Topic: Untitled 550 frame&snowmobiles

[rb550four]

So there is a couple 550 frames and a complete 72 cb450 in the corner of my shop.
I was out today and ran across 3 snowmobiles , an 86 cat and 2 skidoo s, I'm thinking  that it's time ,once again, to go out and just do something stupid.
   I might be thinking of a dual track 450 or 550, or a cafe inspired 450 with a track, it's not even winter yet and the wheels are a turnin.
   Always up for different ideas, maybe something that you always wondered about, but I don't want to make an air compressor. Any ideas?

[Mcwilliams570]

I want a TANK how cool would that be. Was reading this and mind went off when I saw dual track and bam a tank is my idea Only thing is I get first shot to buy it want to put in my driveway to really piss the neighbors off since they hate all the motorcycles.

Matt

[rb550four]

    Nothing can give you that warm and fuzzy feeling like a TANK, especially if you own the keys. The neighbors are gonna want treat you better, not to mention street cred and respect. This could be serious.
     The snowbike 550 has a spring type front suspension , I have an A arm set up for the new machine and it is possible to run a small track type wheels instead of skis, or wheels within skis, but I don't believe there is enough HP to make them drive tracks up front.
     I was thinking snowmobile tracks until you said tank,suddenly small excavator track came to mind as did steering clutches ,that  would be fun but I didn't run across any small excavators yet, one never knows, could happen tomorrow. But I ran across 2 rubber track yesterday.
      Still thinking of overkill with dual rear snomo tracks, sounds so crazy that it would have to be fun. still thinking it through.

[BrianScb650c]

This sounds awesome! I've been contemplating throwing the motor from my parts bike 650 into the old John Deere I have. Would make a sweet drifter when the lake freezes over

[rb550four]

That would be fun to see , always wanted to do that, please do, and we'll see if Dixie Chopper is still the fastest mower on earth.

[BrianScb650c]

Either that or throw it into one of the old snowmobiles I have. Might have to see how yours turns out first lol

I'll be watching.

[rb550four]

Brian650,
  You know that I've already done this to a 550 before right? That seemed sensable to me, perhaps even tame.  This time I need to do something so over the edge that I'll only want to get off it just to fuel it back up.

This is the last winter ride project. I'M not tooting my own horn, just saying, it can be done.
but I think it can be done better.

[rb550four]

The last one only went around 55 mph, I'm looking for a ton .

[BrianScb650c]

I have seen that pic just never saw any info on it. Props to you! That thing is sweet. Is there a build thread?

[rb550four]

Yeah , there is , but it's a blog on another riders forum named wrist twisters, good people there too, if you have a 919, it's where to go but, no place touches project threads and intense members like this site.

[rb550four]

So , it's been a month, and I ve  been thinking , perhaps a 450 or 550 is just too small to power dual tracks. It's at the" thinking about it"  stage for a while, haven't built a damn thing all month in the garage , but I have made some improvement to the shop area, heat, a hot air furnace installed, it wont be overly warm but it'll be a damnsight better than using a salamander for a change.
  I just got a call about a 81 650 that I was checking out on CL , maybe big enough to power this idea, or transplant into a 500 frame. Gonna leave now to check it out.

[Stev-o]

Rb - that project above looks awesome.  An 836 would be better for dual tracks.

[rb550four]

I'mmmmm baaaack,
  So I go out to see this 81 650. The guy who has it has this tiny little shop that he runs a Harley restoration business out of, there's no sign, no bikes outside, not a clue that this is a functioning restoration  shop of any sort. The guy opens up one of his sheds where I expect to be climbing over broken lawnmowers,  and I see a bunch of crotch rockets, I ask if if this is what he rides , he says yeah and some Harleys,This man just loves to ride everything!
  So in the corner there is the 650, and it looks okay from 25  feet away so we pull it out, holy cow ,this thing is as nice as my 80 650 and he's asking $400. It could use some cleaning up but it's all stock and all there with less than 10k miles. He says that he went to buy a Harley and had to take this one with him to complete the deal. This happens to me allot with Kawasakis. Buy one , get one free, just get it the hell outta here.So he did and didn't want to part it out, too good.
  So I give him $400 without question or hesitation and he give me 2 other racks of carbs too! Shows me around his shop,and  ongoing projects.... Real nice guy, glad I met him.
  Changed the oil and filter and battery, took out the mouse nest from the , air filter, and a quick snort of starter fluid, hit the button and it fires up. The owner before him said it hasn't been run for years.
  On the flip side, it is too good to make this snowmachine out of, but I did see a decent 900 with a high and low transmission , Hope that is still available next week but it really isn't a major deal to get as I don't have another 900 in the bunch , in fact that may even be too good to take apart.   Ohhhh what to do?
 

[rb550four]

i don't know, looks pretty damn good
http://images.craigslist.org/3E23F93H15E85F45M4caq3b0fcb92db4a114e.jpg

[Tews19]

This is going to be cool!

[rb550four]

I won't go to hell or anything if I cut that 900 up, would I?

[754]

 Too many cam, you are safe, bet the dual range is a  plus..