I have looked at a bunch of different construction equipment over the years and kind of came up with my own plan. I will have steel tracks around 20' or so in length each made of 54 1/4"/12" dirt plates. I used 3/4"pipe and rod for hinge points. Then I will bolt on c channel grousers or rubber pads. I figure on using steel wheels as rollers/idlers and drive wheels with steel bar welded on as teeth to drive the tracks. To turn the drive wheels i will use a hydraulic motor with built in break (try to get by w/o a finaldrive) a variable Displacement piston pump and i was thinking of using a old 4 Cly 65Hp engine out of a old bobcat.
I try to work on it a hour or so every day mostly limited by funds. I have about $600 in steel and accessories per track. I figure there will be about $3200 in steel total. That includes my extendable backhoe and hi lift loader.
Then $800 in wheel motors $1600in valves the double pump will be at least a grand then my cylinders. Still cheaper than any used equipment around here.
If this works out will be very useful and easy to transport i estimate the weight to be around 7000 Lb or so with around 45 hp at each drive wheel and top speed of around 12-16 mph max. Hope it will clear small trees and move some dirt. The finished track setup will be similar to a d series cat.
Can we get some close ups of the track design and build? I am collecting material right now with the hope to get started when the temps rise abit. I dislike cold steel, the old it sticks to skin.