Visit the Team Iceshanty Proshop
The "sled Skates" that they sell as an accessery item work great.
Getting my parts together to build one.. best motor size... gearing... comet cv belt clutch? Centrifigal chain clutch.... best quickest easiest way to do this? Best place to get longer cables?
Longer cables, probably an ATV or Motorcycle shop, they can be made to order.
I used bicycle cables and brake levers. As for the clutch, my first one wirh 7 hp had a centrifical clutch, worked ok but had it smokin' on numerous occasions. Limited to about 9 hp with a smaller one. Hd units are pricey. The two to one clutch/gearbox does well with low speed gearing, still needs to hook up quick to limit slip time. If I were to build another, my choice will be a variable pulley type, larger than the common mini bike one though. A twenty inch wide track is far more stable than a fifteen.
I have considered the skates but wonder if I need them on each sled? The one I stand in and the ones I am towing?Gam
Try putting them on 1 sled first, then switch the sleds around, front to back, back to front ,and see if additional ones are needed for the other one. One pair mounted in the back like the instructions recommend works for me.
The slightly beefier comet 40 has a smaller belt than a sled, also made to operate within the small engine rpm range. Could be a challenge getting the sled variable to hook up at low rpm. From my understanding, the small series comet only really drives on one side of the belt, something to do with the angle of the belt face being different from side to side. Russian tube vids have shown critical belt failures with the small units.
Anyone else make their own snow dogs? Is there a target snowmobile that works the best? (some newer ones I see online seem that the front is nose diving into the ground and almost plowing right from the get go.Looking at making my own this off-season and will start part collecting now. (Own a welder, and restore cars for a hobby so this "should" be within my grasp).
I've seen a video where someone repurposed a tracked snowblower to accomplish what you are thinking about doing. they just took the snow auger and blower off of it. Seemed to work pretty well.
The final drive on our Snowdogs is a roller chain and sprockets. From the engine to the CVT is a rubber belt. Gam
Still getting the same performance or better? And what are ya running on the clutch side? Pics of your build? Im interested in talking with you 1 on 1 if ya dont mind.. iv got a ton of questions
Just a thought for us with a dog without a reverse gearbox. Why don't we try driving our dogs on to a dolly with wheels of some sort of the appropriate size? might make it easier when storing , or retrieving in the corner of a garage or shed.
Thats setup in the vid is a great idea with keeping the stock gear case/drivetrain for a premade jackshaft.the cvt clutch to a smaller/medium jackshaft sprocket being its already geared right at the original snowmobile drivetrain side.how would you get the sprocket on the drive shaft where the old torque converter was to stay on?have it keyed because i know the set screw wont hold.tack weld?thinking about starting making one of these.
I have the 13.5 standard with reverse. Took it out for the first time icefishing and had to leave it on the trailer. For some reason fuel is dripping fast when I open the fuel valve and choke. She worked fine a few days before. ALSO, does anyone else have a hard time starting the snowdog when it's cold out? Takes me 5 or so turns before I can start the engine.