Mogul Master Operator Guide
Congratulations! Your association is the proud owner of the
industry’s finest snowmobile trail groomer, the Mogul Master Multi-Blade
Planer. Your Mogul Master Mutli-Blade Planer has been manufactured using
only the finest in quality materials and workmanship and will provide years of
trouble free use with only a minimum of maintenance.
The secret to the proven success of the Mogul Master
Multi-Blade is really no secret at all. The Mogul Master Multi-Blade Planer has
been carefully designed and engineered to perform a series of steps that are a
must for effective trail grooming.
Under most trail grooming conditions these steps are
accomplished in a single pass. The steps for effective trail grooming are:
1-Cutting Moguls
The most obvious step in snowmobile trail grooming, whenever conditions allow,
is to remove the moguls that snowmobile traffic will cause on the trail. To
simply cut off the tops of the moguls and drop the snow into the depression of
the moguls will result in these same moguls returning in no time at all.
The Mogul Master’s combination of multiple, angled cutting
blades, with the lower edge of the blade leading into the mogul, provides an
extremely aggressive cutting ability. This allows the Mogul Master to completely
remove the moguls, all the way down to the base, thus eliminating all
“memory” of the moguls from the trail.
Depending on the amount of fresh snowfall covering the moguls
on the trail it is not always possible to completely remove the moguls in which
case the Mogul Master is able to set up a new trail base over the existing
moguls as explained below.
2-Processing the snow
There are a number of steps involved in processing the snow on a trail that is
achieved by the Mogul Master Multi-Blade Planer. At any given time there may be
many various types of snow on a snowmobile trail... hard packed snow, soft snow,
freshly fallen snow and snow that has been pounded and worked so hard that there
is little consistency to it.
The Mogul Master’s angled blade design causes these various
types of snow to be thoroughly mixed or “homogenized” by working the snow
from side to side as the Mogul Master is pulled along the trail. The curved
design of the cutting blades further affects this homogenizing by rolling the
snow forward as it is being worked from side to side.
While the snow is being mixed or homogenized it is also being
de-aerated. In other words the air is being removed from the snow and at the
same time this mixing is breaking down the minute sharp edges of the individual
snowflakes of the fresh snow that may be present.
Another very important step that is taking place is that the temperature of the snow is actually rising, be it to a very small degree, with the friction created by the Mogul Master working the snow. While the snow is being processed in this manner to provide a consistent mix of all of the snow on the trail it is also being spread evenly across the width of the Mogul Master.
All of these individual steps in the processing are very
important for the final step that the Mogul Master accomplishes.
3-Compacting the snow
Once the Mogul Master has completed the steps as described above, the leading
edge of the Rear Packing Pan of the Mogul Master Multi-Blade Planer further
serves to spread the processed snow evenly across the width of the pan.
Finally, the Mogul Master Multi-Blade Planer compacts the
snow with the Rear Packing Pan that has been engineered to provide the ideal
pressure on the processed snow and the result is a table top smooth, durable
finish to the snowmobile trail.
Three basic steps that are a must to accomplish what
snowmobile trail riders and groomer operators alike demand…quality, groomed
trails. There is a fourth step that
can add to the length of time that the finished groomed trail lasts and that is
set up time. The longer the set up time, the more durable the trail.
However, with the effectiveness of the Mogul Master
performing the steps described above, the set up time required is kept to a
minimum.
Connecting to The Tracked Vehicle
Step 1
By hand, raise the Front Hitch of the Mogul Master to the approximate
height of the Pintle Hook of the tracked vehicle. If the connection is being
done by one person only, the hitch can be held at the correct height using the
length of 5/16” chain provided by connecting the chain between the grab hook
which is welded on the hitch and the grab hook on the black “Floating
Device” which is pinned to the front hydraulic cylinder.
Step 2
Back the tracked vehicle to the Mogul Master and drop the Pintle Ring
on the draw bar of the Mogul Master Front Hitch into the Pintle Hook of the
tracked vehicle. Fasten the lock on the tracked vehicle’s Pintle Hook and
install the safety pin.
Step 3
Connect the two hoses for the front hydraulic cylinder of the Mogul
Master to one circuit of the tracked vehicle and the two hoses for the rear
cylinder of the Mogul Master to a second circuit on the tracked vehicle.
Because the front hydraulic cylinder provides the control for
the depth of cut for the Mogul Master and is used most frequently, be sure to
have this front cylinder controlled by the actuator in the cab of the tracked
vehicle that is in a comfortable, easy to reach location.
The rear hydraulic cylinder of the Mogul Master is used to
control the Rear Wheel Assembly, which raises the rear of the Mogul Master for
backing up and for road and railway crossings etc. and as such is used far less
often.
