a Skandic WT 900ACE (a big workhorse) has 1918 lbs of pulling force on the LOW! The TrackTor is geared to sneak into the woods at 20km / h max, not for trail running.
Much more force than it takes to spin the track. If the weight of the load and the driver were tied behind the vehicle with a floating pole like with Snow-Dogs. The pulling capacity would be low especially since the towing vehicle weighs only 205 lbs. But the Small-TrackTor is configured as a miniature semi-trailer. Approximately 45% of the weight of the rider and the load (65% rider and 37% load) will be pressed directly to the middle of the tracks (between the 2 casters)
So in the case of a half cord of wood (750lbs) + the driver and the sled (300lbs) therefore 1050lbs to be pulled, but in reality it is as if a vehicle of 672lbs (472lbs is added completely on the track not to the rear of the vehicle) was pulling a load of 577lbs which becomes rather easy. Plus there isn't a big deadweight on the front skis when stationary like in a snowmobile bus. (some of this weight shifts to the rear when the snowmobile is moving forward, but when it is stopped the weight in the front does not aid traction for take off). The only thing that might be missing is some 'swing' (picking up speed down a hill) to go up a slippery slope for those who want to play Russian roulette with big loads.
It痴 not for big rides or a big job, but to have fun on its own it had to be better than a Snow Dog or an old snowmobile that is expensive to maintain if it痴 just for that.
The Huskies of the '70s already had much better sleds than the Snow-Doos and I checked afterwards, the pole was on the towing vehicle and not behind, however the rider's weight was almost all hard on the skis.
The riding position is similar to that of a felt snowmobile or an ATV, you can transfer your weight quickly or stand up straight on the running boards. I built the frame to the minimum possible height, so easier to bring back if it goes to the side. The handlebar pole is adjustable in length and rotation.
With 205 lbs (without sled) (it is rather sturdy and simple I could easily cut several pounds with more time and more expensive materials) no need for a winch to get it out of a hole, and it can go up alone behind a suv.
The compact sled can hold half a cord of wood and more (4 * 4 * 16, but loaded in 32 鋳) the driver, the chainsaw and there is room to put a box between the motor and the pole.
In addition to dragging a grader with adjustable height to lower the bumps and fill them while coming out of the wood. The scraper frame is very short, but it hangs between the track and the skis behind, so it's the equivalent of a "grader"
The engine is very smooth, it's a Loncin. the first time I have tried one (not widely available in Canada). Idling is ultra smooth and quiet, no vibration. The motor head is better designed than on a Honda GX (rocket on shaft, not on a pivot point) There is an oil catcher on the wind. It's made in China (like almost everything now) I don't know who they copied those from.
Polaris Fuji ATV transmission with a reduction of 7 on the LOW (not including the external chain). Puzzle to fit clutch and sprockets, hardened shaft so not able to machine them, I machined the inside of the clutch and partially machined the shaft has the angle grinder, its in between tight and spins right.
Sprocket 5 teeth pitch 2.86 "(the first manufactured)
