Posted by Bonehead on March 20, 1998 at 11:41:27:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Re: Russ' Homebuilt Tractor posted by Indian Guy on March 19, 1998 at 06:47:36:
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: : : : : Serious Topic... I have given some thought to building a tractor for funnin' around the place. My first inclination was to find an old Ford 1 1/2 ton truck and get the rearend for the project. The axle would have to be narrowed for the application so I found someone with a lathe that could cut the axles and Friction weld them back. Of course first I'd have to note the housing flange to axle flange measurement so when the rear housing was welded it would match up. I was going to use 16 inch truck tires instead of the 20's on the original and get grunt and reduction that way, and of course the wheels would have to be redrilled or the axle done. A 4 popper would be the power unit and a Model T would give up its front end with the frame being built of either channel or square tubing. I'm sure Erson or Iskenderian would be happy to grind a cam the would put all the power in the first 2000 RPM and an MSD ignition would be plenty of spark. I would use a Ford Tranny of course. This project sounds like it's for someone with plenty of time and welding rod on hand, but wh't the hey What else are you going to do with your time? Officiate basketball games at $40 each? Maybe a Ford 9 inch would be a better rear end. You can buy them already narrowed and set up with any ratio to 5.31:1 if you want. Hook up the brakes with one cylinder to each wheel and you have your stearing brakes too. These are just my thoughts. Have fun, Me
: : : : What is friction welding? Why not just v-block the axle and stick weld it back together. That's more than accurate enough. Seen it done many times.
: : : Friction welding in this case would be holding one part still and turning the other in to it. The parts heat and fuse from friction. I considered stick welding, but think the lumps would tear seals and stuff. I think I've seen an accessory hydralic pump in the northern catalog that just bolts to the side like a generator. That would work. How would one hook up a cat 0 three point on something like this? Any thoughts? Me
: : Iwould avoid the friction welding, this process is for production use, where conditions are repeatable and samples are available for testing. I would opt for TIG weld the joint and then MIG two split sleeves covering the weld.
: : I'm not sure what a cat 0 three point is, so I can't comment.
: : If you get beyond the thinking stage and opt to go with a hydraulic drive system. I can get one of our suppliers to provide us with some expertise.
: : Bonehead
: You might be right about TIG welding the axle, tho' it would have to be smoothed. I'd like some ideas about the hydralics, tho' they're not important on something this small. I doubt this will ever get beyond "I think" but if it does then it would be a heck of a project. I've got several acres to tend to and 3 Fords to restore as well. Still my kids would enjoy the heck out of the thing, Dad too. Thanks for the input, Me
Did a little checking, using Northern Hyd. parts, and keeping the price down. Seems to me the best way to go is with the 15 gal/min,3625 psi Barnes pump ($145), matched to the Char Lynn 914 rpm motor (will produce 73 ft/lbs torque at stall, $100). Fabricate a bracket that would bolt to a four speed with a granny gear, use the splined hub from the clutch welded to a 1" keyed hub to attach the hyd. motor. Based on 3.73 rear gears (might be easier to obtain) and a 1 to 1 final drive, this should give approxlmately 26 mph top speed using 36" dia. tires. A 15 h.p. motor would be required. There are many other optional ways based on what is available (free?) Your forward, reverse and brakes would be controlled by an open center control valve (when you close the valve the motor will lock up, either gradually or instantly depending on your command) or you could chose the free wheeling spool valve. Valve about $70. Oil tank about $60, hoses, filter and misc. other $50. Total $425, I think we just lost some interest. You would have to have a lot of free stuff laying around to make a project like this worth doing. Isn't this the way it always goes.
Just dreaming, Bonehead