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Tucker Blade

W

Wert

New member
Looking for a Blade and attachment for a 1544 1981 if anyone has one or knows where one is it would be greatly appreciated.
 
I've got two 1980 Tuckers with factory 6-way "Snow Dozer" blades.

It's a pretty involved set-up in terms of the way it attaches to the frame and the front axle, not to mention the hydraulic plumbing for the control valve.

I'm not trying to be rude or disrespectful, but honestly I think I would consider swapping Sno Cats before I would try and install the whole factory system.

If you send me a PM with your email address I'll email you some photos so you can see what I'm talking about.
 
when i bought my 1644,it came with a blade.i took it off within a week because it threw the balance of my machine off.it wanted to dive the nose in real deep powder.it sat in my yard for a year until someone stole it while i was on a voyage out to the mines by chicken.only time i've needed it was for deep creek drainage crossings,and i have found other ways around them.i think i still have some of the mount kit tho...bill w
 
good to know i guess i should look for the 1644 if it is better in the deep snow. thats where i want to go!

probably easier to just extend the track frames.
 
Wert,

If you are thinking of extending the carriers (which is what I think you mean by "track frames") it's not that simple.

My first machine was a 1500 series. It has 5 bogey wheels per carrier and the carrier is 76" long. A 1600 or 1700 series machine has 6 bogey wheels per carrier and the carriers are 92" long, which is 16" more than a 1500 series carrier.

The extra 16" length is not symmetrical. IIRC the short end is 3" longer than a 1500 series carrier, and the long end is 13" longer. Also the bogey wheel spindles are spaced differently along the carrier.
 
yeah it would be a pain to lengthen the track frame.my 1644 goes real good in deep snow...never had to back up.just wish the front of the track turned up for when you break thru the crusty snow in the spring,or thru overflow.i've looked into raising the front idler about five or six inches to help it climb back on,but then talked myself out of it. bill w
 
If i was to add an idler on the track frame to the front only would that thow it out of balance?

And it wouldn't take much to do if that was possible. I have an idea on how I can do it. I never thought of raising the front idler maybe a job for next summer as it is getting new belts.

Any input on four or two peice tracks?
 
after looking at my tjd x-gen track system on my four wheeler(pics in my profile),i still say it would be an improvement to raise the front idler.the balance is already nose heavy because of the difference in length from the front to the rear.the raised nose on the track would just help to climb up on things.i prefer the four band tracks because they let the snow get out of the tracks instead of carrying it.clean tracks weigh a lot less. bill w
 
do you have upper rollers or the teflon slides.mine has the rollers and they would be easy to move up to guide the track for the raised front idler. bill w
 
What kind of snow will your 1644 go through or over. We get a pile here with no real base to speak of until february or the wind blows for a week. Niether of which has happened yet.

That is a nice looking cat you have did you restore it or buy it?
 
Wert,

One of my machines (with factory 6-way blade) came from the factory with 1600 series carriers in front and 1500 series in the rear. (I have a picture of it when it was delivered from Tucker in that configuration.)

Here's some math/cost info to add to the equation if you want to lengthen four carriers. A 1600 series carrier has five extra grouser bars x 4 carriers = 20 grouser bars to buy.

One extra bogey wheel per track = 4 bogey wheels to buy.

Depending on the year of the machine the track is supported on either side of the drive sprocket by either a framework with a hyfax (plastic) material or with damer wheels. The 1600 series machines have two damper wheels on the long side of the carrier (three total per carrier) vs a 1500 series which has one on each side of the sprocket. So you either have the framework and hyfax to buy or one extra bogey wheel per carrier to buy x four carriers =?

Each additional wheel (whether bogey or damper) needs a spindle, a spindle tube, bearings, seals, ring seals, a castle nut and a cotter pin.

You can often find used parts, but here's some approximate pricing numbers for new parts from Tucker:
Grouser bar: $170.00 (need 20)
Bogey Wheel: $240.00 (need 4)
Damper Wheel: $160.00 (need 4 if not hyfax)
Wheel Spindle: $60.00 (need 8 if damper wheels, 4 if hyfax)
Spindle Tube: $40.00 (need 8 if damper wheels, 4 if hyfax)
You will also need either new track belts or belt extensions.

So for new parts (with damper wheels) you're at $5,800.00 and that isn't complete, and doesn't include belt extensions or the cost of lengthening the carriers.
 
