Winter fun - Project “Freedom” 440cc 2 Stroke 1054 Snowmotractor

[Oldskool 6,666]

1 hour ago, Pullstart said:

no idea, but my favorite part was him taking off at first and walking it away, front tires up off the ice a very good amount!  I love a good wheelie machine!  

Ya lol my favorite was the beginning for sure. The donut wheelie at the end was good too.

[Handy Don 14,510]

1 hour ago, Pullstart said:

I’ll begin by tying in to the shock mount holes.

 

 

That extra hole is for changing the top mount position of the spring/shock--which tells me that the yoke is "folded over" plate. I'd leave that hole alone and unimpeded and instead connect directly to the suspension yoke along its top or both sides farther down, where the arrows are...

But I'm not there to see how that affects anything else 

 

[Pullstart 67,980]

1 hour ago, bds1984 said:

1/4" plate welded to the WH frame?

It’ll be brackets attached to the yellow tube and bolted to the frame for now.  More or less to be able to disassemble it if ever needed, not really to put it back to stock.

[Pullstart 67,980]

11 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

 

That extra hole is for changing the top mount position of the spring/shock--which tells me that the yoke is "folded over" plate. I'd leave that hole alone and unimpeded and instead connect directly to the suspension yoke along its top or both sides farther down, where the arrows are...

But I'm not there to see how that affects anything else 

 

I agree, that’s what the extra holes are for.  That stirrup shock mount is stamped, but also plated on both sides, about 1/8” thick overall.  I figured if I machine a spacer tube and use both bolt holes, it’ll be a good start.  It surely won’t be the only mount and I might drop down as well or plate the top.  

[Pullstart 67,980]

I even thought about making the plate incorporate both shock mount holes, just for one more fastener.  Then I could still use the inside hole if ever needed for height adjustment.

[Handy Don 14,510]

Attaching to the WH's rails instead of the front cross-piece makes a lot of sense. The skis will exert much more force longitudinally than rolling tractor wheels do.

A plate on only one side of the stamped ⅛" plate yoke seems like it'd permit the yoke to twist--plates on both sides distribute forces to both sides the way the through bolts on the spring/shocks do now. The front one can cover the front of the square tube and the rear one can be notched against the outside and bottom of the square tube (since you are quite good at "metal glue").

 

Don't mind me, just wishing I had the skills, equipment, and space to do some of this stuff! 

[Pullstart 67,980]

A little trimming for shocks and appearance and it will sit on it’s own!  @Handy Don I’ll be sure it can’t wiggle any before I exert and force via 2 stroke smoke and I don’t mind the suggestions a bit!  

 

 

[wallfish 18,586]

5 hours ago, Oldskool said:

I wonder what he is using for a gearbox.

I'd say the motorcycle trans by the way he's shifting it. Trans sprocket right to the axle by the power he's got.

That thing looks like fun!

 

9 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

A little trimming for shocks and appearance and it will sit on it’s own!

NICE!!!

[Pullstart 67,980]

This is VERY temporary, but it’s sitting on all 4 limbs for the first time!

My plan now is to unbolt the subframe and fab out from under the tractor.  I also need to clearance the steering lever.

 

 

 

[Oldskool 6,666]

18 minutes ago, wallfish said:

I'd say the motorcycle trans by the way he's shifting it. Trans sprocket right to the axle by the power he's got.

That thing looks like fun!

 

NICE!!!

For some reason I thought that was a snowmobile engine.

I may have to watch that a 4th time.

[Oldskool 6,666]

12 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

This is VERY temporary, but it’s sitting on all 4 limbs for the first time!

My plan now is to unbolt the subframe and fab out from under the tractor.  I also need to clearance the steering lever.

 

 

 

Excellent.!!

[Pullstart 67,980]

Time to make it strong.

 

 

[Handy Don 14,510]

1 hour ago, Pullstart said:

A little trimming for shocks and appearance and it will sit on it’s own!  @Handy Don I’ll be sure it can’t wiggle any before I exert and force via 2 stroke smoke and I don’t mind the suggestions a bit!  

 

¼" plate plus tie-ins for those horizontal outboard struts? Wiggle not! 

[Pullstart 67,980]

 

[Pullstart 67,980]

5 hours ago, Pullstart said:

Time to make it strong.

One double shear mount finished.  

 

[Pullstart 67,980]

Steering is clearanced a bit and the second double shear is done.

 

 

[Pullstart 67,980]

And one more 1/4” plate is bolted to the front clip.  I’ll bolt it all back together then weld in some kicker supports.

 

 

[TJ5208 1,841]

Looks like it is coming out good.

[Pullstart 67,980]

It’s back on the ground.  Bedtime.

 

 

[Pullstart 67,980]

This came in the mail the other day.  Since the girls ski, but we rarely make it to a hill, I thought this would be fun!

 

 

[Pullstart 67,980]

I’ve kind of written a bit more detailed to do list.

 

Install steering shaft ( need two locking collars)

Check steering tie rod length and install

front clip kickers

Trailing arm mounts

Belt guides

Finish engine mount

Trans lube

Pulley keyway and install

Finish fuel system (need 1/8”npt x 1/4” barb 90 AND 1/4” shut off) (OR FIND MY FUEL BOWLS FROM @76c12091520h)

Install cable extension, hook up kill switch

RUNIT!

[Pullstart 67,980]

Handlebars!

 

I had to cut the shaft and turn all the paint off to get it into the steering sleeve of the tractor.  Perfect.

 

 

[Pullstart 67,980]

@Handy Don I stuck this kicker in at an angle.  I figured it’ll help with lateral loads.  

what say you?

 

[Handy Don 14,510]

11 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

@Handy Don I stuck this kicker in at an angle.  I figured it’ll help with lateral loads.  

what say you?

Definite help on the longitudinal forces that'll come from the friction of the skis on the snow/ground/whatever. You already had the lateral stuff well covered with the frame-mounted tubes and the front plate.

What are you thinking about frame twist? At higher speed, hitting a bump with one ski will want to twist the frame right? (The shock and spring will help on rotation but the force is still there.) On wheels, the axle pivot takes this out (until it hits the stop).

I'm also wondering if your plan is to tie those horizontal struts back to a transaxle bracket (á la a snowplow or tiller) to take the stress off the F plate.

Edited February 8, 2022 by Handy Don

[Pullstart 67,980]

2 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

to take the stress off the F plate.

great idea.  Bolt on struts.  Perfect spot to support the trailing arms.
 

Remember, the F plate on a 953/1054 is MUCH thicker than a smaller Horse.  3/8” or 1/2” thick if I recall.