Hopefully using a pneumatic rivet gun and not by hand, may end up with carpal tunnel from all the riveting you've done in past and doing now LOL!!
Chaparral vs John Deere: A Build-Off Challenge
- Thread starter skiroule
- Start date
I had the same thought. That Knucklebuster that I have would have me cramping up after the first or second cleat!
skiroule
Well-known member
That wide track would be an awesome machine for pulling a portable fish house or a sled full of firewood.
Yes, I do use an air riveter
. These are 1/2" stainless steel rivets and those of you that have pulled both aluminum and stainless steel know how much more force the stainless require. I use a fairly inexpensive Central Pneumatic unit from Harbor Freight but it's still working after hundreds of rivets. I don't know if the Harbor Freight line of products would be up to use by someone in the trades but for occasional use by a hacker like me, they've been more than adequate. I've purchased several tools there at a modest price and have had zero problems with any of them.
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skiroule
Well-known member
Wow, what a change in weather! 87 yesterday and 49 this evening.
Still focusing on the Cyclone.
Got the front cross member mounted, dash in, skis on and all the steering components hooked up. Might have to tweak the alignment a little but to say these aren’t a precise steering sled would be an understatement so it can’t be made perfect.
You’ve all seen this movie before so I’m not going to say much about this other than it’s done! I did keep three cleats that had been replaced before so they weren’t worn as badly as the others.
Now I need to regroup and plan the next move. Definitely need to order more Cyclone parts so I may break off and work on the Chaparral a little.
Still focusing on the Cyclone.
Got the front cross member mounted, dash in, skis on and all the steering components hooked up. Might have to tweak the alignment a little but to say these aren’t a precise steering sled would be an understatement so it can’t be made perfect.
You’ve all seen this movie before so I’m not going to say much about this other than it’s done! I did keep three cleats that had been replaced before so they weren’t worn as badly as the others.
Now I need to regroup and plan the next move. Definitely need to order more Cyclone parts so I may break off and work on the Chaparral a little.
skiroule
Well-known member
While they probably didn't get the miles of modern sled but with few, if any groomed trails, these tracks took a beating. Plus, one has to keep in mind that a track like this one is just about 50 years old and like it does with all of us, time takes its toll
The Mean Green metallic and black is a sharp combination. This color was a big departure from the traditional John Deere green and while it was used on the 76 and 77 Cyclones, it was actually previewed on the 1975 340/S models.
Apologies for a bit of history here. The 340/S was an interesting sled. In addition to the green color, the chassis design became the basis for the Cyclone/Liquifire/Liquidator series for 1976. Around 1000 340/S models were built, most of which ended up in the hands of racers.
With the 340 motor it was legal for the Winnipeg to St. Paul race and it proved to be remarkably durable. Of the 22 sleds that finished the race in 1975, 12 were 340/S sleds. In spite of the fact that it was heavier than a lot of sleds, it moved pretty well for its weight. At one point during the 75 race, the highway patrol clocked Roger Janssen at 84 mph. For a stock, 340 in a heavy sled, that’s not bad.
John Deere didn’t win the race in 75 but they built on what they learned with the 340/S and went on to win it in 76 with a 340 Liquidator.
