New guy with a new project. :-)nd

[Badpaddler]

So....... I found this little deally oh over the weekend. The tub seems to be in pretty decent condition. The PO took the rear axle in to get a new one fabbed up, and took the engine in to have it checked out. I would have done this myself, but for $300, what does one expect. So here are the issues.

1. The tranny is in 2 halves, and he was originally told that it needed a new drum. I don't see an pitting, rusted, or channeled areas in the drums. The bands even look work evenly and have some pad left on them. How does one tell whether the drums need to be resurfaced or replaced?

2. I called the place that was doing work on the engine, and they replaced the coil and rebuilt the carb. Total damage....... $500. Needless to say, I am debating throwing in a different engine instead of dropping $500 on an antiquated powerplant. I do have a spare Fuji Heavy Polaris 488 fan cooled sitting around. How difficult would it be to use that, and would it be too high revving on an engine? If it wouldn't be ideal, what would you guy recommend for a replacement. Don't have the money to throw a new Vanguard in there.

3. The cowling looks as if it was ripped off at some point. Is there a decent way to fix this thing? I am thinking 2 steel plates and a metric a$$ ton of rivets?

4. The muffler is WAY bigger than the hole for it on the tub. Is there a larger flange that goes there?

5. Does anyone have a manual for the Tomahawk? I can't seem to find any information on them.

I can't wait to get digging into this thing! TOTALLY new realm for me. I know how to wrench, and work on vehicles, quads, sleds, etc., but this thing looks like a damn clock under there!!!!! PURE AWESOMENESS!!!!

Thanks for any help beforehand!20160321_171254.jpg20160321_171248.jpg20160321_171240.jpg20160319_161758.jpg

[Don]

Congratulations on the T'hawk find! Here's a link to the Superchief manual on this site: it will be almost identical to the Tomahawk except for the engine and clutching. http://www.6x6world.com/forums/conte...r-manuals.html Your idea on the engine cover fix is what most of us do for that problem, but you may want to use aluminum just to keep it lighter. Good Luck.

[Andyman]

Lots of good people here to help you get it going.

Nice find

[Badpaddler]

Thanks! I need to head into town, so I will look for a few sheets of thicker aluminum. I downloaded the manual yesterday, was just hoping someone had the specific one. Can't always get lucky though. :-) As long as this one is basically the same. Any thoughts on the engine? I may start looking for a small newer 4 stroke, or small yanmar diesel.

[Badpaddler]

Congratulations on the T'hawk find! Here's a link to the Superchief manual on this site: it will be almost identical to the Tomahawk except for the engine and clutching. http://www.6x6world.com/forums/conte...r-manuals.html Your idea on the engine cover fix is what most of us do for that problem, but you may want to use aluminum just to keep it lighter. Good Luck.

Either way I am going to need to weld the tube nut tabs back on the rack correct?

[Don]

Either way I am going to need to weld the tube nut tabs back on the rack correct?

I'm not sure what you mean. Are the tabs broken off the legs of the rack?

I think I have a T'hawk manual somewhere. If I can scan it I'll send it to Mike and see if he'll post it.

[Badpaddler]

I'm not sure what you mean. Are the tabs broken off the legs of the rack?

I think I have a T'hawk manual somewhere. If I can scan it I'll send it to Mike and see if he'll post it.

Yeah. I should be able to weld em back on. My thought before when I was going to use steel to reinforce it, I was just gonna weld the legs straight to it.

That would be awesome if you could!

[Badpaddler]

So the exhaust I have has a flange on it, but it is nowhere near the same size as the hole in the tub. Is there a cheap easy to find alternative exhaust for these?

[Badpaddler]

Got the metal for the fixing of the rear cowling, and have a guy at a small engine shop looking for a more suitable twin BS motor. I would love to find a little Yanmar to throw in there! What would your recommendations be for bumping up the size of the axles? Is it worth the work and money to go bigger?

