The project was called Prinoth Leitwolf NT (New Treads), took about 3 months to complete, and became a massive make-over! The model looks more realistic, is remote controlled (tracks and tillers) and powerful in driving. The undercarriage lift mechanism is redesigned and based on 2 pneumatic cylinders. Unfortunately, the undercarriage can only be adjusted at the front side, as the rear side is fully occupied with the new power XL motors and did demand for a proper construction; otherwise the model is pushed apart by the force of the XL motors. The V6 engine is still inside and working. The battery box is located behind the cabin chairs, whereof the infrared receivers are positioned under the roof. Finally, the tracks do have a tension mechanism by using shock absorbers.
Testing in real snow learned 'snow-bars' needed to be mounted on the tracks for more grip, making two parallel tracks 'act as one'.
However, for just 'home play-ability' this is not necessary.
Track movement
Front blade up/down
Front blade tilt
Rear tiller
Pneumatic height adjustment
Track tension mechanism
Front blade turn left & right
Engine roof opening
Front blade wing turning
Rear tiller wing turning
Rotating cutter rollers
Drum winch free rotation
Width - 23 cm
Undercarriage 'low'
Height - 21 cm
Undercarriage 'high'
Height - 22 cm
Weight - ~2,5 kg
with Drum Winch - 2.926
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Not applicable
Development process
The power XL motors are very strong!! Therefore, it took a while to develop a driving gear not ending up with 'crunching gears, decoupled beams and bending axles'. Due to these powerful motors, it was not possible anymore to have a loosely coupled undercarriage at the rear side for raising/lowering as being the case in the 1st design 'Prinoth Leitwolf OT'.
A couple of functions are 'packed together' in the same area of the model, space was a challenge...
- The 2 pneumatic cylinders to raise / lower the front part of the groomer.
- The medium motor to operate the front tiller (between the 2 pneumatic cylinders).
- The only battery box location left in the model turned out to be behind the driver seat, and as low as possible because of the battery box weight, plus the fact the infrared receivers must be able to fit above the battery box. As well, the battery box must be easily assessible for replacing batteries. This can be done by flipping the seats to the front.
- The V6 engine, which is above the 2 pneumatic cylinders.
Another challenge became the undercarriage construction.
The first design bent too much when the groomer chassis was lifted. This was solved by redesigning the undercarriage in such a way the groomer weight rests 'between' on each side between the 2 parallel tracks.
The front black sprockets are connected to the main chassis and do not have a fixed connection to the undercarriage, because of the ability to lift the groomer chassis. As a result, the outside of the front black sprockets bend towards the undercarriage when the tracks are moving. To solve this problem, the front gears do have shock absorbers to keep 'tension on the tracks'.
Drum winch equipment:
Snow groomers do have occasionally a drum winch, used to anchor the snow groomer on - for instance - a concrete block when crawling very steep slopes. The Prinoth Leitwolf can be equipped with a drum winch and anchor itself over 850 meter distance. The drum winch can be added after completing the loading platform model as an 'Add-On'.
