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What do you do when you break down on the trail?
Topic Started: Jan 24 2008, 10:14 PM (2,006 Views)
drmiller100
Advanced Operator
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Normally we try to fix it. To fix it, we have a lot of tools, 1 gallon of engine oil, 1 gallon antifreeze, 5 gallons hydraulic fluid, chain saw, jack, pry bar, hammer, duct tape, crescent wrenches, and a few other tools.

From there, we call dispatch on 2 way radios, and ask them to call one of our volunteers to come get us on snowmobiles. Operators have the clothes, the volunteers bring us a helmet.

It isn't realistic to tow our cats as often the nearest plowed road is 40 miles away.

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bogie
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drmiller100
Jan 24 2008, 09:14 PM
Normally we try to fix it. To fix it, we have a lot of tools, 1 gallon of engine oil, 1 gallon antifreeze, 5 gallons hydraulic fluid, chain saw, jack, pry bar, hammer, duct tape, crescent wrenches, and a few other tools.

From there, we call dispatch on 2 way radios, and ask them to call one of our volunteers to come get us on snowmobiles. Operators have the clothes, the volunteers bring us a helmet.

It isn't realistic to tow our cats as often the nearest plowed road is 40 miles away.

I see you are carrying the proper tools HAMMER and DUCT TAPE. You missed one Bailing wire. B)
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EDITED FOR DRMILLER100

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drmiller100
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hammer???? Yup. Sure do carry one. knock ice/snow off of stuff, knock bolts out, use the handle as a pry par, use head of hammer to change fan belts.

Duct Tape???? Yup, sure do. tie hydraulic lines out of the way, electrical insulation, keep snow out of areas, insulate cold metal from my hands.

40 miles is a long way. 10 feet of snow is a lot to plow, and might piss off our customers. cats and skidders don't go up our trails, they sink.

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SCRR
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:help: Usually I scream and yell obscenities into the air that are directed at which ever manufacturer built the piece of #@$#! No one ever yells back because I am in the middle of no ware by myself. Then I get on the radio and explain my problem to the Trail Boss – then he yells obscenities at me for breaking the machine. Then he comes out and fixes it. :mad:
On the serious side, when we groom we have radio contact with a back up volunteer. For sections were there is poor radio reception I am going to try a SPOT satellite locator that will track the groomer via satellite. Our budget is very small and our equipment is old, so volunteers have to fix our machines. Sometimes the machines have to sit until we can find the time to fix them. If we were a club with the ability to replace equipment on a regular basis, I’d have no problem calling the vendor that sold me the $150,000 piece of equipment in the middle of the night. And he better be happy to hear from me! :grm:
If you don't fall off your not going fast enough!
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Chief
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I referee the mechanics



,,, we got a mess in the woods right now and everyone has an opinion.
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Grooming is a "Contact Sport"

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SCRR
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After I got looking at my post I kind of got my threads mixed up with the PB issues discussion. What's your trouble Chief - mechanical or volenteers?
If you don't fall off your not going fast enough!
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garygaboury
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My situation is a little different that most. I groom for a company that does 2,3 and 4 hour snowmobile tours in whistler. When I'm going out leave one of the sleds at the base out of the alarm with a key and a two way radio stashed near by.

If something happened I would probably walk out. If it's bad weather or I'm way out there I can still contact someone for help. High on the mountains I have great cell coverage so I can call someone to come get me. If I'm in the valley I can always radio Whistler Mountain Groomers to call someone for me as a back up plan.

I agree with carrying tools. I also have the hammer, duct tape, zip-tie toolbox. On top of that I do carry hose clamps(gear clamps) in a few different sizes and some old sections of hyd hose to make patches. If you blow a line that isn't needed to move it's amazing how well a hose clamp patch holds up to get home.


Gary
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groomerguyNWO
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Well, speaking from personal experience this year on more than one occasion, I can tell you that having a satellite phone for those emergency situations comes in real handy. One episode this year, I was on my way back at midnight when I broke a hydraulic fitting. I was about a mile away from getting cell coverage. The satellite phone came in real handy when it came time to call someone to come out a rescue me. I had the parts to fix the problem but didn't have any extra oil as someone had used the two pails we always have for emergencies without replacing it.

I always carry a bunch of common spare parts such as fittings and hoses and such as well as a decent assortment of tools.
.........takin it one mogul at a time

http://trailgrooming.wetpaint.com/

http://snowmobiling.greenstone.ca/

Brian
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drmiller100
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I tested the SPOT system for groomers.

Definite pros and cons. The tracking features truly and entirely really suck.

However, teh "send help" button works great, adn the "I'm Ok and on the trail" button works great. Those buttons and the 911 button all include gps coordinates, which makes them very useful.

Price si 150 to buy, and 100 bucks or so a year.
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Chief
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SCRR
Jan 26 2008, 04:44 PM
After I got looking at my post I kind of got my threads mixed up with the PB issues discussion. What's your trouble Chief - mechanical or volunteers?


Personalities in a volunteer club, a possesive operator who has had numerous groomer gremlins. The SV 200 Bombardier is in an area we are starting to open. When all of a sudden it just died. Found a fuel issue and then no fire, replaced coil and plugs now have fire, but still won't start.
Grooming is a "Contact Sport"

My Webpage
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groomerguyNWO
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Chief
Jan 26 2008, 10:23 PM
SCRR
Jan 26 2008, 04:44 PM
After I got looking at my post I kind of got my threads mixed up with the PB issues discussion. What's your trouble Chief - mechanical or volunteers?


Personalities in a volunteer club, a possesive operator who has had numerous groomer gremlins. The SV 200 Bombardier is in an area we are starting to open. When all of a sudden it just died. Found a fuel issue and then no fire, replaced coil and plugs now have fire, but still won't start.

Could the fuel pump be froze up from sitting? How cold has is been there?
.........takin it one mogul at a time

http://trailgrooming.wetpaint.com/

http://snowmobiling.greenstone.ca/

Brian
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drmiller100
Jan 25 2008, 08:51 PM
40 miles is a long  way.  10 feet of snow is a lot to plow, and might piss off our customers. cats and skidders don't go up our trails, they sink.

Then your only choice is to fix it at the point of break down.

Build a tarp tent over it. Heat it the best you can and tear it down.

Been there many times on logging equipment.

I have groomed places were we put a snow machine on the pan for a back up. Had a rack for it.
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Pekabu
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Luckily are trail system isn't that far from civilization. Typically if the operator can fix it go ahead, but in case of a thrown track or something not easily fixed it's get it to a road crossing or park it in a safe spot, put up cones and hoof it. Then we go back and get it. We've towed out machines before, and we've fixed things in the woods too. Last time I called Prinoth and they gave me some ideas before we went out. We have a good relationship with our local MM dealership, and if need be they will truck it. On our last breakdown the operator had to walk 1.5 miles out. 4-5 miles might be the longest walk to a house. If it were more, I would consider getting a bravo or a freestyle and putting it on the drag.
Southern NH Snow Slickers
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rrnut-2
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Spent Saturday pulling a dead Track Truck out of the woods. :banghead: I don't think hydraulic motors are suppose to crunch and grind :banghead: Why is it leaking? #*$%!! :wtf:
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