Bombardier SV200 restoration

[PJL]

Keep at that pace and you will have time to do another one before the snow flies. Looks great Jim.

 

[Jphoenix]

I don’t know, still gotta put that other set of tracks together. Then paint the cab and put the tracks on. I think I need to install the blade frame before I do the tracks, access is going to be a problem, easier without the tracks on, I suspect?

 

[redsqwrl]

opinions are like back sides, everyone has them.... I have a very low opinion of electric fans for many reasons.

If you want to invest in a worry-less situation. ditch that electric fan and build a shroud.

I am just not a fan of taxing the alternator with that Wattage. cats work hard and the only way to chase air out of the tunnel is forcing it along its path.....

I only charge $.02 for this unprovoked opinion..... and there is a $.05 rebate available.....

 

[Jphoenix]

opinions are like back sides, everyone has them.... I have a very low opinion of electric fans for many reasons.

If you want to invest in a worry-less situation. ditch that electric fan and build a shroud.

I am just not a fan of taxing the alternator with that Wattage. cats work hard and the only way to chase air out of the tunnel is forcing it along its path.....

I only charge $.02 for this unprovoked opinion..... and there is a $.05 rebate available.....

It's a fair point Red and I do have a shroud coming for it - I do not like mounting a fan directly to the radiator with those zip-ties, fans are pretty worthless without a proper shroud in any case.

The cat came with the original fan, but no shroud and no sign of a shroud having been there. I picked this fan because it has a proven CFM capability and when I tested it, it definitely blows everything off the deck of the cat

But - we shall see, the the new radiator and shrouded electric fan can't keep up, then I'll just put the old one back on - with a proper shroud.

Also, that old Ford alternator is going to be replaced, I'm thinking something bigger like a one-wire 100 amp delcotron or some such thing. The whole voltage regulator program is so last millenium.

 

[Jphoenix]

Also, you bring up a good point about cooling air flow, I plan to extend the cab at some point, but the floor of the proposed cabin will close off the tunnel. Currently cooling air exhausts out of the aft engine panel (louvers in the panel) but adding an enclosed cabin shuts off the normal airflow.

How does the typical Thiokol-like cabin manage the cooling airflow out of the engine compartment - are there vents in the side of the tunnel? There are large square openings in the bottom of the tunnel on this cat, but I suspect those are blocked by snow as the cats rolls?

 

[MNoutdoors RIP]

Here is picture of the back seat area on a extended Bombardier. Just a little longer and the air goes out the bottom

 

[Jphoenix]

Do you have photos of the outside of that extended cab?

 

[MNoutdoors RIP]

Also what I have been doing lately on rebuilds with blade configuration is I put a
Electric D03 block with 3 or more stations on the blade and get rid of the clunky
Mechanical valve bodies with all the hoses running everywhere and just run one
Pressure and one return to the blade via quick disconnects and install a electric joystick to control the valve bank now mounted on the blade. With its own disconnect. All hoses are short and outside. It’s so much cleaner and neater
That my 25 cent opinion same my brain only 25% still works most days

 

[MNoutdoors RIP]

Here are some photos

 

[MNoutdoors RIP]

I also converted it to more aggressive tracks and installed electric joystick steering. Giving the ability to steer with a free hand for your favorite
Cup of coffee or adult beverage of your choice two finger steering VS arm strong

 

[Jphoenix]

Also what I have been doing lately on rebuilds with blade configuration is I put a
Electric D03 block with 3 or more stations on the blade and get rid of the clunky
Mechanical valve bodies with all the hoses running everywhere and just run one
Pressure and one return to the blade via quick disconnects and install a electric joystick to control the valve bank now mounted on the blade. With its own disconnect. All hoses are short and outside. It’s so much cleaner and neater
That my 25 cent opinion same my brain only 25% still works most days

OK, that’s very interesting, I especially like the idea of removing all those hydraulic hoses in the cab. Photos?

Thanks for the outside shot of that SV, give me ideas. Really appreciate this forum and the wealth of knowledge here.

 

[MNoutdoors RIP]

Picture

 

[Jphoenix]

I like that, stick movement sideways steers the tracks with those hydraulic cylinders on the diff, right? Very tidy, nice interior.

 

[MNoutdoors RIP]

Yes, left and right control steering. In that picture the second one for the blade was not mounted yet. 4 way switch for blade forward down, back is up, left is left and right is right and a addtional momentary switch on side for blade tilt.

hydraulic valve mounted on the blade frame and then fitted with cover

 

[MNoutdoors RIP]

Not the same machine, but you kind of get the idea here.
Valve bank blade mounted

 

[Jphoenix]

Good info, very interesting. That’s a 250 with five wheels, right?

 

[MNoutdoors RIP]

Yes, that was a 250 with the speed reducer between the transmission and the diff. They ran a opposite hand ring and pinion

 

[Jphoenix]

Here's a photo for the squirrel, let's hope it works! Also that radiator is about 30% more capacity than the original Ford Maverick unit that it replaced - not that I'm sold on aluminum radiators, let's hope this one doesn't leak like they are prone to do.