Well we have our own belting company so that shouldn't be a problem and it came with extra wheels. I wouldn't be a true fabricator if i couldn't extend the track frames and build my own grousers.

It looks like a great summer project. Maybe i won't be able to water ski as much. LOL
 
thanks wert,i bought mine from birch hill ski area here in fbks.it never went north,it sat at the pipeyard here in fbks till it was donated to the ski club.it had real low hrs and was always stored inside.the only thing i did to it was fresh paint,stereo,gps chartplotter,and new belts.the only reason i changed the belts is the advancements in rubber tech in the last 20 years.plus we go WAY off the beaten path.we took it to arctic man snogo a couple years ago and played in the mountains with it.type in arctic man for a view of the terrain,very steep and deep.ran around for ten days and went anywhere we wanted to go.by the way...when you look at the cost from blackfoot tucker,i only gave a couple thousand more than that for my tucker...i believe i stole it from them..bill w
 
One of our Cat multi terrain skid steers has an adjustible front idler and tensioner. I think we are going to draw it up and see if it will work on the old TUCKER. I love this thing it's so simple and versatile!
 
Wert said:
Well we have our own belting company so that shouldn't be a problem and it came with extra wheels. I wouldn't be a true fabricator if i couldn't extend the track frames and build my own grousers.

It looks like a great summer project. Maybe i won't be able to water ski as much. LOL
Click to expand...

Wert,

I'm a fabricator "wannabe".

When I see high quality fabrication and welding; I'm envious of the skill and talent involved.
 
bill w said:
thanks wert,i bought mine from birch hill ski area here in fbks.it never went north,it sat at the pipeyard here in fbks till it was donated to the ski club.it had real low hrs and was always stored inside.the only thing i did to it was fresh paint,stereo,gps chartplotter,and new belts.the only reason i changed the belts is the advancements in rubber tech in the last 20 years.plus we go WAY off the beaten path.we took it to arctic man snogo a couple years ago and played in the mountains with it.type in arctic man for a view of the terrain,very steep and deep.ran around for ten days and went anywhere we wanted to go.by the way...when you look at the cost from blackfoot tucker,i only gave a couple thousand more than that for my tucker...i believe i stole it from them..bill w
Click to expand...

Bill,

How well can you hear your stereo inside the cab? I was considering adding one, but I thought the general noise level was so high it would drown out the stereo's sound.
 
not real loud as mine still has all the soundproofing in it,but if you have a window open...forget about it.put the speakers up in the corners....works much better.ours is a gas model,don't know how it would work if you had the detroit in it.the garmin chartplotter is worth it's weight in gold because we are above treeline for most of our trips.on a grey day it keeps you from finding big holes.what is your input on raising the front idler to aid the ability to climb back up on the top when you fall thru overflow or the spring crust? bill w
 
While it makes sense, I don't have enough experience to offer an opinion that would be valid. I have several hundred hours in making repairs, restoration and modifications, but very little time (so far) in operating them.

The soundproofing in mine consisted of rubber backed carpeting. On my "keeper" I am using marine grade carpeting on the floors and perforated vinyl with 1/2" foam backing on the side-walls and as a headliner.
 
tucker has a poven design i wouldn't mess with it but if you were having problems with tall edges i would just look at alarger diamater front roler. remember in the back country KISS.
 
Life gets a little boring around here! And i like a challenge. I still would like to know if any one has extended the frame at only one end? ie Tucker 1544 to accept another idler?
 
I think dds makes a good point. Tucker spent a lot of R&D time making a system that works and that if treated right, holds up well. I don't think you really want to go to the lengths you're talking about to modify the track carriers. There's way too much potential to introduce other problems in the process.

In my experience with the Tuckers I've been around, is that often to make them work well you've got to... well... not try so hard. Slow down, give the tracks a chance to get a bite, back off, roll up on the obstacle, roll back off, roll up on it - pack the approach - and then gently walk up and over. If you treat it like a competition monster truck, you're gonna get into trouble and break stuff. But respect it's design and capability and it will go amazing places.

Take your time and learn how to extract the already-there capability. With every hour you spend (and every bind you get yourself in) you'll gain confidence and knowledge that will take you further, easier.

But if you do decide to add an extra wheel to each of your track carriers, could you carefully document each and every step - think big Al's amazing Kristi restore - and post it all here for us to see? :biggrin:
 
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