Thiokol 1301 Swamp Spryte

[F.A.A.C. Slim]

Well I'm soon to have the thing ready for a test run so I'd better post a few photos and make a quick report of the progress. Bought S/N 050 Swamp Spryte in December '10 with intentions of using it to haul materials up to my mining claims near Silverton Colorado (and of course to access the great skiing). The machine had been modified with addition of cab etc. at some point in the past. Set it up on cottonwood stumps and got ready to get 'er done. Photo #1

Previous owner said he had not started the cat for 5 years or so.....took me 15 minutes to fire it up and it purrs fine considering I was running it on 5 year old gas (Ford Industrial straight 6). All the lights, fans, etc working fine. Put it in gear and the tracks go round and round; skid steer levers engage without any groaning / creaking / squeaking noises. Jeez I'm getting excited at this point; looks like a solid outfit.

And on to the grousers...rusted and busted. Made a trip to Logan and at Petersons I got 24 new wheel guides and a copy of the original manual!

( F.Y.I. I scanned the manual and downloaded to a website melensdad and teledawg directed me too but I have not seen the manual posted here....maybe teledawg has hit a rich vein up at his place and he's too busy).

Also bought 24 used grousers and cut & drilled them to fit. Photo #2 shows, top to bottom, the originals, home made, and recycled used units. I spaced the recycled units every 5th spot so I don't have all the 2" deep blades grouped together; same with the home-made 1 1/2" bladed units. I did have to move some of the old grousers and re-mount them because I only replace 48 of the 118 grousers; made sure that there are few places with 3 in a row old grousers hoping not to have them all break at the sprocket and leave me stuck. Photo #3 shows the tracks off and results of a day and a half knuckle bustin'.

I added tube supports with factory connectors to make a canopy for the bed; I'll put a canvas top on it. And I added aluminum diamond plate to replace to rotten plywood deck. Photo #4 shows the drive train below the deck...yes, I know I am missing the bilge pump but I don't plan on running this cat on the lake.

And now for the problem I have.....see my wife let me buy this snowcat with the caveat that she gets to name it...she chose BALTO, for the dog who saved Nome from the diptherea outbreak in '29. I'm worried havig a snowcat with a dogs name but I kind of like it...and the wife sure is swell.

 

[pixie]

Looks good !!

Good plan with the grousers. I hope it goes well for you.

I can't comment on the name. My 'cats are named Murry, Ted and Emily.

 

[Northcoast]

Should be a great deep powder machine. They really float on the soft stuff.

 

[F.A.A.C. Slim]

Well I hope it is good in deep snow...my cabin is at 11,820' down here in SW Condorado and when I was up there last weekend there was 11' of snow on the deck....thanks for the responses

 

[F.A.A.C. Slim]

Work on the restoration continues. Scheduled test run next Tuesday at Powderhorn Ski hill. Photos attached show the new canopy...I bet I have to lower it 12" once in the field, and I sure can't trailer it and drive the roads with the canopy on.

 

[F.A.A.C. Slim]

BALTO has left the junkyard; finished re-installing the patched up grousers after deciding to add new axle shaft bushings. Kind of a poor boy restore but I put it on a trailer and we'll be out to give a try on snow.

 

[Alaska Snow Cat]

Looks like you could use a little snow? Nice little Thiokol you have there.

 

[F.A.A.C. Slim]

This may be the last post for the Restoration section; after this I will use the Adventure section. Here are videos of BALTO getting back on snow after 5 years. Steve at Mesa Lakes Resort on the Grand Mesa outside Grand Junction CO let me use his trails for the test run.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGhGYkfxEcs&feature=player_detailpage"]YouTube - BALTO's First Day on Snow_1[/ame]

Blew the fuel pump gasket right off the bat; replaced it and drove around awhile.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJUsk47Zogs&feature=player_detailpage"]YouTube - MVI 1983[/ame]

Then hauled Balto down to Silverton and started making a track up to my mine property.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AObwkErbu8&feature=player_detailpage"]YouTube - Balto rocks.m4v[/ame]

 

[Snowtrac Nome]

i like the 2 part door which allows fording with an escape door still open . i liked the idea of the little aircooled motor but i can see where you may want a bit more horse power it kind of seems to wallow in the deep stuff when turning of course you have some stiky snow that will eat up horse power quick

 

[catservice]

The grousers looked like they turned out great. I am glad that we met up in Salt Lake to get you set up with them.

 

[F.A.A.C. Slim]

Yeah they do work great....I'll want to get some more if you still have them next time I drive thru SLC...or come on down to Silverton and I'll give you a ride...cheers

 

[F.A.A.C. Slim]

I got Balto down to Silverton; cut the track up the first 3 miles towards my property and all is well. Thought I'd make a few tweaks on the engine...adjusted the idle stop and leaned out the fuel (running at 10,500' to 11,250') and all was fine until I noticed the water hose from the pump suction to the engine looked leaky. All I did was touch it and it broke off, honest. Looks like the Ford 6 cylinder 170cc motor has a widget on the coolant side that allows pre-heat for the carburator? Anyway it broke at the hose connection. So I made repair with a 1/4" NPT tap, a 3" pipe nipple, and of course the JB Weld. Spent the night sleeping in the back of the snowcat while waiting for the JB to cure; tried using a 100watt light bulb to keep some heat on it overnight. Woke up it was 2 deg f and the JB did not cure so well. But I re-connected the hose, filled the radiator and off we went for a day of skiing. Never leaked a drop, but this summer I'll make a more robust repair.