snow roller for XC snow

[Wyobuckaroo]

ArlyA.... Good job...

Not a bit overengineered or overbuilt in the least.. People don't realize a lot of times, equipment you build to maintain something for THERE recreation is totally different than an individual might use on the farm or personal trails..

For a time I engineered, prototyped equipment for a golf and sports turf equipment manufacture.. Nothing was too good to use in a machine that got the job done..
Also, at one time after retirement I belonged to an ATV, snowmobile, X country ski, show shoe, dog sled club.. We designed and built much of our own grooming and trail maintence equipment.. Even biathlon clubs would travel to ski our trails..

 

[ArlyA]

I bit of snow grooming information follows. When snow falls and builds up, it has much air space within it. These flakes are quite shapely which retains lots and lots of space for this air. When we groom it, we roll it around, or work in some fashion to knock those snow shapes down and reduce this air space. After doing that, you allow some time and these broken flakes will refreeze back together and become more like ice, than those original snow flakes. The more you work it, the more air space is eliminated. Note I did not state that great weight is required to knock the snow shapes down.

 

[ArlyA]

More amateur photos taken today....... Next will be working on the pan and comb business, as seen in the third photo.

 

[jonsstihl]

are the bearings different from end to end. seems like earlier pics had a different type of two bolt bearing and now I see they are 4 bolt. or is that a type of (whatever is available and cheaper will work) kind of modification to an earlier prototype

 

[ArlyA]

are the bearings different from end to end. seems like earlier pics had a different type of two bolt bearing and now I see they are 4 bolt. or is that a type of (whatever is available and cheaper will work) kind of modification to an earlier prototype

Oh gee, they are both 4 bolt bearings and the same. I just didn't have all the bolts on in earlier photos I'd guess.

 

[ArlyA]

I didn't get much work done today but I did bring prints to a metal shop who will form the pan for me. They said they'd have if done for me Wednesday am. I also welded up the pintle hitch for it and painted it, but sorry to say I didn't get a photo of it after it was done. According to my measurements, I need the tow ring a few inches higher, hence the dog leg..

Have the tongue bolted on was so if a new tow machine was required, or a shorter/longer hitch needed, it could easily be switched out.

 

[ArlyA]

This is what the pan should look like..... Photo taken in the same shop about 8 years ago.

 

[jonsstihl]

first photo in post #11 on page two was the one i was refering to but it must be the YTS product you refered to in post #12

 

[ArlyA]

first photo in post #11 on page two was the one i was refering to but it must be the YTS product you refered to in post #12

That is another and larger version roller, I built some years ago. Its like 9ft wide and made with 32" culvert. Here is a photo. I should add that YTS rollers don't have features that we appreciate, hence we build our own....

 

[ArlyA]

I got work done to the pan today. For those with no idea what it takes to build something like this, I might have 14 hours into the pan setup so far. Photos in the up and down positions.