Mystery 6x6

[chris davison]

Coop will the hyd pump be running oil to tank thru the dcv all the time until you move the dcv to power the impeller? or are you going to put that electric clutch between the crank and the pump? if it runs all the time it will rob some hp not to mention heat up the oil. Oh' no I have never seen anything like the one you have or the one I built to pattern mine after. I saw one argo and have built two sand rails then I started building walley I think I drew 10 different plans until I chose this one because it suited my purpose for this machine.

[akranger72]

I would sure like to see pics and a video when your all done? Thanks for the detailed pics and video you have posted so far. This machine is a beast.

[Coop]

Ok, time to open this thread back up. The machine has sat in the corner of the garage collecting dust since last fall, time to get it dusted off and start getting it ready to run this spring. When I left off I had re-built all the chain tensioners, removed the twin radiators and replaced them with a single radiator mounted in the back where it can get some cool air, tuned up the engine, which included a carb rebuild and valve adjustment,, gutted the wiring, and remoed the jet pump. That's where I'm at right now. I still have the pump out, I took it all apart, everything is good, bearings are tight, impeller looks good. I don't like the engagement system it has, it was a goofy sliding coupler on a shaft, you have to shut the engine off, reach down into the tub, loosen up 2 set screws, slide the coupler into engagement, then re-tighten the set screws. Besides that, there is a homemade bevel gear set-up mounted on the rear of the pump, this was done because the engine turns the wrong direction, the pump would be running backwards if ran directly off the engine. If you watch the video I posted earlier in this thread, you can hear the howling noise coming from the pump, this was partly from the gears and partly from the edge of the coupler on the engine interfering with the side of the gearbox. So I cut the gear off the end of the pump input shaft, I had to do this to get everything apart, this gear was welded to the end of the shaft. The gearbox will not be used anymore. I am going to drive the pump with a hydraulic motor, I will couple the jet pump shaft to the hydraulic motor with sprockets/ chain, I will drive my hydraulic pump off the crankshaft of the engine. I'll have a valve in the drivers area to turn on the hydraulic motor. From what I've read, max rpm on the jet pump is 6000 rpm, I might not be able to get that driving it with a hydraulic motor, but by with playing around with sprocket sizes, I should be able to get 3-4000 rpm with no problem. I won't be pulling a skier, just putting around in the river. In the video, I don't think the pump was turning that fast, and it had plenty of propulsion. Tomorrow I'll put the drive back together, get some sprockets and start fabbing it back together.

DSC_7897.jpg



Coop

[Coop]

Yes, I've been collecting seriously for about 8 years now, but I've had an interest since I was a young boy. My Grandparents used to have a river camp on the Allegheny River, and as a young boy I would find points at the rivers edge. Scotts Bluff points aren't found around here, those points you are refering to are called Genesse points, mid archaic, 4-5000 years ago. I've never hunted the creeks, I hunt the river flats in the spring after plowing and planting, and then again in the fall after the corn is.taken off. I find it to be a very addictive hobby.

Coop

[brushcutter]

I find them in the banks of the river, especially after the ice carves out the banks in the spring, and after floods. The rivers are not in the same place and as wide as they were 3ooo-10000 years ago, the river changes course over the years, so the artifacts I find in the river could have been woodland thousands of years ago.

Coop

Cool, didn't know there were any other artifact hunters on the site! Isn't there a couple of Scotts Bluff to the upper right of center? That's a nice display! I dug artifact near my house in the hills above some of my swamp riding trails. I know several creeks where I picked up points years ago before ALL the land around here leased and was posted. So now you have to be on a hunting lease to have access, and I can't be on ALL the leases.

[mrtlc]

Coop Go to the photo gallery under amphib atv and search for SupaCat for a few photo's.
They are some what alike, but not the same. Yours is water cooled, mine is air cooled. Both have simular drive systems with the three speed trany. The engines are installed on oppisite directions. The tires look like the same and the axles are huge. Mine has auto oilers on the chains and huge chains driving the wheels. Good luck with your machine. It sure goes good in the water with that jet pump. Keep the video's coming. Take Care Terry

[Coop]

Terry....I Googled SupaCat and found their website. I didn't see any 6x6's on there, but their stuff definatly is heavy duty. I'd love to see some pic of your machine, especially the driveline...

Coop

[mrtlc]

That drive trane looks alot like my SupaCat. It as British made. Same looking engine and drive system. My steering leavers are on the other side and mounted up on the front. I don't have a jet pump, and mine would not float. The second generation did float. The people at SupaCat are very helpful with information.. If you sent them a picture they may be able to help you. These things are BUILT TO THE HILT. Hope this may help. Terry Cilley

[Coop]

I haven't thought to much yet about the color, maybe a solid orange or darker blue. I'd even thought about a camo theme.

Coop

[Dirty Harry]

Great to see more progress on this Mystery Machine. Have you decided what color you're going to paint it??

[Coop]

DSC_7898.jpgDSC_7897.jpgI got the radiator mounts built and the radiator mounted and water lines plumbed. Now I am going to remove the top of the body again and fab up the electric clutch for the jet pump. With any luck, I'll be driving it again in a couple weeks.

Coop

[Coop]

Yes, still somewhat of a mystery. I got it from a guy in Alfred, Maine, he got it about 10 years ago from a guy in Massachusetts. He claimes it was home built, that there were 5 of them built, parts of it does look homemade, but if it is, the builder had some excellent fiberglassing skills, the body is very well built and thought out. I'd like to know more about it, there is a picture of one over on the Richard Relics site, in the gallery, looks to be the same machine with a slightly different rear cover, not sure if that one has a jet drive or not, can't tell from the pictures.

Coop

[highrollinmopars]

COOP is the make and model of that machine still a mystery? I really like the design of it...big motor,big tires,jet pump,stainless axles and hardware man thats a nice machine. I was just curious as to how you came about owning it and if anybody knows what it is or has ever seen another one.

[Dirty Harry]

Keep the updates coming, Coop. And remember... PICS! PICS! PICS!

[LarryW]

Sounds like it will be a lot easier to work on making it simple. Dual radiators seem like it could just cause extra connections/things to go bad. Thanks for the update!