The story of Hus-Ski's third and more powerful production machine
by BARRIE GRAHAM
IMPROVED DESIGN: The addition of a hood scoop on Hus-Ski’s model 400 was a new feature that allowed enough room for the larger motor without increasing the height of the motor compartment.
In 1963, Hus-Ski had made improvements to their first machine with the production of the model 200. Also in 1963, they offered a more powerful machine called the model 400. The model 400 was powered by the 9.5-horsepower JLO motor.
Although identical in conception and production, the model 400 did have a few distinct features but more often than not, it was confused with the model 444 that was produced in 1965.
The addition of the hood scoop was a new feature that allowed enough room for the larger motor without increasing the height of the motor compartment. The hood was widened by two inches to permit installation of the larger JLO engine. Body width remained constant. The hood scoop had an air grill on the front portion while the scoop sides remained closed.
The early production machines had the gas and brake on the right side while later models had the gas on the right and the brake on the left. The handlebars now had an upward bend which allowed for more knee clearance when dipping through sharp snowdrifts.
The brake consisted of an asbestos band riveted to a metal strap which encircled a break drum. When the brake lever was squeezed, so was the band around the brake drum. The brake drum was a separate unit which was slid on the jack shaft prior to the installation of the secondary clutch. As with the models 200 and 200-A, the brake drum was later attached to the outside of the secondary clutch, next to the chain case cover but the separate brake drum was found on all the early models of 200, 200-A and 400. The colour scheme remained classic Hus-Ski with black grills, yellow everywhere and a red seat with wooden skis.
On the 1962 Hus-Ski, the ball joint for the ski seater was on the end of the seater pole. Installation of the safety pin was difficult as the operator had to reach underneath the machine, in between the tracks to insert the pin. Incidentally, if the pin was not inserted, the ski seater often unhooked and forced the operator to run behind until the machine had stopped. This was usually the case because the tendency is to hold on tighter when something goes wrong. On a Hus-Ski, this means more gas! If there were two passengers on the machine at the time of the unhooking, then the ski seater pole would jerk up quickly just as the operator lunged forward to follow his machine. You’ve got the picture … ouch!
All Hus-Skis from 1963 forward had the ball joint attached to the tractor unit. The seater pole would slide over the ball joint and the safety pin was easily installed from the top.
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