using 4520 as tow tug

[Cidertom]

OK, so it's a lame excuse to post a pic of my new toy, while staying "on topic"

 

[steveschlutt]

What the heck is that????
Looks like an Arctic traveller-- please share some details, would like to know more-- age of vehicle, HP, manufacturer, and uses for it.

 

[xring100]

tracked vehicles are cool

 

[AKfish]

Wow... that's a really clean lookin' old Sno-Cat! Where did you come across that?? Ski resort somewhere close-by...

AKfish

 

[topstoy]

Very cool! Let's see some pictures of it and tell us more...

 

[Cidertom]

1978 Snow-Trac ST4. 1600 cc VW air cooled bug engine. Nominal 7 person... must be really good friends. Semi restored. Needs some TLC but functional. Supposed to get to near 20MPH on good snow. 0.75 PSI ground pressure with operator and 1000 lb load. Looks like fun. Hope it works. Several u-tube videos of similar units.

Got tired of bumming rides to mountain comm sites. Wife wants to go on outings already.

 

[mjncad]

As a kid I had a Matchbox toy of that very same style Snow-Cat! Very cool!

 

[topstoy]

Cool! very cool!

 

[Cidertom]

As a kid I had a Matchbox toy of that very same style Snow-Cat! Very cool!

I've got to find one of those. Just don't want to pay U$20 for it.

 

[mjncad]

I wish I had that Matchbox toy; but it's long gone I hate to say.

 

[Sledge]

I still have mine. It's only about 45 years old. It's in good shape except the trac is dry rotted.

 

[mjncad]

Yep, that's exactly like the one I had! Thanks for posting the picture.

 

[Cidertom]

Well I took it out. I was going to run it by a VW mech first, but a job came in and I thought "why not, it's running well". Got to the comm site About 4 miles and 1500 ft elevation gain OK. On way back down it started behaving badly, backfiring, missing and such. It made it to a wide spot in the road about 2 miles in from the road and died. Wouldn't relight. 3 days and several trips in on foot I got it repaired and off the hill. The distributor has a special mechanical advance and the spring broke on it. Which causes it to short out ... Yikes. That is one of the problems with units that are designed to take you beyond the pavement, when they break down you get exercise, a lot of exercise in my case. Sigh.
The mechanic I'm dealing with is making me up a spare carb, Distrib and parts box. I have sites that are 20+ miles in, and I really want to make it out on my own and not /have/ to call for a rescue. On the plus side, I'm in better shape now .

 

[AKfish]

Yep... gotta be prepared for the "what if" when you venture way off the beaten path! Please post pics of your "other" modes of transport - snowshoes...

AKfish