check out this video

[punking315]

watch the whole thing... about 1/2 through they skid logs with this thing

http://www.flixxy.com/snow-vehicle-concept.htm

[Lud]

Wonder why the concept didn't stay alive.  Looks cooler than all get out.  Looks like a hoot to drive!  Probably suffered from high center of gravity relative to belt drives, eh?

[moonhill]

That clip was posted over on the general board as well.  I think it would make an interesting skidder of sorts.  A blade and wench, maybe run off hydraulics.   Make it up from scratch.  It seem to be very maneuverable.  It obviously can pull.  I wonder what happen to the outfit that made the conversion?  Was it inadequate in some way the clip doesn't show?

Tim

[kelLOGg]

I thought it was a Charlie Chaplin movie until I saw how incredibly inventive and versatile it was. I was amazed.  smiley_clapping

[fishpharmer]

That patent has probably expired.  Someone with real snow needs to pick up the ball and run.

It looks awesome.  I wonder if something with bigger hollow screws could be made amphibious.

[9shooter]

I wondered the same thing. Will it sink? Wow, I could see some down riggers on it. That is real cool. I will send the link to my yooper logging brother-in-law. I bet he could use a new "snowmobile"

[Chico]

Reminds me of some ol boys down in Al using Two old WW II tanks they bought from a surplus yard they stripped all the plating off added some tanks and they'd skid out of the tuper gum  and cypress ponds down in Ala with them when they pulled to the river they drop the logs go in the river turn around and do again then they blew up and they went to bombadiers Funny to watch but pretty effective
Chico

[bandmiller2]

There won't be big propane tanks safe anywhere.It wouldn't be hard to figure if that rig would slither on water,if you know the weight of an old fordson and the volume of the tanks.their has to be problems with that system or those things would be everywhere.Frank C.[whats the largest drywall screw you can buy?]

[moonhill]

Two propane cylinders welded together was my first thought then I went to purchasing large pipe,  making a jig to weld the screw on is next.  Also thought of culverts, they have a built in screw, almost, on the galvanized ones but that makes them harder to weld on.  I can't see that it would be any more tipsy than a stock tractor, put a ROPS on it, anyway.  When I think of power/torque, this type of drivetrain must be all torque.  I can't help it it just fascinating.  Snow sleds can get stuck easily in fresh snow, this thing apparently didn't have a issue at all. 

Tim

[two saw]

I watched this viideo several times and I think a fellow could build one easy/cheap enough.
Using hyd. motors for driving the screws would be much easier than figuring out a gear box like that one. I don't like those exposed chains either.
Must have a u-joint of sorts under the big sprockets to get the flexibility of the screws on unever ground.
Interesting.............very interesting. :P
Small scale version of one using a lawn tractor engine/frame could be fun.
I think I have an extra cub-cadet laofing around here somewhere.
I need to stop right now. :D

[punking315]

Using hyd. motors for driving the screws would be much easier than figuring out a gear box like that one. I don't like those exposed chains either.
Must have a u-joint of sorts under the big sprockets to get the flexibility of the screws on unever ground.

exactly....  my brother and I built a small dozer when we were teenagers with two old model a rearends from the hedgerow.It was cumbersome and dangerous (what do you expect from 14 and 17 year olds). but this.... oh this has me thinking. like old forklift motors amd batteries, going silently through the night on snowmobile trails. lol

[moonhill]

What was that show..... Junk Yard Wars.   Make it up from what ever you have on hand.   Clutches for the drive/steering system?  Just thinking out loud.

Tim

[caver]

There's one of those at the Butte MT Mining Museum.
I have a picture of it in my website under vacation 2004

[two saw]

I was thinking with the hyd motors driving you could put one in forward and one in reverse and the thing would move perfectly sideways.
Talk about manuverability.    8)

[beenthere]

I was thinking with the hyd motors driving you could put one in forward and one in reverse and the thing would move perfectly sideways.
Talk about manuverability.    8)

I would think one forward, other reverse (rotation that is) would cause the unit to spin. ??

[two saw]

I don't think it would cause it to spin because both screws would be rotating in the same direction. The cleating would no longer have anything opposing it. Like if one screw was stopped. They should roll like two barrels rolling one after another.
Forward and reverse the screws pull/push against one another causing the screws to dig in and hence propelling the tractor.

[beenthere]

I see what you mean.  ;D

[moonhill]

Another plus, the excavator turns when one it forward and the other is in reverse but with screws it should move like a bishop on the chess board.  Another reason to go with a hydraulic system perhaps.  Maybe some metering valve to allow the motors to turn at the same speed.  I don't know how that stuff works.  You could control with equal movement of the levers, with some practice.   

Tim