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Tell us about yourself: “I am an elevator mechanic and for the majority of my career, I have been modernizing elevators for Otis Elevator. I always had an interest in mechanical and electrical things, especially in building off-road vehicles. I have been building off-road toys for many years, and throughout this time, I have found Princess Auto to be a good source for parts and tools, which allows me to have fun and continue to build.”
At first glance, you’d think a jeep and a bulldozer were smushed together. But for Doug, this creation was more about the satisfaction of completing a project like this.
Great work, Doug! Thanks for sharing your project with us!
What is it? It is a home-built tracked vehicle made for winter fun. I guess it is just for fun in the snow or mud. Perhaps I will try plowing snow with it.
The project started out as a way for a friend of mine (Snelly) to get up a steep driveway from his house to his garage in the winter. I named it the “Snellski” even though it has no skis. My friend decided he did not want to use it shortly after I started the project, but I always wanted to build a tracked vehicle so I kept building.
What is the main power source for your project? (e.g. electric motor, gas engine etc.) It is powered by a 420 cc Powerfist engine. The engine is coupled to a transmission with a centrifugal clutch and roller chain.
How do you control your project? (e.g. hydraulic control valve(s), electric switches etc.) The power from the engine runs to a transmission that drives the front and rear axles, which turns the tracks. The two red handles are for steering. When you pull back on either handle, it applies the brake on that side which causes it to turn that way (like a skid-steer). The arm in the middle is a parking brake, and the T-handle is for shifting gears. The seat was removed in order to take the photo.
The switches are for outside lights, a horn, ignition on and a starter button. There is also a charge gauge and a choke lever (the C is where the lever is moved to choke the engine, and the R is the run position).
What components are used to perform the work for your project? (e.g. hydraulic cylinder(s), hydraulic motor(s), sprockets, pulleys etc.) The power train consists of an engine mounted centrifugal clutch, roller chain, sprocket, stub shaft with support bearing, Jetta 5-speed transmission, lovejoy (flexible) coupling, drive shaft, and two Tracker rear axles.
What design/build challenges did you overcome? There were many challenges to building this vehicle, but building the driveline was the most challenging. I started with my desired track length and engine position, then I began to mock-up the driveline. It took a few mock-ups before I came up with one that worked without too much change to my original dimensions.
If you had to build it again, what would you do differently? If I had to do it over again I would make the tracks longer for more floatation, and the body out of aluminum to reduce weight and ease of fabrication. The body is made out of stainless steel, which is heavy and hard to work with.
Which Princess Auto location do you visit most? I live in Bedford, and the closest store to me is in Dartmouth. It is where I do most of my shopping for my building needs.