Note: To remove the chain used to hold the Mogul Master Front Hitch at the correct height activate the front cylinder to raise the front of the Mogul Master (this lengthens the front hydraulic cylinder) which will provide the necessary slack. Be sure not to activate the hydraulic control to shorten the front cylinder, as this will cause the chain or the grab hooks to bend or break.
Step 4
Activate the hydraulic controls in the cab of the tracked vehicle to
raise and lower the Mogul Master 8 to 10 times to remove all air from the
hydraulic hoses and cylinders on the Mogul Master. Inspect all connections for
leaks.
Note: The direction of control handle
movement in the cab of the tracked vehicle is very much an operator’s choice,
however, a pulling motion on the control to raise the Mogul Master and a pushing
motion to lower is most preferred for operator comfort.
Once the hydraulic connections have been made to the
operators liking, to facilitate removal and reconnection of the hydraulic hoses,
identify each mating hose on the tracked vehicle and Mogul Master with different
colored plastic tie wraps or with some other means of identifying mating hoses.
Be sure to also identify the hoses at the groomer side of the
Quick-Release Couplers on the hitch if your Mogul Master is equipped with the
Quick Release Couplers on the Front Hitch.
Step
5
Once all connections have been made as described, slowly move
the tracked vehicle ahead turning first one way and then the other. Carefully
inspect the hydraulic hoses for binding and interference as the tracked vehicle
is turned.
Also check to be sure there is sufficient clearance between the rear outside of the tracks and the front outside of the Mogul Master when the tracked vehicle is fully turned.
Grooming
Speed
The term for the grooming speed that provides the best all around
results is the “Optimum Grooming Speed”. The Optimum Grooming Speed is the
speed at which the maximum number of miles of trail are groomed in the shortest
length of time... while achieving the best quality trail.
Do not confuse Optimum Grooming Speed with high speed!
When grooming too fast the snow does not have enough time to be processed
effectively by the Mogul Master and the result is a poorer quality trail that
will not stand up to traffic and in turn means more frequent grooming.
Another major result of high speed grooming is the
significant increase in the wear and tear and maintenance and repairs required
on the tracked vehicle and Mogul Master. The operator may be able to cover more
trail in a given period of time, however, this advantage is quickly lost in
increased costs for more frequent grooming, higher fuel consumption, increased
repair costs and down time.
Grooming too slow, although certainly not as disastrous as
grooming too fast, also has its costs in wasted time and time is money in
operators wages and fuel consumed.
The Optimum Grooming Speed would be somewhere between 6 to 8
miles per hour depending on conditions and should never exceed 9 to 10 miles per
hour. Grooming wet snow requires a change in grooming speed as described below.
Operating
the Mogul Master Multi-Blade Planer
The Mogul Master Multi-Blade Planer is an extremely user-friendly
trail groomer that can be effectively operated by even the most inexperienced
operators by using only two hydraulic functions activated from the cab of the
tracked vehicle.
The operator must, of course, be familiar with all aspects of
the tracked vehicle being operated and follow all safety procedures. Before
using the Mogul Master for the first time the operator should take a moment to
walk around the Mogul Master Multi-Blade Planer to become familiar with the
various components on the groomer.
The operator should also operate the hydraulic functions from
the cab of the tracked vehicle and take notice of the corresponding movements of
the Mogul Master. The Mogul Master will do all of the trail preparation with
only a minimum of adjustment necessary by the operator.
The Rear Wheel Assembly of the Mogul Master is raised or
lowered by a hydraulic control in the cab and is used to raise the rear of the
groomer at any time the Mogul Master is backed up or to allow for road crossing
and railway crossing and to load the Mogul Master and tracked vehicle on and off
trailers etc.
When trail grooming the Rear Wheel Assembly is in the raised
position and the Rear Packing Pan is always on the snow. The amount that the
Mogul Master cuts is adjusted by moving the control in the cab that activates
the front hydraulic cylinder on the groomer.
The main frame of the Mogul Master is raised or lowered at the front to vary the amount of cut as necessary with the Rear Packing Pan in constant contact with the snow as mentioned above. The operator as varying trail conditions demand must adjust the cutting depth of the Mogul Master.
When operating the Mogul Master, if the visibility from the
cab of the tracked vehicle permits, watch the snow in the groomer as it is being
processed and/or the finished trail that the Mogul Master leaves.
Until the operator is familiar with the results that the
Mogul Master is producing, occasionally stop the tracked vehicle and get out and
walk back to the rear of the Mogul Master and check the trail that is being
produced.
Varying snow and trail conditions will mean varying the
grooming procedures somewhat. When operating, the Mogul Master is at all times
in a “Nose Up Attitude” to a greater or lesser degree depending on the trail
and snow conditions.
