snow roller for XC snow

[jonsstihl]

So you are bolting the culvert to the members I would have probably skipped that step but it makes sense. Makes the whole thing that much more solid.

looks like a receiver part of a hitch but I don't see why it would get attached to the implement being towed unless you are planning on hooking two of them together.

 

[ArlyA]

So you are bolting the culvert to the members I would have probably skipped that step but it makes sense. Makes the whole thing that much more solid.

looks like a receiver part of a hitch but I don't see why it would get attached to the implement being towed unless you are planning on hooking two of them together.

The internal angles allow for a better attachment to the end caps. Might make the roller more stiff but that would be secondary. If the roller was like 8ft or more wide, then they should add some rigidity. (a guess)

You guess it! Its a receiver type hitch I can get off amazon for just $13 I added it allow a easy switch in case the tongue length is wrong and we might need to remove the tongue, while on the trailer with our 6x6 anyway. Its just a test!

I'll add photos taken today later. I got the front and rear frame members drilled, cleaning and painted today. :thumbsup:

 

[BravoXray]

Looking good on that project!

So, you gonna fill it with concrete to get a little more compaction?

Got much snow up there yet?

 

[ArlyA]

Here is a few photos taken today. No significant snow here Bravo but the snow spigot with turn on soon enough. We are still clearing NFS trails. Photos of that can be seen here.

 

[jonsstihl]

nice idea a removable tongue.

if you leave the end of the tube open you can even make an adjustable tongue. do you have any pics of the hitches on the atv's. I would have to build some kind of extension to clear the tracks on mine since the hitch is right on the axle on my honda 450. and it is down low.

 

[ArlyA]

We use the standard mini pintle used in the XC industry. They look like this. I'll just build a new hitch if the one I started on today, is not the right length.

 

[ArlyA]

I also build and sell these extra length hitches to accommodate the pods sticking out rear. Here is what they look like.

 

[Thunder chicken]

Looks good Arly.
I was gonna build one and if I get to it this is my inspiration. I have some culvert, and scratched my head over internal bracing.
However, our other groomers think the roller is a waste of time. Running the snowmobile at WOT ripping studs out of the track on rocks while getting stuck with a drag full of snow is a much better way apparently. (Mind you our snow is different ‘up here’, never wet and heavy, mostly very light and dry snow if ya know what I mean, -20°c usually)
Guess you’ll be on the XC trails more than the snowmobile trails this winter?

 

[ArlyA]

Here is a few photos taken on Friday. Will be back in da school shop on Monday.

 

[ArlyA]

Looks good Arly.
I was gonna build one and if I get to it this is my inspiration. I have some culvert, and scratched my head over internal bracing.
However, our other groomers think the roller is a waste of time. Running the snowmobile at WOT ripping studs out of the track on rocks while getting stuck with a drag full of snow is a much better way apparently. (Mind you our snow is different ‘up here’, never wet and heavy, mostly very light and dry snow if ya know what I mean, -20°c usually)
Guess you’ll be on the XC trails more than the snowmobile trails this winter?

We don't often get wet and heavy snow. When we do, its a mess to deal with just like everyone else. Its usually 05 to 25f out when it snows here. We have seen it snowing at zero. No snowmobile trail grooming for me this winter.

 

[Wyobuckaroo]

ArlyA.... Good job...

Not a bit overengineered or overbuilt in the least.. People don't realize a lot of times, equipment you build to maintain something for THERE recreation is totally different than an individual might use on the farm or personal trails..

For a time I engineered, prototyped equipment for a golf and sports turf equipment manufacture.. Nothing was too good to use in a machine that got the job done..
Also, at one time after retirement I belonged to an ATV, snowmobile, X country ski, show shoe, dog sled club.. We designed and built much of our own grooming and trail maintence equipment.. Even biathlon clubs would travel to ski our trails..

 

[ArlyA]

I bit of snow grooming information follows. When snow falls and builds up, it has much air space within it. These flakes are quite shapely which retains lots and lots of space for this air. When we groom it, we roll it around, or work in some fashion to knock those snow shapes down and reduce this air space. After doing that, you allow some time and these broken flakes will refreeze back together and become more like ice, than those original snow flakes. The more you work it, the more air space is eliminated. Note I did not state that great weight is required to knock the snow shapes down.

 

[ArlyA]

More amateur photos taken today....... Next will be working on the pan and comb business, as seen in the third photo.

 

[jonsstihl]

are the bearings different from end to end. seems like earlier pics had a different type of two bolt bearing and now I see they are 4 bolt. or is that a type of (whatever is available and cheaper will work) kind of modification to an earlier prototype

 

[ArlyA]

are the bearings different from end to end. seems like earlier pics had a different type of two bolt bearing and now I see they are 4 bolt. or is that a type of (whatever is available and cheaper will work) kind of modification to an earlier prototype

Oh gee, they are both 4 bolt bearings and the same. I just didn't have all the bolts on in earlier photos I'd guess.

 

[ArlyA]

I didn't get much work done today but I did bring prints to a metal shop who will form the pan for me. They said they'd have if done for me Wednesday am. I also welded up the pintle hitch for it and painted it, but sorry to say I didn't get a photo of it after it was done. According to my measurements, I need the tow ring a few inches higher, hence the dog leg..

Have the tongue bolted on was so if a new tow machine was required, or a shorter/longer hitch needed, it could easily be switched out.

 

[ArlyA]

This is what the pan should look like..... Photo taken in the same shop about 8 years ago.

 

[jonsstihl]

first photo in post #11 on page two was the one i was refering to but it must be the YTS product you refered to in post #12

 

[ArlyA]

first photo in post #11 on page two was the one i was refering to but it must be the YTS product you refered to in post #12

That is another and larger version roller, I built some years ago. Its like 9ft wide and made with 32" culvert. Here is a photo. I should add that YTS rollers don't have features that we appreciate, hence we build our own....

 

[ArlyA]

I got work done to the pan today. For those with no idea what it takes to build something like this, I might have 14 hours into the pan setup so far. Photos in the up and down positions.