I'm no help on snow machines, but had to compliment you on the photo!! Nice!

Thanks hippie

My progress so far. I'm to the point where I'm done tearing it apart and can start rebuilding it.

Looks great!! That will be a nice project keep us posted on your track machine progress. Looks interesting!

It's ALIVE! Didn't take a video, but my dad gave me a crash course on welding tonight and I was able to get the exoskeleton frame on then get the motor in place and I couldn't stand to let it sit without firing it up. Wouldn't you know, that Chinese engine fired up on the first pull. I still need to build the handlebars and finish the frame, but I gave it some gas and it went forward, so I'm happy with it so far.

Finished just in time to test it out in the 15" of fresh snow we got last night in northern Wisconsin. Works like a charm both in the deep snow and on the cleared road. Loving it!

Also saw an otter making its way through the snow.

That is great that you could make your own version tlguy.
It probably works better than the bought version.

Very impressed with the Home build. Did you follow a guide or have one to look at or did you just wing it?

That is awesome!!! You did a great job on that build, and I tip my hat to You. I made a wooden seat for mine, that has plywood cut half the length of sled and a 20 inch high wood seat. I like to sit on my long rides into the back country to fish, trap or hunt.

Good Luck and have fun!!

Have you tried it out in 3 feet of powder yet,or sugar?

Nicely done, Tlguy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Moosetrot

Put a Honda engine on it and I'd buy one.

I did have it in some virgin snow that was at least knee deep. It was a little tippy, but that's expected because the track is only 15" wide. In the deep snow you steer by tipping it to one side or the other, so that can get interesting, and I had to occasionally step out of the sled so the machine could get through the snow. My main use will be for ice fishing though, so I doubt I'll run into 3' of snow in my regular use.

Posco, the harbor freight engine is only $150, I could replace the whole thing a few times for what a Honda would cost.

Donnersurvivor, no plans, just figured it out as I went along. There is a Facebook group with lots of pictures and different builds guys have done so I had some things to reference.

It was a fun build. I'm already thinking about possibly selling this one and building another one this summer, but may hold off until next year and get some use out of it on the ice to really figure out what I want on the next one. I would like to build some sort of seat instead of standing in a sled, especially for ice fishing a nice boat seat on a swivel would be nice, then I wouldn't have to bring a chair.

Reason I ask is the old elans would handle 3 feet of snow with a man on top.

I was surprised how well it stayed on top of the snow. It sank maybe 6-10", if I stepped out of the sled the snow was over my knees, and if I stepped in the trail made by the track sled, I would still sink 3-4". I don't know exactly how much it weighs yet, but I would guess 2-300 pounds. A typical snowmobile is double that.