compact track undercarriages?

[superfly611]

I'm looking for a small track undercarriage that I can put hydrostatic motors on. I'm looking for tracks about the size of a toro dingo. I know some of you might say just buy a used dingo but the cheapest I've seen is $6000. what I'm trying to do is make a remote control lawnmower. For now we created a small tracked robot to pull my flail mower with. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ-NyZ5kw50]Track Robot with Flail Mower - YouTube[/ame]
I know the hitch set up is incorrect and that's why it does wheelies. we were trying to make it like a gooseneck hitch or fifth wheel. I know the way hitches are set up on tractors and such they are below the wheels center. A little bit of trial and error is what it takes sometimes.. my goal is to create something like the robogreen by energreen [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb_vGVK1d10]ENERGREEN presents ROBOGREEN: Remote Controlled Slope Mower - YouTube[/ame]
or the lynex lx 1000 [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YI_K0OWDtE]Introducing the new Lynex LX 1000 - YouTube[/ame]
can someone point me in the right direction to find some undercarriages?

thanks in advance

 

[aczlan]

I realize that you are looking at tracks, but what if you got a hydro walk behind zeroturn such as: 52 inch Exmark Hydro Walk behind
and replaced the deck with your flail deck (modifying the front forks to fit the flail under them).
A hydro walk behind in working order can be had for under $2000. If you really wanted to get fancy, you could setup a vertical jack-shaft going into a gearbox and a PTO shaft to power the flail from the gearbox.

Aaron Z

 

[Zick]

That small robot towing the flail mower is pretty sweet! Go any more information/pictures of it?

 

[superfly611]

i will be posting more video and pictures soon.

 

[superfly611]

aczlan i sort of need something that can go where there's adverse terrain but yet can still be used around the house. i would like to be able to snow blow and use a few other implements on it but thats later on down the road. those remote control mowers that i posted cost around $60000 +. i have a 3 cylinder Kubota diesel engine that i will use for the engine and i have various hydraulic components i can use. i would like to keep it close to the ground but yet have the clearance I need. A 3 to 4 foot track system would be great.
thanks for the suggestion though.

 

[swick1]

Why cant you use a regular mini skid steer undercarriage? Tracks just sound like a complex solution to the problem. How about over the tire tracks?

 

[superfly611]

I'm not sure how the over the tire tracks would do on my lawn. The way it looks to me the tracks like the Toro dingo won't dig into the ground when turning as much as the over the tire tracks. They have some tread on them but not so much as to scuff the lawn. I know with any skid Steer your going to have some scuffing but if the machine is light enough and the tracks not too aggressive it should be fine. With over the tire tracks the track edges are more abrupt. Does anyone have experience with them and think the same? Also, even mini skid steers are quite a bit expensive. My dad is retiring so I figured I'd give him something to do customizing my machine. LOL.
also anyone know of a mini skid steer for under $3500


Here is some more photos and video of the robot. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8N1OzUWRIIo]Track Robot with Pull Behind Flail Mower - YouTube[/ame]

 

[aczlan]

aczlan i sort of need something that can go where there's adverse terrain but yet can still be used around the house. i would like to be able to snow blow and use a few other implements on it but thats later on down the road.

What kind of terrain are you thinking of (do you have any pictures)? It is amazing what a zero turn will go through with the right tires and weight on it.

Aaron Z

 

[superfly611]

Aaron, i would like to be able to do around the house and around the edge of the fields by the woods. it can get wet by the woods. in a few spots i buried a bobcat 770 in one spot. i had a bush hog on it and i tried curling my way out but it was a no go. i did a demo of the radio control system on it and it was sweet. its a 9000lb machine so its heavy to be working in some of the areas i go and then when cutting around the house i'd be leaving ruts all over the lawn with that sort of weight i'm not sure how a mini skid steer will do in areas and slopes that i am on for the waterways around the fields. they are only wet in some areas but they are somewhat of a slope all the way around. anyway, have you used a mini wheeled skid steer and if so did you like it?

 

[aczlan]

Aaron, i would like to be able to do around the house and around the edge of the fields by the woods. it can get wet by the woods. in a few spots i buried a bobcat 770 in one spot. i had a bush hog on it and i tried curling my way out but it was a no go. i did a demo of the radio control system on it and it was sweet. its a 9000lb machine so its heavy to be working in some of the areas i go and then when cutting around the house i'd be leaving ruts all over the lawn with that sort of weight i'm not sure how a mini skid steer will do in areas and slopes that i am on for the waterways around the fields. they are only wet in some areas but they are somewhat of a slope all the way around. anyway, have you used a mini wheeled skid steer and if so did you like it?

Never used a mini wheeled skidsteer. I have used a full sized skidsteer, tractors, backhoes, front mount mowers, several commercial zero turns (both the ride on and walk behind type).

