Well, I started off the weekned looking over the 'cat any seeing if I have broken anything. Except for a few deep scratches and a few missing rivits it wass all in good shape, just a little muddy.
Then I pulled out the headlight bulbs that had blew up. I hope to get some new ones this next week. The snorkel is going in as well. I am also going to add a 4"x18" PVC "floation pod" on the rear rack and a smaller one on the frt. the rear will be pressurized with Helium to not only provide floation but also to fill up the tires when needed, the frt will be used a dry storage. The exaust will be chopped Nightowl style and, have an removable snorkle for when the going get very bad. And of course a frt Locker. I even have my eyes on a Superwinch 1500 at a local Kmart that is on clearance for the Rear. The Warn 4X's will go back on the frt and I am also planning on adding a set for Reverse lights. To help out with the new power requirments I am going to add a extra ATV Battery.
Since Mobile is on the Coast, swamps are never far away. With this in mind I added a Fan Kill switch adn Water-proffed the entire ATV. With all the Mods I hope to get on this mth the cat should be able to go most anywhere I wats too, swimming or crawling.

 

Hey, good to see you back in action there BCD! Damn, sounds like you've made a few slight modifications to your 'Cat there, would love to see some pics as you get it all together! Let me know what you think of the NiteOwl Muffler Mod please, I've been trying to get around to doing that myself, but haven't found the time yet. I'm interested to hear what you think about the power gains there. So how is everything else going? Not sure if you've seen the pics or not, but I made a few changes to my 'Cat as well. Most recently was the rear Kimpex with 55w reverse lights, also the front 55watt'ers and of course, the 27" Bi/Tri combo. I love that idea about the "floatation pod" as you call it, definately sounds cool. One question though-do you think you'll be able to get away with using helium like you mention? I knew a guy up here who tried that on a Jeep, with steel tubing, and said he couldn't keep it pressurized because the helium molecules were small enough that they escaped either from the piping, or the joints. Not sure if you'd run into that problem with pvc, and a good glue job, but it would sure be interesting to see. Helium would definately help "float" better than normal air.

Oh, an added note about that "floating" bit-better practice up on your balancing act too! When I about lost my 'Cat in the icy river, it was all I could do to keep it balanced and upright. Those big 'Claws, even with 6 lbs. of air, want to be up top, so it takes a bit of talent to keep the tires right side down if you know what I mean. Heh heh heh. Of course the strong current of the river didn't help much.

Best of luck with the improvements/mods there, like I said, let me know when you get the new pics up and how you like the NiteOwl trick. Take care,

Mike

 

Your modifications sound most innovative and interesting; please keep us advised of the results of your experimentation.

Unless your PVC flotation pod expands, like a balloon, BigCatDriver, seems like pressurizing it with helium or any gas will only make it heavier, not contributing to flotation, but the reverse.

For example, welding gas cylinders, propane tanks, etc., weigh more when filled with gas than when empty.

Of course, even when pressurized, the displacement of the pod may still cause it to float and provide some "lift" to your quad.

Remember the CSS Hundley!

Diogenes

 

Well as of 1/27/01 at 1735 teh Snorkel is 75% fnished. I will have the pics posted on my web page late tonight if all goes well, the total bill was about $25.00.
You both are right, Cowboy the PCV with a good glue will create a very tight bond, also Since helium is 50% the Moler weight you can contain 2 twice as much of it than you can of Compressed air if not more. The PVC is only rated at about 200 psi so at that pressure teh Helium will not have to go into a Liquidous state..I hope.. I will know next weekend.

 

BigCat:
Cool, looks like you've already done your homework with the molecular weight of helium and such-definately a step I would have overlooked! heh heh heh. Not to sound ignorant here, but is this the intake snorkel you're working on, or the exhaust? You mentioned it being removeable, so I was kind of curious which end you were working on. Also, as you'll now be riding in more swampy areas, with deeper water/mud, do you think you'll swap to a larger tire, like maybe a more aggressive 27", or even the 28" Outlaws? I bet you'd gain a little more ground clearance by moving to a larger 27" or the 28" outlaws even, also by adding air pressure. Hell, I think Boner's got his 'Claws aired up to about 28" if I remember right.

Anyway, best of luck with the additions-anxious to see the pics!

Mike

 

Cowboy,
I am working on the intake as we speak, I will make 2 diffrent lenghts one that is 24" and the other shorter for the times that the longer one will just get in the way. All I have to do it screw one off and then reinstall the other. As for an exaust snorkel, I will work on it when the pipe gets chopped. It is off and going to the welder the first of the week, The snorkel for it will mearly slip on and off when needed.
As for the Helium, Since I work for a Environmental Lab, I have access to many, many Chemistry Geeks. One of them had the idea and explained it to me.
Tires???? yea, if Nicolle will let me spend the 500.00 smackers I will get set of 28" Outlaws or a set of Mudzillas when they are released. But for now the Buggs with thier 32 PSI have never let me down

 

Pics are up


http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/tkeiy593

 

sounds like youre gonna have one heck of machine when ya get all youre mods done BCD...Im not sure i would attempt to put 200PSI or helium in a PVC cylinder though.. maybe 5-10PSI but not 200. Here on the farm we have a small portable STEEL air tank( for filling atv, car tires etc), this STEEL tank is only rated for 125psi MAX and is equiped with a pressure relieve valve which 'blows' if the pressure in the tank exceeds about 120psi.I would just hate to see ya blow your hand off ( or worse) by attempting to put that much pressure into a PVC cylinder

 

DO NOT put even close to 200 psi. PVC gets very brittle when cold and if it blows up you are talking about ALOT OF VERY SHARP missiles. Even when at a fairly warm temperature, with pressure that high a good hit will crack the pvc. A crack at that psi would surely make the whole pipe explode.

If you do stay with PVC, make sure you double layer the pipe. Like make a conduet for the pressured pipe.