Ford/Marmon-Herrington SnoGo

[gordon]

I'm working away here on my ex-RAF snowblower, but I'm having real difficulty finding a matching half drive coupling for the blower drive.



I need a ten spline female half coupling to match the male half in the picture, 1.25" ID, and held to a 1" to 1.125" tapered keyed shaft by a 7/8" fine thread nut. It should be approximately 16" long.

Anyone have one, or better yet a junk Snogo model LTR blower sitting next door cheap?

Gordon

[gordon]

I've finally finished cleaning up and painting the 1942 SnoGo. The replacement engine is in and it's driving, though it needs work on the footbrake, and some instruments. I've yet to tackle the blower gear but it's pretty much all there except an operating lever and a blower half coupling, though the hydraulic hoses and rams are going to need some work.

Always wanted one ? then call me on 07973-301567. I've spent about £3250 on it so far and I'll let it go at cost as long as no one's intending to break it up for parts.....

More images at;

http://www.gwim2.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/mhf.htm


Gordon

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Gordon,

'Puff' now really looks the part, great to hear you are getting it up and running for the snow season.
Pity the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army did not use snowblowers, otherwise I'd be very tempted....

Keep up the good work!
Hanno

[gordon]

Thanks hanno, it really does look more the part now than when I got it. I had to replace the main v8 as this thing is way too big to shove, and my smallest dodge didn't want to tow it.

it needs the usual one hundred small things fixed, but the footbrake and the hydraulics are the only things I'd consider might cost money - everything else is just detail stuff.

Need one more good MH sign for the other side of the hood though....

Gordon

[gordon]

I've just had a chap call me from Manchester (England) saying he had two (or more ...) NOS 7.50 x 18" tyres for sale and asking if I was interested. He'd seen my advert for 8.25 x 18" tyres I think.

I don't need these as the SnoGo is permanent 4 x 4 and wouldn't like different rolling radii, but I thought I'd post his phone number here in case anyone does need them.

I think his name was George, and his number 0161-748-2513 if anyone is interested.

no connection with seller.

Gordon

[gordon]

After a brief childhood in the US, and a long but undistinguished career here in Scotland, Puff the MH-Ford snowblower has decided to retire to warmer climes, and is currently in England awaiting transport to Oz.

[gordon]

... of course that should read "blow snow OFF the Yellow Brick Road"

old age

[Tony Smith]

Instead, it should blow some air into those tyres!

So a Ford Marmon-Herrington is coming to Aus? That's one heck of a Big Border Raid! (Whose truck is that it's being loaded onto?)

[gordon]

.

He's taking it down to middle-England-shire for onward shipment.

The tyre pressures are deliberate, as it has 1960's tyres on it, and they are 8.25 x 18, a size now only available from China (so no probs fitting new ones in Oz if required) This is the tyre size that was an option on that generation of Fords if you wanted big singles all round as opposed to dual rears. many SnoGo owners swapped to 9.00 x 20 standard Ford rims to ease tyre replacement.

It should have 100 psig all round, but I've not put more than 50 psig in them as the last thing I wanted to do was blow one of the tyres on shipment day.

Four wheel, constant four wheel drive, and no spare wheel, of course, hence extra precautions. I did try to find one spare rim for him but with no luck.

I'm not mentioning names or final destinations deliberately, but down under contingent can probably guess who has been shipping large lumps of metal from the UK for a collection down your direction. I'm very happy to have sold to him, as most other potential buyers wanted to junk the blower gear and turn it into a cargo pickup as seen on other threads, which would be a real shame on such an intact example.

[malcolm erik bogaert]

well done Gordon you deserve a medal for perseverance!regards malcolm

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hey Tim Tam - can't you see the big sign on the back of the truck, SMITH. Must be a relative of yours. I wonder whether this truck will ever see snow?

Bob

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Gordon,

Good to hear Puff has finally found a good home. I tried my best to get her to Holland, as some of these SnoGos must have been used on the RAF's Second Tactical Air Force airfields in Holland during the winter of 1944. The collector I told you about is getting very old, so he's not buying any vehicles to add to his collection anymore.

Thank you for taking such good care of this rare truck! Bart Vanderveen would have been proud of you.

Aussies, give her a warm welcome when she arrives!

Hanno

[gordon]

Now if you think of all the areas in Australia that might need a snow blower, that could be another clue to the destination...

There were about eighty of these in the UK, three or four others exist in poor condition, and at least a couple coverted to cargo truck or wrecker, but I did see an advert for one other complete intact unit from the Puff batch up in Inverness a year or three back - wonder where it went?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by gordon

but I did see an advert for one other complete intact unit from the Puff batch up in Inverness a year or three back - wonder where it went?

No idea. I also lost track of the one in the UK converted into a wrecker, plus the genuine Ford/M-H GS truck.

Every now and then a SnoGo turns up on Ebay USA. If they get sold, many of them end up being converted into GS trucks, like you say. The last one I heard about was to be used for German army reenacting . . .

H.

[lynx42]

Wouldn't be Manfred in Cooma NSW., would it?

[gordon]

... but I don't recognise the name.

[Mike K]

Could be Narre Warren ?

Mike

[gordon]

I think it'll be a while before he gets there, so doubtless the new owner will make his presence felt when he arrives.

[malcolm erik bogaert]

just sold my pride and joy Zil 157KV tractor to a collector in Australia....so now those Australian chaps can have a real class vehicle to look at!!!regards malcolm

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Another SnoGo in Scotland, also sold, but where to?

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C118875/

[gordon]

I do have a new 8.25 x 18 tyre here that he'll be needing.

That was the Inverness one, identical to mine except it has been left out in the rain rather more.

Gordon