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detail of blade mounting on Tucker 1344

'been searching for hours for pictures showing the detail of how the snow blade should be mounted on a 1344 Tucker - saw LOTS of sno-cat porn :flowers: but couldn't find anything that would show my welder friend how to build the mount - would sure appreciate some pictures if any one has some or is willing to take a few - thanks :clap:
 

teamster

New member
I'll get you some good ones tomorrow. This will tempt you and get you thinking. This is my 1642 but that doesn't matter.
 

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teamster

New member
Here you go, hope it helps. My blade seems to be a long way out in front, when you look at it. but it needs to be for clearance. Blade visibility sucks, that's why there's the square tubing uprights sticking above the hood, so you can see the blade position. More to come.
 

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teamster

New member
Here's the last ones. Notice the winch mount and the roller fairing on the blade. Let me know what your welder thinks, not much work here in the Alberta oil patch and my 1344 is sitting in the shed beside my 1642, I could maybe build you a system to fit the 1344. But if you need anymore info or measurements don't hesitate to call 1-780-514 0753. This is a great site, info and opinions always free. Randy:biggrin:
 

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Hey Randy - thanks for all the help - much appreciated - I'm looking forward to touring some of the mountains near me with you next winter - some areas look to be great for the purpose and the access is only minutes away from my house - should make a great weekend(s)
 

sno-drifter

Bronze Member
GOLD Site Supporter
'been searching for hours for pictures showing the detail of how the snow blade should be mounted on a 1344 Tucker - saw LOTS of sno-cat porn :flowers: but couldn't find anything that would show my welder friend how to build the mount - would sure appreciate some pictures if any one has some or is willing to take a few - thanks :clap:

SDR, I don't know much about the "new/ belted" Tuckers, but the photos teamster sent apply to a cat with the front fifth wheel which does not tilt up and down relative to the frame. Don't know when Sno-Cat switched from solid rear to solid front, but this setup will only work with the front solid arrangement.
 
SDR, I don't know much about the "new/ belted" Tuckers, but the photos teamster sent apply to a cat with the front fifth wheel which does not tilt up and down relative to the frame. Don't know when Sno-Cat switched from solid rear to solid front, but this setup will only work with the front solid arrangement.

it's the same set up as my 1344
 
my welder friend has now linked to this thread and is studying the pictures - I'm sure that a man with his talents and equipment will do a great job of fabricating a proper sturdy snow blade for me - thanks again for all the pictures
 

loggah

Active member
SUPER Site Supporter
I hope he has a lot of patience and a band saw that can cut a lot of square stock in many angles !!!!:smile: no wonder i dont see many blades on the old tuckers. Good luck. don
 
Randy, what is the distance from the blade to the front of the Tucker where the blade frame mounts to the under the cat frame? TIA
 

teamster

New member
From were the under the cat frame (orange) and the blade frame ( black) are bolted together, to the dozers center pivot pin is, measures 54". But you are working on your 1344 which has shorter tracks, so I measured the distance from the front of my tracks to the same center pivot pin, which is 25". You don't need your blade so far out front. Also were the orange and black frame bolt together is 4" in front of the grill. My only concern would be how high the blade lifts. I sent you a PM last night, did you get it? If you need anything else, let me know.
 

The Sweet Wbj1

Active member
Wow! Nice! Can you post some pics in that other blade thread? Maybe we can keep all this Tucker blade info somewhat consolidated into one thread.

Edit: since this one is going in the classifieds section lol
 
make sure you order tie rod ends for your new blade set up----the tucker blade set up sucks----I would have tried something different---but what do u do with a 2 by 2 sq. frame---lol---clubs in my area stuck on grooming with tuckers all have blades but don't /cant use them-----o ya don't forget to hang a set of springs on the wall also---this is clearly a tucker web site (and I had a tucker)but look back in the history books tuckers don't run blades----ski hills don't buy tuckers ----they did when blades weren't needed------just sayin
 
make sure you order tie rod ends for your new blade set up----the tucker blade set up sucks----I would have tried something different---but what do u do with a 2 by 2 sq. frame---lol---clubs in my area stuck on grooming with tuckers all have blades but don't /cant use them-----o ya don't forget to hang a set of springs on the wall also---this is clearly a tucker web site (and I had a tucker)but look back in the history books tuckers don't run blades----ski hills don't buy tuckers ----they did when blades weren't needed------just sayin

