Just wondering is anyone has a source for an ooooold Bombardier J5 parts & service manuals?
There's a forum member called sprucebunny on here that seems to know a lot on the J5's, she might be able to help.
If there isn't one on ebay, try Minnesota Outdoors.
In Canada, Dion-F4 in Quebec City area had them a few years ago.
Google 'snowcat usage and adventure' and look at the snowcat forum. There might be an electronic version there.
So... you going to share some pictures ??? ;D
Sprucebunny
Yes how rude of me! I need to get my firewood out of the woods and with the torrential rain this year the ground is too squishy. You can see the ruts left by my IH B414 when it sank. The little old TJ pulled it out no problem but I needed something that would float across and pull a small trailer full of wood at least. This is a bare bones J5 with a Chevy 250 I6 put in it. I am pretty sure it needs a new coil which I will get to this eve. Otherwise it is a hoot to drive and should serve my purpose. Am amazed how it just putts along without issue.
Now if I could find an old log trailer for it I would jump on it! Or at least the suspension and wheels for one with tracks as I would end up just making my own suitable frame for it.
offsite photo removed by Admin
Thanks for the picture 8) Yea, tracks can help flatten ruts and they sure improve traction.
Does your J5 have the bar in the back to attach the factory trailer ?
The bar thing attaches to the walking beam shaft inside the beam so the over all weight of the trailer is further forward on the J5 because it is a trailer connection that is stiff length-wise but pivots side to side.
Is your tub the heavier metal ???
Here's a picture of the trailer.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11412/SBJ5trailer.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1500299541)
My J5 is bare bones with only a basic hitch (ball style) welded on. Would be fine for now and I think that log trailer as is would be more than I need, but the wheel and tracks would be perfect :)
I will get a video of it in action this weekend. Pulling a half cord in a little trailer through some serious wet areas is not a problem. It just putts along. I had to replace the carb on it as it was not running well at all. Now it is much better but need to hook up the manual choke cable!
Does anyone know what rad went into these I could look at? Mine is running hot and I will replace the thermostat and water pump first but wanted to start researching a replacement rad if needed.
Your radiator is above the engine ?
I think those are hard to find. Might be better taking the one you have to a radiator specialist and having it cleaned up ( boiled ) and brazed.
You need to have the engine side covers on for the cooling system to work well.
No engine side covers on.....but I can get some on ASAP. Actually am a bit surprised by their need given the way the fan draws in air through the rad as is. Thermostat and water pumps are an easy install. The rad faces out at the back. I will add a temp gauge first this weekend to see what it is actually running at.
The radiator that is verticle at the back is easier to find...assuming it's original and even if it's not original it's format is easier to match.
I think someone on that snowcat forum used a '60s Dodge truck radiator to replace the verticle one. If it is the original rad, that would mean the J5 was originally set up as the 'Tropical' version.
I'm guessing from your picture and post that it's not the original radiator. The original was pretty big. It often doesn't cool as well with a different radiator because it's all backwards ( no breeze coming in ).
If your radiator seems ok , try adding an electric fan mounted on the radiator. They don't cost much and can make a difference.
Original engine and housing. Rad is in the top.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11412/SBJ5radEmily.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1501324431)
The back with the hitch for the trailer.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11412/SBJ5rearEmily.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1501324509)
SB,
I took a video but need to edit it down. Weather was perfect today so took the kids to the beach instead of editing a video. Last nite I went out to get a load of firewood with the mechanical thermostat in it and watched the temp climb up to 220F and then the water pump blew out. I had a suspicion it was the culprit. Took it all apart this aft and the rad looks rather fine but there was at least 1/2" play in the water pump shaft plus coolant all over. Wont take long to get it back together once a pump comes in. Seems nobody has it stocked locally.
I also managed to take it out through some wetlands and man that thing goes anywhere! Will be in the video but made a nice trail through 6' of reeds and cattails. Wish I had a self powered bush hog.
K
Video of the adventure. Was planning to hire someone to bush hog that area but think I will just drive over it all with some b**r in hand and flatten it.
https://youtu.be/MARbPC29rUQ (https://youtu.be/MARbPC29rUQ)
Great video 8) Thanks !!
I've got some land with growth like that that I would like to flatten but I'm pretty sure that I would find a 6 foot deep and 7 foot wide channel in the middle of it and be stuck . And I'd be 135 feet from a tree or powerpole ( Would I dare ??? ) because I have 125 feet of winch line...
Actually I have a 6' deep ditch out there as well and edited a view of it out. I should take a before and after shot of the flattening with my drone.....or heck a video of it being flattened from the air.
A fellow FF member has offered up an old trailer needing work so it looks like I will add something else to the yard machinery collection in the next couple of months :o
Quote from: krusty on July 16, 2017, 07:01:15 AM
Just wondering is anyone has a source for an ooooold Bombardier J5 parts & service manuals?
I know this is a old thread, but here is my answer:
j5.pdf - Google Drive (https://drive.google.com/open?id=1vIwABBosYW76pvJUkqH9UrqUZkIDs2jf)
I would have uploaded it, but it is 18 MB scan. If it doesn't work for you write back to me.
jf