Who's Online Now
0 members (), 18 guests, and 30 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Thomas, Glen, pustekonto, Simon, Nbmod
403 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums23
Topics353
Posts4,508
Members403
Most Online248
Mar 14th, 2020
Popular Topics(Views)
61,978 77-MGB
54,152 2020 Gardens
Top Posters
sonny 1,402
JIM 1,305
GatorS 249
Nnaatz 163
GLyford 110
Doc 68
chma 43
March
S M T W T F S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
#90 01/27/2019 04:46 PM
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 1,402
Likes: 11
sonny Offline OP
MBN veteran
OP Offline
MBN veteran
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 1,402
Likes: 11
I started on this idea a few years ago. Been thinking more lately and would like ideas/suggestions to continue the machine. I am trying to make a steel track, hydro. drive garden creeper. I need it so I can sit on or lay down to drive down the rows to plant/weed/harvest. would like it to straddle 1 row and be 3 or 4 feet wide, track to track. Have 1 track an sprockets kinda set up, no undercarriage bars yet, and need it strong enough to stand short turns at row ends. Pic of what I have so far. Track pads 4" skeleton style tracks.
[Linked Image from i26.photobucket.com]
All ideas welcome,-- good or bad! thanks; sonny


"A machine you build yourself is a vote for a different way of life. There are things you have to earn with your hands."
sonny #92 01/27/2019 08:14 PM
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 68
Likes: 1
Doc Offline
MBN member
Offline
MBN member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 68
Likes: 1
Sonny:

Don't mean to disparage at all what you have done so far. But perhaps to offer a different perspective.

The reason "tracked" vehicles work so well in rough terain is that they spread the load -and traction- over a much bigger area than wheeled vehicles could possibly approach. Generally thought of such machines tend towards Catapillar type -steel tracked- vehichles. But such vehicles are inherently heavy and require big high torque engines. Not necessarily best for a small farming environment.

May I offer instead the idea of the other type of tracked vehicles... used on snowmobiles, snowcats and low impact logging applications. Such as the Jonsered "Iron horse" like so:

[Linked Image from i.ushipcdn.com]

Before my health got in the way I was gathering parts and contriving plans to build my own tracked vehicle that would be rather a hybrid between an Iron horse and the bigger but slightly different snowcat vehicles. Using truly dirt cheap pneumatic HF wheels as boggies and narrow (5 inch wide) rubber conveyor belt material. Two strips wide on each side, connected with small metal channel, angle iron or even 1x2 wooden cleats forming the drive links as well as spreading the belt width. I bought the transaxle off an old massey fergusen garden tractor to provide for not only differential but 3 speed forward as well as reverse. (Actually a Peerless 1201 gearbox).
For engine I bought an electric start 13hp 390cc Chonda clone and a Chinese copy of a Comet type 40 torque converter. The Jonsered Iron horse uses a 9hp engine. Only things I was lacking was conveyor belt material and inside track wheel guides (bolt to inside track adjacent each outside cleat). I was going to build my own drive sprockets.

Advantages: CONSIDERABLY LIGHTER, quieter, and lower friction than steel catipillar tracks. Requires far less hp than a catipillar. Rugged and long life. (Converor belt material is used to convey rock and dirt... using it on top of rock and dirt essentually the same. I was going to use 4x 10 inch HF boggie wheels per side in close cantilever pairs, plus a single 13 inch HF wheel up front with drive sprocket at rear driven off transaxle. (Using hydraulic go kart disk brake rotors and surplus motorcylcle calipers for steering brakes.)

Just a few ideas for you. If you were located anywhere near me (SW Utah) I'd offer you a great deal on what I'd gathered so far... as I don't know if I will ever be in a position to use them myself now.

Doc

Last edited by Doc; 01/27/2019 08:16 PM.

Warning: Reading is addictive and may serve as a "gateway" drug to the unregulated accumulation of knowledge!
sonny #99 01/29/2019 07:48 AM
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 765
Likes: 58
B
MBN old hand
Offline
MBN old hand
B
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 765
Likes: 58
Sonny a good hydraulic motor Ive used is a CharLynn 104-1028, as I remember its a 18cu motor..depending on your final drive ratio,even one of these motors would pull your machine around no issue.You could drop back in motor Cu size and gain some RPM/speed at the expense of less torque. This one does have a case drain(hose line from the hyd motor directly back to the hyd tank) so you can use it at max pressure-motors like this pop up on eBay new and used, The Charlynn motors have different series designations, 2000, 4000 series, 6000 series,10,000series, -as you go up they get more powerful(and expensive)-My mini articulated loader still on my first one, a 2000series hyd motor, after 10years of abuse,and which its a used motor, and I have a spare on the shelf..were you going to do a single motor drive or two-one for each track? you could do seperate motors for each track and steer with a valve-maybe control the valve with your feet?, or do one motor and use track brakes to steer-albeit a bit jerky and less precise.-If you do two motors you could also pivot turn-counter-rotate the motors to spin turn the creeper in its own radius.Use two valves-one for each motor- And dont worry about all that motor valve horses#$t just use regular hydraulic valves to run the motors,with all that gear reduction itl stop on a dime easy. -I think you'll need both hands to cultivate and steer with your feets-leaving both hands free..If you do go hydraulic drive,get a two0section pump,it never hurts to have a spare pump circuit for a future accessory or just use it for a cooler circuit to cool and filter your drive oil. a 25hp oughta drive this machine no issues-maybe even less- as long as you arent pulling implements. And dont forget to put a cupholder somewhere for that barleypop.
BTW the horseradish is still kicking-I gotta dig and grind some up this year

Last edited by bunkclimber; 01/29/2019 08:17 AM.
sonny #102 01/29/2019 10:48 AM
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 1,402
Likes: 11
sonny Offline OP
MBN veteran
OP Offline
MBN veteran
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 1,402
Likes: 11
Kinda wanted to go with a dual hyd drive and have a flow control valve in line to vary the speed. I can take one off of a Vermeer unit that I have. could also get pumps/motors/etc. if needed. I also have a few char-lynn hyd. motors on hand, one is new.
The horseradish here is really taking off! Started a new row last year and have tons of it again. We make a pint per year. last a long time, since a "dab-l-do-ya"! Had a friend take some, I think we are still friends, He didn't think it was that hot and put a big spoonful on his fried taters, Well ,---you know the rest LOL!! He is still cussing me over that! It is good stuff! thanks; sonny


"A machine you build yourself is a vote for a different way of life. There are things you have to earn with your hands."
sonny #109 02/03/2019 06:41 PM
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 1,402
Likes: 11
sonny Offline OP
MBN veteran
OP Offline
MBN veteran
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 1,402
Likes: 11
Another idea I had was to use 2 snowmobile units as tracks. Problem is I only have 1 . I think it's an artic-cat. Might have to look into that idea too! Thanks; sonny


"A machine you build yourself is a vote for a different way of life. There are things you have to earn with your hands."
sonny #138 02/08/2019 10:32 AM
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 765
Likes: 58
B
MBN old hand
Offline
MBN old hand
B
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 765
Likes: 58
it might go good in the snow too Sonny..just make sure the throttle control is reliable,or else hold on for dear life LOL


Link Copied to Clipboard
Recent Topics
What odd jobs did you do today?
by bunkclimber - 03/27/2024 11:56 AM
Member check in.
by sonny - 02/29/2024 12:10 PM
ShoutChat
Comment Guidelines: Do post respectful and insightful comments. Don't flame, hate, spam.
Today's Birthdays
There are no members with birthdays on this day.
Donation Box
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5