I can't imagine a better machine for grooming narrow trails that twist in and out of large trees than a 4 track tucker - 2 track machines narrow enough to do the job loose traction in the corners and if snow is piling up on the groomer, be prepared for a lot of shoveling and a nasty bump left in the corner - you can mitigate that problem to a degree with ram steering, but the 2 track would still rather go in a straight line - I don't plan on doing a lot of blade work, just when a creek bed needs filling in, or a bit of snow needs to be pushed away from doorways, or if perhaps a fallen tree blocks a trail - no need for it to be plowing driveways or parking lots as there is equipment here better suited for that job - a 16 foot wide 2 track ski hill groomer wouldn't make it a 100 feet out of my yard - lol
 

Blackfoot Tucker

Well-known member
GOLD Site Supporter
make sure you order tie rod ends for your new blade set up----the tucker blade set up sucks----I would have tried something different---but what do u do with a 2 by 2 sq. frame---lol---clubs in my area stuck on grooming with tuckers all have blades but don't /cant use them-----o ya don't forget to hang a set of springs on the wall also---this is clearly a tucker web site (and I had a tucker)but look back in the history books tuckers don't run blades----ski hills don't buy tuckers ----they did when blades weren't needed------just sayin



I think this is somewhat unfair, and could easily be taken out of context.


I grew up skiing in northern New England back in the sixties and seventies. Tuckers were, at least in my recollection, by far the snowcat of choice for ski areas there. Ski area snow making and grooming were really in their infancy. I don’t recall seeing any front blades on Tuckers, but I also don’t remember seeing any hydraulically powered implements, either. They had rollers made from sections of steel culvert to pack down new snow. They had sections of chain link fence that they would drag to break up frozen sections. Sometimes they’d use rollers made from expanded metal. Snow making was extremely limited and comparatively primitive.


Now I live in Park City, Utah, which is home to three world-class ski resorts. One resort, Deer Valley consistently wins the award for having the best grooming. They literally have a multi-million dollar fleet of snowcats. I’m guessing these machines start at about $300K. Huge Diesel engines, not to power the machine but to run big hydraulic pumps. Pumps that run the hydrostatic drive systems, front blades that have a tremendous number of functions, and rear hydraulically powered tillers to essentially roto-till the snow. Some machines have monster winches so two cats can work in tandem to groom very steep slopes. Literally every night during ski season they groom the mountain. These use the snowcats to literally re-distribute the snow from the edges of the slopes to where it’s needed, and then they smooth it out and when they’re done it looks like perfectly aligned corduroy. Deer Valley doesn’t allow snow boarders, but other areas that do use their cats to sculpt man-made terrain parks with various “features”.


I think most of us on the forum could be described as “amateur hobbyists”. If the price of admission to having a snowcat was $300K, I’m guessing the vast, vast majority of us would have to bow out. So we use older, simpler machines that we can afford. The fact that they don’t have the capabilities of decades newer machines costing perhaps ten times as much should be a surprise to no one, and comparing the two seems absurd, at least to me.


I’ve got a 1973 Ford F-250 4x4. It came with a 360 CID 2-bbl and four speed manual transmission, power brakes and an AM radio. It doesn’t have power steering, power windows, power door locks, power seats or even electronic ignition. A 2018 model would have all of those features, and a lot more. And it would be at least ten times the price. Guess what? The new truck can run circles around my ‘73. And it can do it on less gas and in more comfort, too. I’m not surprised, and you shouldn’t be either.
 

Aaron Tucker

Active member
This is great information and I can respect both opinions. After Owning both types of cats (tucker and hydro) that your talking about I can say they both have their advantages. I would not underestimate ether type.
 

The Sweet Wbj1

Active member
Sleddog I am still very curious how your blade project went! Did you get a blade built and installed or run into a snag?? IIRC Tye one on was also considering adding a blade to his Tucker. I am sure there are several people that would be interested in your process/results.
Thanks!
 
it's ready to be installed - Jerry, my welder has done an excellent job - the last finishing touches have been delayed because of a few things - one was caused by trying one of my "Better Ideas" that didn't work and had to be taken apart, another one was because of Jerry's work commitment, and what's holding up the last 35+/- minutes of work is my shortage of funds - lol - ( I could have sworn my idea of a more simple way of supporting the blade and still allowing it to move with the tracks would work - unfortunately it's not the first of my Better Ideas that didn't work - lol ) :jumprope:
 
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