[Badpaddler]

Another question for everyone. If I wanted to do away with the existing exhaust hole above the wheel, what would be the best way to patch this? Does anyone have a line on small pieces of the same color yellow ABS? Been looking for a reason to buy a plastic welder.

[Don]

I found my Tomahawk manual. I'll try and get it scanned this weekend.

You can do just about anything with the exhaust. There are a lot of machines around that have been changed so that the exhaust comes out through the engine cover, which works pretty well.

I'll see if I can find a big enough piece of HDPE to cover the hole in your machine where the original muffler was (the T'hawk will be HDPE plastic- they changed from ABS in 1975). How big is the hole?

Bigger axles are stronger, but it's up to you whether it's worth the expense and work or not. It is a lot of work, and all the sprockets and bearings need to be changed for the job as well.

[amphibious drew]

I've got some splined max IV axles I purchased in bulk. I had a good friend turn down the ends on a set to 1 inch and added some spacers to use on my tomahawk. It worked out very well, but like Don said, I had to put all new sprockets on as well. If you are interested in doing the upgrade, I will sell a set for $65/axle. You will need to have them turned down if you want to use the factory inner bearings as well as getting 62mm flanges and bearings for the outers and drill them as well as the body and frame to match.

[Badpaddler]

I found my Tomahawk manual. I'll try and get it scanned this weekend.

You can do just about anything with the exhaust. There are a lot of machines around that have been changed so that the exhaust comes out through the engine cover, which works pretty well.

I'll see if I can find a big enough piece of HDPE to cover the hole in your machine where the original muffler was (the T'hawk will be HDPE plastic- they changed from ABS in 1975). How big is the hole?

Bigger axles are stronger, but it's up to you whether it's worth the expense and work or not. It is a lot of work, and all the sprockets and bearings need to be changed for the job as well.

I will measure the hole today. Best guess would be around 6"x 6". I would prefer to just bring the exhaust out the back of the cowl as that is where it is kind of heading with the B&S twin anyway. Are the axles on these things weak? I know the PO had one in a shop getting fabbed up and they want $200 to get it out. Seems a little steep to me. How much does it run for new axles for this thing?

Thanks,

Seth

[Badpaddler]

I've got some splined max IV axles I purchased in bulk. I had a good friend turn down the ends on a set to 1 inch and added some spacers to use on my tomahawk. It worked out very well, but like Don said, I had to put all new sprockets on as well. If you are interested in doing the upgrade, I will sell a set for $65/axle. You will need to have them turned down if you want to use the factory inner bearings as well as getting 62mm flanges and bearings for the outers and drill them as well as the body and frame to match.

When we refer to "axles" on these things it is a single wheel, and not both front wheels right ($390 total cost vs. $195)? How much are the 62mm flanges and bearings? Is there a template for rent to match the holes or would I have to make/ buy one. Right now I am looking at having to replace at least one axle, and if I am getting the frame out for work, I am suspecting I will need to cut 1 or 2? Is that a correct assumption? I am also trying to keep costs down for at least a while. Can't imagine what shipping would be for 6 axles up here. Best guess would be well past $150.

Thanks,

Seth

[amphibious drew]

Yes it would be $390 plus shipping for the set of 6. The bearings and flanges can be purchased at buffalo bearing or any other bearing warehouse. I believe you want the 3 bolt flanges and not the 4 bolt flanges. There is a jig floating around that member Whipper has been kind enough to let members use. I sent it to George when I finished my conversion and he may have sent it to hydromike. If you can track it down, I'm sure you could use it as long as you ship it on to the next member in need of it. The entire conversion is not cheap as the sprockets, hubs, and outer flanges all need purchased in addition to new bearings. However, when rebuilding, it is common practice to replace all the bearings anyway. When your done, you have pretty much a modern machine with a cool old school body. If you want to do things cheaper and original, you can make new original style axles very cheap out of 1 inch round 4140. I may have some stock sprockets in good condition laying around if you need them.