XC drag build

[ArlyA]

Can you please elaborate on this. Isn't the whole purpose to get a flat level area for either snowmobile trails and ski trails. This sure looks like it does that prety well. I am interested to hear where it fails to do that and also where the design has failed and can be improved on before I start building.

After much experience with drags,

The cutting teeth need to be replaceable hardened steel alloy ones.
The cutting teeth need to be mounted so as to take impacts without damage.
Cutters need to be actuator controlled from the operators position.
Needs to ride on plastic. (HDPE)
Must have skags.
What else?

 

[airbiscuit]

For cutter teeth, cultivator shovels are pretty cheap. What about plasma or laser cutting cutters out of old leaf springs?
For impact resistance, cultivator shovels could be mounted to Danish S tines, but that increases cost.
If the cutters are bolted to a solid piece of square stock, and if it rotates, it could be fitted to a car, truck or snowmobile shock absorber with coil springs to absorb impact.
If that linkage is connected to a 12v linear actuator, it would be adjustable.

 

[PILOON]

I always get a kick when I hear that ski trails need to have parallel pre formed ski runs .
Guess those pricy 'decorator' skis weren't all they were hyped to be.
Perhaps they need a few computer chips.

 

[ArlyA]

I always get a kick when I hear that ski trails need to have parallel pre formed ski runs .
Guess those pricy 'decorator' skis weren't all they were hyped to be.
Perhaps they need a few computer chips.

What are "parallel pre formed ski runs"??

 

[ArlyA]

For cutter teeth, cultivator shovels are pretty cheap. What about plasma or laser cutting cutters out of old leaf springs?
For impact resistance, cultivator shovels could be mounted to Danish S tines, but that increases cost.
If the cutters are bolted to a solid piece of square stock, and if it rotates, it could be fitted to a car, truck or snowmobile shock absorber with coil springs to absorb impact.
If that linkage is connected to a 12v linear actuator, it would be adjustable.

Here is the teeth on the last drag I built. These worked well and lasted for many, many K's. I'll do very similar teeth on the Groomzila. Note there is no spring system for impacts and they didn't get severely bent.

What will you be tow this machine with? How wide of an implement are you planning on?

 

[PILOON]

What are "parallel pre formed ski runs"??

Ruts or tracks so that your skis don't wander as you walk on them.
Note those 'skiers' can't handle snow that is more than 2 inches.

 

[ArlyA]

Ruts or tracks so that your skis don't wander as you walk on them.
Note those 'skiers' can't handle snow that is more than 2 inches.

Do you ski?? And I think gulf courses don't need no mowing.

 

[PILOON]

Do you ski?? And I think gulf courses don't need no mowing.

Yes, skied a lot, downhill, cross country--you name it. (and I like to yodel as well)
I learned how and what waxes to apply, even had 'skins' for my cross country skis.
But then we used rope tows B4 chair lifts and gondolas became the vogue.
Heck they used to give us free tickets so that we'd groom/pack the hills.
Also learned to use a single cut file to hone my edges.
And to dress my ski bottoms I'd drip melted poly bags.

But I never took to golf, probably because as a teen I was a caddy @ $5.00 per 18 holes just to pay for my outboard motor so that I could water ski every other day.

All good memories.

 

[airbiscuit]

I'm not looking to build. I was trying to generate info for stomper.

 

[Stomper]

Concerning machines tow capacity. We used every work sled built from Polaris and BRP over the years. Arctic Cat has quit building their version. Most machines we used were SWT Skandic's. At the same time, we started to try atv's equipped with pods so we did do side-by-side comparisons. Our 900cc SWT could pull about 2/3rds what our 700cc Grizzly could. I left that trail system since but they have no sleds there and have no plans to ever buy them again. You just can't tow much with them. This is why we personally own a atv with pods. Ours is a Polaris 6x6 boss version

I'm not looking to build. I was trying to generate info for stomper.

Thanks airbiscuit, I appreciate the help. Any ideas or suggestions are worth their weight in gold. That’s how new ideas become reality. Land planes have been used for this very same reason for roads Something light weight of similar design with a pan on the back for compacting should build a nice trail. After all isn’t a XC ski trail drag just a snow plane.

 

[ArlyA]

I've got do much work remaining on this implement, might need to take the week off and work on the darn thing. We got 100% chance of snow in our forecast.

 

[TCowner]

In our area a 100% chance of snow in the forecast usually means a light dusting. A prediction of a 2-4 inch snowfall is the lead story on the local news. What's funny is that they will show a map with with the predictions of which parts of SE Minnesota will get the "heavier" snowfall sometimes breaking it down into half inch segments. I haven't done the math but their accuracy is about that of the flip of the coin. Of course they usually include a strong recommendation for packing your winter survival gear, and to dress warmly but mostly to prepare for the pending armegedon.

I can't imagine the fear and devistation they would project if a classic Michigan lake effect snow event was approaching.

 

[ArlyA]

A Can-am max is officially on order for us. ($$$ was paid) The dealership was told by BRP that they weren't going to get any 6x6 floor models next summer so our only choice was to get it on order..

 

[ArlyA]

Heading into the shop tomorrow and try get something serious done. (I hope) Here is photos from this past week there. This is 3/8 HDPE you see here getting warmed and then bent. These will have 7 bolts holding each on. Any questions?

 

[ArlyA]

Yesterday I cleaned parts, then primed and painted. I like to use a sand blaster but these were to big.
Then I tacked them together.

 

[airbiscuit]

Better Hurry!!

 

[Stomper]

looks like things are coming along nicely. Do you have an estimate as to what the completed drag will weigh.

 

[ArlyA]

looks like things are coming along nicely. Do you have an estimate as to what the completed drag will weigh.

i could only guess between 2 to 300 hundred lbs but a machines ability to tow it has more to do with the amount of drag it produces and operators ability to control of it, than its weight. So with its teeth up and it riding exclusively on HDPE* so one person might be able to move it while on hard-pack.

*it also has skags, which are hard to move but i have moved the front of a 6ft wide drag.

 

[airbiscuit]

Are skags another word for skis?

 

[ArlyA]

Are skags another word for skis?

No, skags keep a boat or snow implement from sliding sideways. They are like a skag on a sail boat.