Which version of the 770 did you get stuck? It looks like there are wheeled and tracked versions.
Most zero turns are light enough and have big enough tires to get through places where a wheeled skidsteer would sink (a 72" Exmark Lazer Z S series with a 72" deck for example is ~1200#).
If you took one of those (such as this one), replaced the seat with a 5 gallon hydrualic tank and a oil cooler, replaced the drivers foot area with an arch for a flail mower to go under and put a pump/motor in to power the flail off of the deck PTO belt you could probably put it together for a decent price.
If you have a good motor, that broadens your options for mowers as you can find one with a bad engine and/or deck.

Aaron Z

 

[superfly611]

It was the wheel model. i too use to drive tractors, bull dozers, excavators, what ever it was i could drive it or get used to it in a few minutes. miss those days.

I used to cut our waterways with a new Holland versatile (Which is a bi-directional tractor). We converted a fairly large pull behind mower to be mounted by way of three-point hitch which the tractor can then be made to drive in reverse by turning the whole steering column and seat around to face the other way. you probably know about that.

I would cut the grass around the house with a Jacobson t22d with a 72 inch deck. It's a front commercial mower. I haven't used a zero turn that much but it seemed like when I was on the hills it wasn't the greatest. I really did think my front commercial mower did decent on the hills. Even being 2 wheel drive all you have to do is transfer some weight from the deck and you get a little more traction to the wheels. the trouble can be the wet spots.

maybe i should just convert one of my commercials over.... still trying to decide.
i was just wanting to customize something. its fun. i might be able to find a nice flail mower to use with my Jacobsen as well and convert to 4x4. im having trouble finding the hydraulic drive rear axel that can be put on my t22d. i know they made them. i'll have to look harder. i will let you know what i find out.

 

[swick1]

What about converting something like a 4x4 garden tractor to remote control and adding ballast front and rear inline with the axles?

 

[superfly611]

swick1, i am debating converting my front commercial mower to 4x4 and using a flail mower with it for the waterways and the regular blade mower for the lawn. i like the maneuverability of the rear wheel steering compared to a garden tractor with front wheel steer. i believe its easier cutting with it to me.

on the other hand it would be nice to be able to use different implements with a custom built unit like the toro dingo. i could lift things, push with a blade, dig, and more.. thats thinking down the road. if i can find one for 3000-4000 that would be great. heres hoping.
sorry if i seem like my thoughts are all over the place. its part of my final process of making a decision.
ill keep doing my research.

 

[swick1]

Here's a neat tire setup: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rK4i4s8H9k&feature=related]www.slopemowing.com: IRUS Quatrak with slasher(1) - YouTube[/ame]

 

[aczlan]

Here's a neat tire setup:

Ah, mowing and aeration in one step. Hard on the pavement though...

Converting one of the front mount mowers sounds like the ticket to me. Could make a adapter to use the flail on the front and add 4x4 later if needed when you can find parts...


Aaron Z

 

[superfly611]

i saw that remote control mower with wheels on it before. its $50000 plus. its made over in germany i believe. i really like the all wheel steer feature and 4x4. you can get it with rubber tires as well. if you look at the deck it does not float. not that good for cutting rough areas.

back to my converting my mower. i found a linear electric servo from servocity.com but they seem pricey. any recommendation for other servos?
i need 1 linear actuator for the hydrostatic pedal, one servo for pto to engage the blades, and i am thinking some sort of motor for the steering to put on the steering column.
i want to still make some sort of small 4x4 or track remote control. check this out
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ur1YiJbrEk&list=FLWS26EivKNQsRBXHOwdV6Cw&index=299&feature=plpp_video]LeSueur,MN show 08 Scale JD - YouTube[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4k03rDrsAcs]Alstor 8x8 utility vehicle - YouTube[/ame]
i have an obsession with mini things. lol
on another note i found a dingo for roughly $5000. not sure how they handle.

 

[aczlan]

IMO, a Dingo will have the same issues in mud that the 770 had, it is fairly heavy with small tires and not much ground clearance...
Try surpluscenter.com, specifically their DC linear actuator section (Surplus Center). They have quite a few of them there.

Aaron Z

 

[swick1]

On an episode of monster garage they made a remote control figure 8 race car.

They put a sprocket on the steering shaft and used a motor to turn another sprocket via chain.

I think they used a linear actuator for the gas but I think that would be too slow for emergency stops. Maybe a pneumatic or hydraulic setup would be better. You could also stack a linear actuator and a solenoid to provide fast or slow action.

 

[superfly611]

for the steering i was thinking that. put a motor on the steering column box and the actuator should be fine for the pedal. they vary in travel speed but one 6'' stroke is 1/2'' per second. not like a mower goes to fast. we shall see. if it is to slow then yeah a solenoid setup could work.