 

[Jphoenix]

I cut to shape and welded a new exhaust downpipe. Installed it and got the engine running again, runs beautifully with the new Pertronix, overhauled carb, etc.

https://youtu.be/Lglxhiy54SY

 

[turbinator62]

You are doing a fantastic job on my cousins old cat. I can't believe how much you have accomplished in a short time. At this rate you should have it ready for winter.
I showed him pictures last week and he was glad to see it being restored. He just wasn't able to finish it after his injuries.
You obviously have a well equipped shop and know how to use it.
Great work man. Great work.

 

[1boringguy]

Also, you bring up a good point about cooling air flow, I plan to extend the cab at some point, but the floor of the proposed cabin will close off the tunnel. Currently cooling air exhausts out of the aft engine panel (louvers in the panel) but adding an enclosed cabin shuts off the normal airflow.

How does the typical Thiokol-like cabin manage the cooling airflow out of the engine compartment - are there vents in the side of the tunnel? There are large square openings in the bottom of the tunnel on this cat, but I suspect those are blocked by snow as the cats rolls?

Jphoenix,

If I'm understanding the question correctly then this might help. Mine is an '87 252g with the full length cab, with Ford I6 300 and auto trans. It is plated underneath the full length of the tunnel and the back end for a hitch, so no significant volume of air escaping through the back. It pretty much has to all escape through the vent in the side.

The engine fan drawing through the transmission cooler, diff cooler, and the radiator is the only thing pushing that air out. Well at least since I've not been able to get up to significant ram air speeds yet.

Engine compartment heat build up is a factor on mine. My engine looses power and dies periodically. Vapor lock, lack of fresh air, carb issue? Still narrowing that down but ran outta time and snow last spring. Might just end up converting to fuel injection. Anyway here's some pics of mine. It does have an original fan scrowd.

Don't mind the look of my work here just trying things to solve the funtional issues before taking on the cosmetics. I've wrapped much of the exhaust and some of the fuel system, installed a blower fan that draws in fresh air from ahead of the radiator and dumps it at the carb and also helps push air out of the engine compartment. And might have to try installing an electric fan by the vent louvers to the outside and draw air out of the engine compartment.

Anyway hope that's useful.

 

[Jphoenix]

Yes, those photos are very interesting. Thanks for posting that. They answer another question regarding exhaust pipe routing in a cabin snowcat. I think there's enough duct area there to vent your cooling air flow and putting the exhaust pipe there also gets rid of its heat as well.

Good stuff, much appreciated.

 

[Jphoenix]

I needed to modify the seat mounts to accommodate the new Smittybilt seats. Cleaned up the parts and cut the mount channels off the frames, lined them up and welded them back on. Tomorrow, I'm taking the day off from work and I'll be assembling the other track - now that my fingers are healed from doing the first track.

 

[Jphoenix]

Slow progress, had to weld up a few grousers that had cracks, got the other track almost completely assembled and found myself two grousers short. Ordered a couple from Brad and should finish the tracks this weekend.

For future reference, on my SV200, there were 61 grousers and a three grouser lap according the old belt.

Took some time tonight to clean up wiring on the dash and start installing some deutsch and Delphi plugs to facilitate dash removal.

Getting closer to cab overhaul, but first blade frame installation, then tracks, then cab and hydraulics. Still a ways to go.

 

[Jphoenix]

I bought two new grousers from Boggie to complete the tracks. My nephew came over from Montana for the weekend and he finished assembling the tracks and cleaned up the front axle while I cleaned and painted the adjusters. Welded up the driver seat mount then painted the axle, getting closer to installing tracks new steering brake master cylinders coming Wednesday.

 

[m1west]

Picture

Am I looking at hydraulic over mechanical steering added on? Could that system work on a Thiokol 600 series or a Sprite ? Marty

 

[Jphoenix]

Got the tracks installed today. Tensioned with the big nut and then grease, it rolls quite well!

 

[Jphoenix]

No problem getting a three grouser splice. After getting both tracks on, adjusted the tension with the big nut and grease piston. After adjusting the steering brake bands using the procedure Boggie sent me, the cat runs and steers ver well!

 

[Jphoenix]

More photos. I used snatch blocks off the trailer winch to do the heavy pulling on the tracks. Relatively effortless, but I treat these tracks with a lot of respect, they smashed a couple of fingers so far!

 

[Jphoenix]

There are 62 grousers on the tracks giving a 3 grouser lap splice. I’m really disappointed in the carb on this engine, runs very rich, going to look into the EFI solution. You can see the inverted cab on the trailer, it will get sanded and painted next. Lots of parts still to clean and paint, mostly the heaters, hydraulic controls, blade frame, blade and of course the cab.