The procedures described below are a general guideline to
follow and are assuming that the tracked vehicle has adequate pulling power and
tractive ability. With a tracked vehicle that has sufficient tractive ability
and pulling power, in a single pass, the Mogul Master can in most cases easily
remove moguls that are up to 18” in height.
With a good front blade on the tracked vehicle, moguls of
24” or more in height can be removed in a single pass. By following the
general guidelines described below, the operator will soon be getting maximum
results from the Mogul Master.
Trail Condition 1:
Little to moderate amounts of freshly
fallen snow; hard packed, low to moderate
to severe moguls; temperature below freezing:
Because the Mogul Master is extremely aggressive and is able
to remove moguls with ease, when grooming a trail with little fresh snow cover,
care must be taken not to have the Mogul Master adjusted too low which would
unnecessarily process the hard packed trail base. The snowmobile trail should be
groomed no lower than to the bottom of the moguls only to reprocess the moguls
and any new fallen snow that may be present. By following this method the hard
packed base of the trail is constantly being raised as the season progresses.
Adjust the cutting depth to a point where the moguls are
being removed. On a trail with low to moderate moguls, when the Mogul Master is
correctly adjusted, the front blades of the Mogul Master will only skim the tops
of the moguls and the middle and rear blades will finish the removal of the
moguls. The snow can be seen working back and forth and rolling in the Mogul
Master.
On a trail with more severe moguls the Mogul Master cutting
depth will have to be adjusted so the front blades will be cutting a larger
portion of the moguls. The snow will be approximately half way up the front
blades and it can be seen rising and falling as the front blades meet the
moguls.
The deeper the cutting depth of the Mogul Master and the more
fresh snow on the trail, the more snow that will be carried. When the snow that
has built up in front of the pan cannot be seen to be working or flowing the
groomer is carrying too much snow and not working effectively. Raise the Mogul
Master slightly to reduce the amount of snow being carried and watch the snow to
ensure it starts to flow effectively.
In most cases, depending on the track vehicle’s hydraulic
system, a “tap” of the control lever up or down is all it takes to make a
significant change in the amount the Mogul Master cuts and in the amount of snow
being carried.
The important points to watch for are:
Point 1
The Mogul Master cutting height should be adjusted so the snow can be
seen working in the groomer. When the amount of snow at the rear of the Mogul
Master builds up to a point where the snow does not appear to be flowing
effectively, raising the Mogul Master slightly will reduce the amount of snow
being carried and allow the snow to begin flowing.
Point
2
Watch the front blades of the Mogul Master to have them just
skimming the moguls on a moderately rough trail and on a rougher trail have the
snow half way up the front blades.
Point 3
The snow should not be allowed to build up in front of the rear pan
to a point where it is spilling over the sides.
Point
4
Constantly watch the snow in the Mogul Master to make sure it is
flowing and working and make slight adjustments as necessary.
Trail Condition 2:
Lots of freshly fallen snow; temperature below
freezing:
When grooming on trails with a lot of new snow the Mogul
Master should be adjusted to be as high as necessary to keep the rear pan area
of the Mogul Master full of snow without having the snow spill over the sides.
With a great amount of snow on the trail some spillage may occur.
Grooming speed may have to be reduced somewhat. Moguls under
a deep snowfall cannot in all cases be completely removed, however, the Mogul
Master is able to process the fresh snow and compact it to a smooth finish,
which sets up a new base over the existing moguls.
In this case a longer set up time becomes more important. In the case of extremely deep snow falls two passes may be required. The first pass will pack the trail and the second pass will more effectively groom the trail.
Trail Condition 3:
Wet, heavy snow; temperature above freezing:
Processing wet heavy snow is more difficult and requires more
operator finesse in that it is sticky and will not flow as well as cold, dry
snow. To groom in wet snow adjust the Mogul Master somewhat higher than you
would in below freezing conditions and pick up the speed slightly.
The operator must watch the snow in the Mogul Master very
closely in wet conditions to ensure the snow is flowing freely. Should the wet
snow begin to collect in the Mogul Master and not flow freely, raise the drag
high enough to clear the snow and then lower it again. With a bit of experience,
the operator will be able to groom quite effectively in wet snow.
Overlapping Passes
With the ability of the Mogul Master to contain the snow within the main frame
of the groomer, the operator is able to groom side by side passes on a trail
leaving virtually no berm between the passes. Simply overlap the first pass
somewhat to ensure the packing pan is at the same level as the first pass and
follow the procedures above.
Backing Up
Extreme care must be taken when backing up. When backing up off the groomed
portion of the trail ensure the area you are backing into is free of any
obstacles that may be hidden under the snow and that the rear of the Mogul
Master may run into.
