Northern Tracks Forum
General Forums => General Discussion => Topic started by: fancydog on May 14, 2008, 07:46:31 am
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How hard would it be to add power steering to a B12
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How hard is it to steer one of these machines without it? I have never driven one yet. Is it hard to turn? How did you make out with regards to buying one of those b 12's.
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They can be hard on the thumbs,The 2 machines are still up for sale,not sure if I really need one with the high price of gas.Also not sure how much I would use one.
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No pics yet??? They must be in excellent shape for the price. I guess it's not too bad a price though, for someone that don't have the tools & capabilities to restore one of these beauties. Considering a new snowmobile can cost 10-15,000, for 1-2 people.
Fancydog do you have friends that have bombers that you have been in & driven??? I guess it's not the point of need, it's more about the want. The satisfaction of owning something like that. Since I have bought that magazine with the article about Cameron McLean in it I became hooked. After some research, I've found 25-30 within a 200 mile radius of me. To bad there not for sale.
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They can be a handful to steer when your going slow through a trail. We might try rig something in, in the future.
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we used to have 3 machines with factory power steering.it was the same unit that was in older dodge imperials.
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Strange, I haven't heard anyone talk about it before. What year & model were the machines that had it??? Maybe Ted , Bob or Cam may be able to add a few ideas to this subject.
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old trucker....My relitives use them to commercial fish,brother in law also has a nice one with power steering he uses to get to the cabin.I have driven them,and prefer the power steering.Still can not make my mind up if I want one or not.
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I guess if your in laws have it on his, it shouldn't be much trouble to rig it up. See if you can get a couple of pics of it for Swamp Dwag & the boys. It may help them along if they plan to do the same.
What does your brother in law have for a machine???
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The later model wide guages had power steering as well as auto trans. It is not any easy thing to put on an existing machine but Cam and Daryl McLean have great systems on their wide guage woodens. Ted and others heped them with the design and construction and they are neatly installed under the floor. Very neat jobs. Have seen hard copy photos but doubt and have been taken digital that can be emailed.. To my knowlege no one has put one on a narrow guage wood but it likely is possible. THe spacing is much tighter.
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Cranman you should check it out with a photo shop or someone like Staples. They should be able to scan it. I think it would be a great to have power steering. I was talking to a couple of owners down here & they are interested in putting it on theirs.
Please let know if you can come up with anything. I'm sure they would appreciate it very much.
Can you still see Cam's setup, or is it completely covered over??? Cranman do you have any pics of Cam's work that you could put on here. I have found a new friend that has recently acquired a Woodie that he is thinking about restoring in the future. Never know I may get to give him a helping hand.
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Just wondering if anyone has pictures of the power steering units or maybe you could use some kind of rack and pinion divise please advise. thanks bill
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I agree with you bsonthelake. There are 6 people down here that are asking me every other day if I heard anything yet!!! You know the old saying: a picture is worth a thousand words. If a fellow had something to go by, I think he could do a pretty good job of gearing it up.
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Cranman what does a power steering unit consist of ?? I still have the power steering pump that was on my engine. Would a small push/pull hydraulic cylinder work with it ??
Can you steer an ol' trucker straight ??
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hi there is a guy in the saguenay that sells kits for power sterring on b12 different system than on a steel body
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Marcdds can you find out more about this kit for us. I'm sure there are alot of members interested. Any pics, price, etc....whatever information you can find. Marcdds I was talking to Alain Bosa on the phone yesterday (he owns the wine color B12 from Quebec) . He was telling me there is a place in Que. that makes & sells kits for the framework of the B12. He will check it out & call me back next week. Do you know anything about this ??
Thanks, OT.
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I think the power steering pump would be adequate OT, but I have no details on the cylinder. Ted rigged Cam's big Gem and as far as I know it has always worked perfect. Stuck-in-slush made his setup the same so maybe if he comes on he can scan some pics. I know there was good pics at the time of costuction. I remember the guys putting in some pretty heavy rigging at the time to handle all the torque required to turn those skiis.
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Thanks again Cranman. I just sent him a message. OT.
