homebuilt crawler

[bcp]

I scanned through 30 years of popular mechanix but never could find the article which is supposed to have inspired this build. came close when I found an article about something named a go-devil. but it just isnt the same as this one.

Those old magazines (Popuular Mechanics, Popular Science, and Mechanics Illustrated) all had ads in them for tractor and dozer plans and kits. It might be from that instead of an article.

A good place to look might be using Google Books. You can set the time period you want to search.

Bruce

 

[Den1952]

and it is fun to drive too !
I think the guys that originally built it were pretty clever coming up with parts from so many sources, and in the long run, it has done a lot of actual work out in the woods.
I surely dont know how many of these types of things were running around back then

 

[Den1952]

A good place to look might be using Google Books. You can set the time period you want to search.

Bruce[/QUOTE]
ya, that is the method I had used trying to find the story behind this. I did the google book routine. quite time consuming, but you can guess how many other unrelated articles I ran across. wow , a gold mine of info in those old books !

 

[davedj1]

Den, that thing is awesome! What type of axles does it have?
Have fun with it

 

[unfinished]

Neat project! Thanks for posting. With brake steering does the opposite track spin twice as fast due to the planetaries in the differential? That effect must not be too bad in practice.

 

[unfinished]

Did a quick image search and found a couple pictures awfully similar.


From this page
Route6x6 Photo Gallery

"An unknown reader send in pictures of an OTTER "1972 Ferret with plow and hydros.PHOTO the one with a cab has 2 foot wide tracks and is a one af kind. the other PHOTO of a 1966 ranger" Looks a bit commerical to me! Thanks"

 

[DIRTROAD]

I love it. My goal is to eventually build something similar but using more modern parts and make it hydrostatic drive.

 

[Den1952]

such an uncanny resemblance. gotta be first cousins or something !
I had done a lot of google searching and didnt find the referrence to the article or plans, that the guys got it from, and here you find not one but two with a little bit of searching, wow.
thanks for posting the link and pics.
I measured the tracks at 12 inches wide, the tires being A78-13.
I wonder what engine the 2 "found" ones are using.
on mine , the rear end is from , most likely a jeep, other parts such as brakes master cylinders are from a chevy. It is a foot pedal gas throttle activated, and has yet another cable going down to the govener linkage area which can be pulled to cinch up the linkage , a redneck Cruise Control actually.

 

[Den1952]

On that second photo posted by unfinished, I notice the hyd cylinder mounted vertically,,, I wonder if it is a 2-way. I only see one hyd. hose though.
Would a 2 way be a better deal? the blade wouldnt float up at times, while pushing, could even have down pressure.

 

[Marveltone]

What an incredible find (and project). I would love to have something like that for skidding and pushing. Save wear and tear on the tractor, plus probably do a much better job at those tasks.

If you ever do come across the plans, or something similar, please be sure to post them.

Joe