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Keweenaw PB's

alryA

Well-known member
We ventured northeast this afternoon up the Keweenaw to ski at Copper Harbor before our XC season ended. This is in the upper peninsula of MI which is above Lake Michigan and Wisconsin. As we passed through Mohawk, we spied there PB400's parked for the season and took some photos of them for you guys. :wink: Tonight we'll get the ski photos posted onto the dogs blog http://trailmuttreports.blogspot.com/
 

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Red130

Member
That's a lot of weight and HP on those narrow tracks. That wouldn't work out very well here in Colorado.
 

alryA

Well-known member
We generally don't get that zero moisture snow here. Our is more in the "medium" range with 240" that has 6" of water in it.
 

redsqwrl

Bronze Member
GOLD Site Supporter
Love how it is still appearing to be plugged in.

trail setter drags are very nice, the best
 

alryA

Well-known member
I applied with this outfit to groom trails for them this winter and will meet with the head guy next week. They just purchased another PB400 for around $250000.
 

Red130

Member
I applied with this outfit to groom trails for them this winter and will meet with the head guy next week. They just purchased another PB400 for around $250000.

Arly, I hope you get in with them. Pb400 would be nice to run.
 

alryA

Well-known member
I chatted with the trail boss today, who was an interesting character. They replace these 400hp Mercedes powered machines in 5 year cycles. They have had good luck with them and plan to keep using them. They just sold there dated JD tractor that had a Soucy track kit on it and replaced it with another PB400. Seems I might be operating one this winter.
 

JimVT

Bronze Member
GOLD Site Supporter
I just got the receipt from two hydraulic oil filters from pistenbully. $245 each. I bought an extra one for next year.
jim
 

redsqwrl

Bronze Member
GOLD Site Supporter
There are quite a few PB's showing up across michigan.... Weatherby's club runs the red machines as well....

You will be an excellent operator for them. and you have the mutts to keep you company!
 

alryA

Well-known member
I just finished my 1st week working on the BP'S there. (very minor stuff) Its been fun so far. Learned lots of interesting things.
 

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redsqwrl

Bronze Member
GOLD Site Supporter
do you stay in town for the rally this weekend or jet out to save your self from the motorhead crowd. Just saying I could use your seat at the suomi.......
 

alryA

Well-known member
Photos from the shop.



The idlers came off for grease time. New drive sprockets already installed. These machine have three pumps, as seen in the bottom photo. They do break torsion bars and occasionally the forged idler arms.
 

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alryA

Well-known member
I've been wrenching on these silly machines for a few weeks now. (I'm not really the mechanic) This outfit has 4 of them here now and another new one on its way. I have taken a few photos but are you folks interested in these machines??
 

redsqwrl

Bronze Member
GOLD Site Supporter
All snow cats a desirable..... even the good ones..... Keep the details coming.... every one has a brand loyalty and few snow cat enthusiast are truly open minded.

I find it fascinating that you will be making not only a transistion from silent sports to the polluting noisey snow sports, but from open air grooming to the thundering silence of a properly heated cab. your observations will be fair and balanced.

Get those mutts ready for 14 hour tugs and of course all the rookie or apprentice tricks as you get your sea legs under you.

Wrench away and make sure to ask for the first sat in feb off!!!
 

JimVT

Bronze Member
GOLD Site Supporter
I've been wrenching on these silly machines for a few weeks now. (I'm not really the mechanic) This outfit has 4 of them here now and another new one on its way. I have taken a few photos but are you folks interested in these machines??

if you get a chance take the pb school. mine was a two day class and very helpful.
 

alryA

Well-known member
OK guys, Follow is a few photos. Here is the 370ho straight 6 Cummins power plant these PB's have. As you can see, its turbo charged.
 

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alryA

Well-known member
I had been tasked with replacing the inner most track washers that were bent. Of course I added a few extra photos of the track for fluff effect. These were remove via grinding the curl off to access the bolts. The water bottle is for cooling. Can you smart fellows tell us what the bottom photo shows?? :thumbup:
 

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JimVT

Bronze Member
GOLD Site Supporter
the inside track seems to be hitting . replace that white roller guard . could it be the tracks needed to be run tighter?
jim
 

alryA

Well-known member
I'm told those track plates only get bent when the operator has run off trail or gets stuck. :smileywac



the inside track seems to be hitting . replace that white roller guard . could it be the tracks needed to be run tighter?
jim
 

alryA

Well-known member
Here are photos of some of some suspension components and drives sprokets taken today.. The 1st one is part of the torsion bars used in each machine. Do note, 2 of them go all the way across so they are longer. Next are 2 sets of driver cogs on machines that are in the shop today. Yes they are different. Then 2 idler arms and yes, they do break.
eek.gif
Last one is a welder working on suspension breaks.
 

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alryA

Well-known member
The tracks on the 2nd PB-400 were dropped today so as to service the hubs and replace one torsion spring and its idler arm.. In the 1st photo you can see its up on blocks and the tracks are lose. The operator has used this machine for two years and this was the 1st suspension grief he'd had. As stated earlier, this machine has over 8000 hours on it. First thing was to replace the gear oil in the planetary drives. These are two speed type drives.
 

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redsqwrl

Bronze Member
GOLD Site Supporter
there is a club in the northern WI area looking for a used PB to replace their burnt up machine, if your folks know of any pulling machines to be had...

ordering new tracks..... as a recreational owner that justs makes me wonder what that must feel like...... as opposed to wondering what you are doing with the old ones!!!!!!
 

alryA

Well-known member
All the old tracks laying around the shop look to be in terrible, terrible shape. They also use sections of old ones to patch the current in use ones.. I'm sure you guys do the same thing.



there is a club in the northern WI area looking for a used PB to replace their burnt up machine, if your folks know of any pulling machines to be had...

ordering new tracks..... as a recreational owner that justs makes me wonder what that must feel like...... as opposed to wondering what you are doing with the old ones!!!!!!
 

alryA

Well-known member
Tracks went back on one machine while the other is having its hubs rebuilt.
All that while a nice snow fell outside. :smile:
 

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alryA

Well-known member
We had a Bully out doing work on the trails today. First one shows the heated wiper blades someone mentioned. Was that here?? 2nd is the operator carrying snow along the trail. This helps to knock more air from it. The real reason we were out was to help with a bridge installation. The bully pushed the temp bridge around, then dozed dirt in. There is not enough snow here to safely groom.
 

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alryA

Well-known member
More "less than exciting" photos from a bully shop. First 2 photos is plugging holes in the deck that were created when the goose neck hitch was removed. Plus replace the 50 loose decking rivets. Gee this decking is beat to death. The red thing is a tool box we added. Kind of a poor photo of it!

The last 2 photos shows a blown drive motor hose to be replaced next. :smile:
 

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alryA

Well-known member
The track tension is whatever pressure is in the tension cylinder. In the cab is a "pressure, or no pressure" switch for track tension. As far as I know, there is no adjustment for it. I will ask when the opportunity allows.



the inside track seems to be hitting . replace that white roller guard . could it be the tracks needed to be run tighter?
jim
 
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