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M973 (BV206) fun

70deuce

Active member
936
121
43
Location
Franktown, CO
Finally had a decent snow south of Denver. Plowed up a snow hill and drove the M973 up on it. Will try to put the video on of it driving over this mound. In low range it will almost idle over this size hill.
 

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70deuce

Active member
936
121
43
Location
Franktown, CO
Sorry about the darkness of the video. The sun was in the wrong spot. As for working on it, so far just an oil change which you have to suck out of the crankcase, a coolant hose popped off near the engine and hitting about 25 grease points is all I have done. There are two good size tunnel covers that come off that expose the engine and auto transmission which it makes it fairly easy to work on most things that may give problems. This one has the 5 cylinder Mercedes turbo-diesel mated to a Mercedes 4 speed truck automatic tranmission hooked to a 2 speed transfer case with driveshaft mounted disc service and emergency brake. Thing runs superbly. Has a position on the ignition switch just before the starter engages to activate the glow plug cold start system. At 0 degress hold it there for about 45 secs and it will fire right up. 35 MPH top speed. Its regisitered for the Colorado National Park system as basically a snow mobile.
 

KsM715

Well-known member
5,149
142
63
Location
St George Ks
Something Ive always wondered about these vehicles, is the second half powered? do the tracks provide power the the "trailer"? or is it just a trailer?
 

70deuce

Active member
936
121
43
Location
Franktown, CO
More pictures. Definitely both units powered through a pretty hefty transfer case. The rear drive shaft goes through a protective tunnel to the rear unit. Both units have the exact same ddive train underneath them. Thing is completely amphibious running about 4 knots on track power. Big bilge pumps in each unit. The rear pump is on the floor on the left side in the picture. Rear floats above the door seals. Front unit floats about 4" below the door seals which aren't the greatest and I haven't tested and probably won't test those seals. I have had in way deep mud and its like driving on hard packed roads. Can't tell the difference. Weighs about 9500 lbs if that. All composite bodies.
 

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