The Mogul Master can be backed up with the rear wheels in
either the raised or lowered position depending on the situation the operator
finds himself in. The High Lip Packing Pan has been designed with a high,
radiused rear leading edge to allow the Mogul Master to float on top of the snow
when backing up. Keep the front of the Mogul Master as low as possible and back
up very slowly.
Always watch the Mogul Master when backing up. With the
design of the Mogul Master the Front Hitch is attached to the main frame with a
Floating Device, which reduces hill top scalping when cresting hills. This
Floating Device will allow the front of the Mogul Master to lift if the rear of
the groomer meets an obstacle when backing up.
If the operator does not notice the groomer lifting and
continues to back up, serious damage to the Pintle Hook of the tracked vehicle
and to the Draw Bar or Hitch of the Mogul Master can result.
Grooming at Night
Grooming at night in most cases will produce the best quality trail because the
temperatures are generally colder and the snow will flow better and set up
harder.
Grooming at night is also safer because the groomer operator
is able to see the lights of oncoming snowmobile traffic and the snowmobilers
are able to see the lights and strobe beacon of the tracked vehicle as well as
the reflective striping and Slow Vehicle Caution Sign that are visible on the
Mogul Master.
Grooming on the Wrong Side of the Trail
There are advocates of trail grooming that advise grooming
against the traffic flow on the left side of a trail with the justification that
you are able to groom against the moguls and therefore are better able to cut
the moguls.
This practice is very dangerous and must be
avoided! With the great physical size of snowmobile trail grooming
equipment there is in many cases very little room for oncoming traffic to get
around grooming equipment operating on the right side of the trail let alone the
left side.
The aggressive nature of the Mogul Master will cut the moguls
very effectively on the proper side of the trail and the Mogul Master has
actually been designed to operate on the right side of the trail by having the
last blade of the groomer pull the snow from the outside of the trail towards
the center.
Shear Pin Hitch
Two systems have been designed into the Mogul Master to reduce undue stress to
both the Mogul Master and the tracked vehicle. First, each individual cutting
blade is spring-loaded and is able to pivot or trip when striking rocks or
stumps that may be present on the trail.
Secondly, the Draw Bar in the Front Pintle Hitch is held in
place with a 1/2” x 4 1/2” Grade 2 bolt which acts as a safety shear bolt.
This allows the Mogul Master to break away from the tracked vehicle in the event
that the Mogul Master strikes an immovable object.
The hydraulic hoses on the Mogul Master incorporate Quick
Release Couplers attached to the Front Hitch, which will uncouple when the shear
bolt shears. This shear bolt feature is not incorporated into the optional
Extended Reinforced Pintle Hitch or the Goose Neck Hitch.
Reconnecting After Shear Pin Breaks
To reconnect the Mogul Master if the shear bolt shears, remove the Draw Bar from
the tracked vehicle Pintle Hook and reinstall it into the Mogul Master Hitch.
Install a new shear bolt of the exact same size and grade.
Carefully back the tracked vehicle close to the Mogul Master
lining up the Pintle Hook with the Pintle Ring and stop just short of the Pintle
Ring.
Reconnect the hydraulic hoses to each ones correct mate. If
difficulty in reconnecting the Quick Couplers is experienced it is generally
because there is pressure in the lines that must be released. You may have to
cycle the hydraulic control levers back and forth with the vehicle shut off in
the case of a manual hydraulic system and in the case of an electric/hydraulic
system cycle the controls with the engine shut off and the key on.
On some electric/hydraulic systems with lock out valves in
the hydraulics the engine should be left running and the hydraulic controls
cycled. In extremely cold temperatures, carefully warming the O-Rings of the
female Quick Coupler with a pocket-soldering torch will help to soften the
O-Rings and ease the reconnection.
With the hydraulics reconnected, shorten the front hydraulic
cylinder with the control in the cab, manually lift the Front Hitch and back
into the Pintle Ring. If you are alone, connect the length of 5/16 chain
provided between the grab hook on the Front Hitch and the grab hook on the
Floating Device and use the hydraulic control to raise the Front Hitch to the
proper height.
Back into the Pintle Ring, then using the hydraulic control,
lower the Front Hitch to drop the Pintle Ring into the Pintle Hook and remove
the chain. This entire procedure can be done in less than 10 minutes, even by
one person.
The shear bolt is a very important feature designed for
safety and to reduce damage that may be caused and should not be replaced with a
harder bolt under any circumstances. Always be sure to carry additional shear
bolts in the cab of the tracked vehicle as well as the tools necessary to
replace the shear bolt.
The shear bolt should be removed at the start of each grooming shift and inspected for wear, which may cause the bolt to shear prematurely.