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marcdds
Newbie
Posts: 17
Re: 51 R18 Rebuild
« Reply #49 on: Today at 03:45:40 PM » Quote
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hi guys nice job i just bought a nother snow it has power sterring il send some pictures when i figure out how to do this .if any of u has original gauges sterring wheels or even the plymouth center piece ill buy some if u want keep up the nice work u are keeping ARMAND BOMBARDIER dream alive.i forgot even door handels are ok to
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Marcdds if you have trouble posting those pics you can send them to me & I'd be glad to post them here for you
OT. ;D 8)
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Hey All,
I have seen a power steering posted on here for a wide ,metal. If anyone could come up with a plan for narrow wood that was mostly hidden i would want to install in my machine. I love driving the b 12 , but the steering is difficult going slow or on twisty turns. The sharper the turn the more tension on the spring and chain. As you turn the ski leg stands up more , and makes the ski bite in more. Don't get me wrong ,for the old machine it turns good ,but with considerable effort.
48bomber
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Maybe something like this would work for you. https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=9-7122&catname=hydraulic (https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=9-7122&catname=hydraulic)
This device would be installed into the shaft between the steering wheel and the gear/rack under the floor. A power steering pump would be install on your engine and plumbed over to this valve/motor. This valve/motor would need to be fastened securely to the main frame, so maybe the best position would be nearest to the gear/rack under the floor.
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Here's what I have been thinking about. You'll have to excuse the drawing.. I'm not an artist.
http://i333.photobucket.com/albums/m366/theoldtrucker/PICT0794.jpg
http://i333.photobucket.com/albums/m366/theoldtrucker/PICT0795.jpg
Here is where I am to now. ( below ) .
http://i333.photobucket.com/albums/m366/theoldtrucker/PICT0773.jpg
http://i333.photobucket.com/albums/m366/theoldtrucker/PICT0774.jpg
I am thinking this should work. The only problem I have is mounting the control valve to the steering without cutting it off.
Dpaulson has done a great job on his, but I'm old fashion. I want to be sure of having some sort of steering... in the event of something going wrong when your in the woods.
Anyone with an idea on how to do this please let me know. I guess I'm slow doing work on my bomber... but I am having fun doing what I can.
Dave, I was posting this when an alert came on my screen that some one has posted something. When I looked at the post I think I saw what may be spot on to make this work. Great find my friend. Now back to thinking .... AGAIN.
Thanks from one old trucker
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I forgot to mention I want to keep my gear shift linkage in place to my steering column as I have it hooked up to my transmission & it works great. Also shifts the right way.
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hi guys there is a guy in saganay that used to sell kits for power sterring on b12 ill try to get the info and post it
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hi guys there is a guy in saganay that used to sell kits for power sterring on b12 ill try to get the info and post it
The later model wide guages had power steering as well as auto trans. It is not any easy thing to put on an existing machine but Cam and Daryl McLean have great systems on their wide guage woodens. Ted and others heped them with the design and construction and they are neatly installed under the floor. Very neat jobs. Have seen hard copy photos but doubt and have been taken digital that can be emailed.. To my knowlege no one has put one on a narrow guage wood but it likely is possible. THe spacing is much tighter.
Marc.... did you ever get any information on the power steering from that fellow in the Saguenay yet ? KPM awhile back you talked about your friend putting power steering on his. How did he get along with it ? And Cranman... is there any way you can get a pic or two of Cam's steering ?? I would appreciate it very much.
Thanks, OT.
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Well my friend fabricated and installed his power steering,and it's works awesome...power steering does make life easier...instead of 2 hands to turn..u can do it with 2 fingers...he also changed up to an automatic....which in my opion is the best way to go....wide gauge v8...automatic...i've owned quite a few bombardiers.....and for tough gong in deep snow or slush....the wide gauge v8 with auto is hard to beat.
kpm
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KPM is it set up the same way as Dpaulson's. Any chance of getting a pic or two of it ?? OT.
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hmm,no it's different.....i'll ask if i can take a couple pictures.
kpm
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Here is a picture of the model and serial number for the power steering cylinder that is used in the newer bombardiers (74-81 I believe)