Bolens Diablo Rouge and Hus Ski Discussion Forums

The other day the question was raised whether or not 600 sprockets would fit any other hus-ski. After hus-ski saw their demise after the introduction of the model 600 they wondered what to do with the vast inventory of sprockets Made for their revolutionary machine. Quickly they came up with the 444. By increasing the diameter of the axel they were able to adapt all the left over 600 sprockets. The axel diameter of the 444 and the 600 are the same whereas the 200-A and 400 have smaller diameter front axels. It would appear that not all sprockets are created equal!! The original 600 sprockets were most likely 200-A sprockets which were machined to fit the larger 600 axel. This machining left a slightly raised and curved finish to the central hole. I am guessing at this, but when they had to cast more sprockets they cast without the raised hub of the 200-A thus eliminating the need to machine it off however they did cast into the sprocket the words "front" and "rear" and later ( just guessing) "R" and " F". Why this was necessary is confusing since both sprockets are essentially the same.

Barrie - 444 and 600 sprockets are definitely interchangeable. I looked it up in the Hus ski "interchangeability list" and 444 part # 60520 rear wheel and 60521 front wheel are the same. And looking up the 200 in this same list shows it is not interchangeable. Something I noticed - there is nothing listed or even mentioned for the 400 ? also if you look on page 7 of the 444 operator's manual you can definitely see the raised curve around the centre of the hole. And looking in the same manuals for the 200 and 200A you can see the same raised curve?? Granted these are just artist's renditions and not actual pictures. I have a new never used NOS sprocket and it has NO front or rear or F or R stamped on it?? So does it matter where it goes? Is there a way to distinguish front from rear other than the letter or word stamped on them? I have included a couple of pictures.

Certainly the 200 sprocket is not directly interchangeable with those on the 600 or 444 but if we were desparite for a cog they could be machined to fit. The pitch, diameter and width are all identical.

So not to beat a dead horse here but.... if someone was desperate for a sprocket and if they are all the same diameter, width, pitch, and offset, could a front sprocket be used on the rear? or vice versa? And if that is so, why did they identify them as front and rear??

I'll beat that horse a bit more with some photos. Hopefully this thread doesn't spin out of control...

These photos are of a drive sprocket for the Snow Traveller and models 200, 200-A and 400. The exterior had a raised hub to hold the bearing. The inside is machined flat to mate with the flange on either end of the front axel. I believe HUS-SKI to have done two separate castings because the machined inside has a 1\16" raised area equal to the diameter of the flange. The raised hub is a lot smaller than this diameter. Simply machining off the hub would not result in this raised area.

This is the idler sprocket which fits the Snow Traveller, 200,200-A and 400. It is identical on both sides. The twin raised hubs hold the two bearings in each sprocket.

In my previous post, I neglected to say I was asking about the 444 sprockets. Could a front sprocket be used on the rear or vice versa?? I think front and rear sprockets both bolt to the axle hub flanges and both have the same bolt pattern?

Whereas on the 200 - 200A I think the bearing is installed directly in the sprocket on the rear so no bolt or bolt holes and the front sprocket is bolted to the (#20 drive axle assembly) thus making the distinction between front and rear? This would make them not interchangeable between front and rear or interchangeable with the 444 or 600?

Is this correct and am I understanding it right??

You are correct Pete. The photos above show the difference.

This is the troublesome trio of sprockets. The inside of these three is identical. The outside has small differences none of which make any functional or installation changes for these cogs.

This is cog #1 which has no "f" or " R" stamped into it. It does have a raised ridge around the 2-1/4" hole.