XC drag build

[airbiscuit]

Are your cutting teeth still a work in process?

 

[ArlyA]

Are your cutting teeth still a work in process?

View attachment 728558

Yes, I've built this before so its setup is a much more a known process so no need to test run it.

 

[fishhead]

What would you like to know? How much snow do you get? What do you hope to pull a phat implement with?

Sorry,
Forgot about this then i couldn't seem to find the thread again
We are in an area that is just getting going with grooming and i'm interested in learning some about what other areas are doing. The only narrow trail grooming currently here is being done i believe with a skandic and roller resulting in about a 33 in width. The local club is investigating a broader grooming program.
The areas the trails are in is in NW montana so normally a fairly long winter with usually a fairly long snow period and highly variable snow densities, depths and precipitation type.
Average annual snowfall for most of the potential trail areas would likely run between 90-150in, frequency of snowfall is quite high . Large snowfalls are uncommon, drifting is not a significant issue in most of the lower elevations these would be at.
Seems like fat bike grooming is in its relative infancy with 2 basic grooming methods- snow machine or larger towing a drag/roller or a tracksled usually with just a pan. Seems to me that the advantage of the trickled is a potentially narrower trail with perhaps better compaction? I know that ski resorts till the snow for better compaction and i wonder if some type of tiller could actually be driven off the main track? Is a towed pan the best way?
Looks like snowdog is the most popular tracksled but Trail tamer seems to be making some inroads

I found the following post from Rossland BC which has both machines

Anonymous asked:
Good morning, I have a question regarding your 2 groomers. How do you like the Trail Tamer compared to the snowdog? I groom with a 10hp snowdog and the complant I have is with the clutch. Mine comes with the Comet 40 series and the Trail Tamer comes with the 44 Magnum series. The 40 series seems under sized and can't handle the load, it requires constant maintinace, how is the 44 Magnum handling the job?Thanks Erich

The magnum clutch seems to be doing OK it engages maybe a bit early not allowing the engine rpm to go up.

But the difference between the 2 machines is the standard snow dog with 13 hp moter is faster and more agile. It turns a bit easier but on steep soft snow climbs it can get stuck and just digs in.

And the taimer with stock grooming plate is hard to stand on.but the machine it self just chugs up soft snow climbs. And it is very sturdy feeling machine. But its longer and is quite hard to turn with deep lug track we speced it with. We are still trying to figure out mods to make the new machine the best . But there isn’t anything that super user friendly yet.
But if your terrain is simple thetaimer works

 

[fishhead]

also here are a couple of fun vids from the Marquette area

 

[ArlyA]

Oh, I see I forgot to post grooming pics here. I will post some tonight.

 

[ArlyA]

Here it is in the field this week. I did PM the fishhead guy.

The cutter frame was worked on.

Top view, shows the cross-bracing that will be added to support the teeth. When we catch something, this frame really goes into high stress mode.

 

[BravoXray]

Did you ever consider making the bars that hold the teeth able to pivot back if you hit something large? Kinda like the springs on a truck plow.

 

[ArlyA]

Did you ever consider making the bars that hold the teeth able to pivot back if you hit something large? Kinda like the springs on a truck plow.

No, that's to much work and its already overly complicated now. The frames are held on at three points, the two rear pivots and one in the front via the actuator. This allow enought flexibilty to move up when you catch something, while not getting damaged. The KISS design is your friend.

 

[airbiscuit]

The frame is 5ft wide plus wings, so with them, it will be around 7ft. Its close to 8ft long without hitch. Weight I'm not sure, it might be 125lbs but its also unfinished. Weight is not all that important for snow implements.

Even covered with snow, the entire unit can probably jump a little if it hits a immovable object.

 

[ArlyA]

As promised, here is the tooth frame. Whats not seen was gussets added behind the down tubes that hold the tooth angles on. The angles that hold the teeth on are lowered so as to allow materials to flow over there tops.
Any questions?

 

[ArlyA]

also here are a couple of fun vids from the Marquette area

Fat tire biking on Marquette County trails in the winter​

Noquemanon(Alex Brisbey)
By Alex Brisbey
Published: Jan. 20, 2022 at 4:39 PM EST|Updated: 2 hours ago
MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) - Fat tire bike riding is a trend that has been growing in popularity these past few years.
With over 60 miles of groomed trails, Marquette County offers some of the best riding in all of the Midwest. Ask any local rider and they may have a hard time telling you which trail is their favorite.
“We like the north, we like the RAMBA trails, we like them all, which ever one we’re on,” said Patty Pemble.
The different trails offer many options for beginners and experts alike. Though for some riders like Rotary Retiree member Paul Hytinan, it’s about more than just the challenge of the ride.
“My favorite part about riding is the people I ride with, they’re fantastic,” said Hytinan.
Marquette County does a great job grooming the trails on a consistent basis to give riders the best possible conditions to ride in. Munising resident David Lieble was in town for the day and decided to hop on a trail, he loves not having to give up riding in the winter.
“Two feet over there you can’t even walk right? But on this trail we can ride around like it’s summertime,” said Lieble
For anyone thinking of checking out the trails, Lieble has just one thing to say.
“Get out here the trails are great, it’s a great time to be out on the trails in the winter time. Bundle up and enjoy it,” said Lieble.If you’re considering heading out to ride make sure the trails were recently groomed and always be considerate of other riders out on the trail.

 

[ArlyA]

We got cold as %^#! here and been off the trails. On the south shore we call cold zero degrees. I'll be in the shop the next two or more days off of work and at the school shop to work on my project. Just ordered $150 of 14 gauge wire for 2 drags. Grooming trails is a cheap business.....

 

[BravoXray]

Is the wire to hook up the actuators?

 

[airbiscuit]

Speaking of that, will a battery do quite few cycles of the actuators before it needs to be recharged?

 

[ArlyA]

Is the wire to hook up the actuators?

yes.

 

[ArlyA]

Speaking of that, will a battery do quite few cycles of the actuators before it needs to be recharged?

They don't pull all that much and are connected to the tow machines battery.

 

[ArlyA]

This frame was painted last night.

 

[ArlyA]

I have been working on these implements but nothing worth taking pics of. I did get the control box partially done today. Its done enough to make a test run with it. The white HPDE plate its mounted to is to hold it in its correct position in the the Bosses box. 2 more switches will be added to it.

 

[ArlyA]

Cutting teeth were made and the frame to hold them was installed over the weekend. Groomzila was also wired but we've been receiving enough snow that yard plowing and grooming the trails has taken priority. A break from snowfall would be OK!

 

[Stomper]

Looks like it works great. Nice build. I would really like to see how it preforms on a hard packed trail that has seen heavy use and no fresh snow. Some winters around here we can get long periods of time between snowfalls and the trails get very hard packed and beat up from use, this year is an exception to that though. IMHO that's when you know how good a groomer really is. I have seen tires bolted together make a nice flat trail(without the grooves) after a fresh snowfall. If I had to guess as to how your groomer would perform in this type of situation, I would say pretty good. It seems to have good snow engaging points to rip up the hard pack and also the weight to make those points do what they are designed to do. Its hard to tell by the pictures, so correct me if I am wrong, but the only issue that I could see being a problem in these conditions is the snow engagement points are not/can not be adjusted to extend below the level of the skids.