Dump Trailer

[patrick_g]

Pat
I hope you know I was just kidding you although I am envious. By the way what model cutter do you have and would you recommend it (just in case I win the Lotto).
Iplay
As far as painting my projects I thought rust was a paint? I either too lazy too rushed or any of a thousand other reasons to paint much. Not to mention I get more on me and the ground than I do the project. I failed finger painting in school.

After several years of wondering if I'd win the lottery, a friend explained I'd have to buy a ticket. Oh well, I guess I'm ahead for not having bought tickets.

HyperTherm is the brand plasma I have. It is 20-40 amp output. Their current offering on their web site is Powermax600 - Limited-time Special Edition!

Looks like they put gold paint on mine and called it special.

Hand torch cut capacity
Recommended: up to 1/2" (12 mm) at cutting speeds of 24" (610 mm) per minute
Maximum: up to 5/8" (16 mm) at cutting speeds of 13" (330 mm) per minute
Severance: up to 7/8" (22 mm) at slow speed

Severance thickness. Severance means it cuts it off but it isn't fast and it isn't pretty.

I first tried a smaller unit but was too frustrated with the cutting speed on 1/4 inch materials using a machine rated for 3/8 inch. They took it back and credited me toward the upgrade. This model does what I need. I'm not Mr. Super Iron Worker and my ego will not prevent me from taking anything I can't cut to a real welder type guy and pay to have the cuts made that I can't do. This hasn't happened yet and may not but it won't bother me if it does.

The smaller unit had the convenience (if you can call it that) of running on 120 vac and the one I have now is 240 vac (single phase.) The results are as different as night and day between the little unit and this one. Similar difference between O-A and plasma in my hands. With O-A I might or might not get the job done right or good enough but with the plasma I can do very much better.

I like the convenience too, no bottles to fuss with, no soot floating around, and pull the trigger it runs and let up on the trigger it stops. No tricky adjustments, no letting the fire go out and relighting it with a striker (where did I put that?) just place the torch in contact with where you want to start and pull the trigger. Release at the end of the cut. The unit continues air flow through the torch to cool it and then automatically shuts off.

The air pressure regulator is built into the unit and is easy to adjust. The other control besides the off-on switch is a knob to control current from 20 to 40 amps.

This thing cuts sheet metal like a hot scalpel through soft butter and leaves an edge that won't cut you and it cuts so fast it doesn't scorch the paint enough so you have to paint the edge.

Pat

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Iplayfarmer
I have watched your work with admiration as I like to tinker also making my own equipment. I will be retiring in January and have focused the last two years on making a 30 x 60 shop to work in. Put in a four post lift last weekend to work off from.
Having lawn tractors and repairing them, I have rebuilt transaxles like you are using. I would guess they have a weight limit of 500 lbs or so. From your pictures your axles are straight bolted to the frame. I would suspect not having a suspension means you might have issues with the axles standing up. Your heavy framing could be adapted to must anything in the future if needed. I did find out that most transaxles just have little or no grease inside and would benefit from adding some. If you split the case, some transaxles have a cutout for a bearing that can be installed to make it last longer. Every one I have taken apart just has an aluminum bushing as part of the case supporting the axles.
Great job!
David
ps. my welding is still learning too!

Thanks, sincerely, for your encouragement and advice. One question, though...what do you mean by "issues with the axles standing up"?

The axles are straight bolted to the frame. I'd toyed with some suspension ideas, but it all came down to making the design simple enough that it could actually happen in my lifetime. I really don't have much variation in terrain on my property, and I don't think the dump cart is going to go very far from my place.

 

[dangier_VA]

Iplayfarmer,
I have broken one housing overloading it trying to move my 8' utility trailer. Mostly, the aluminum bushing gets egg shaped from wear and lets the axle flop. I was just going to not having suspension, due to uneven terrain, all the weight might be carried on one axle bearing(bushing) on one side. Not trying to create an issue. It might work for you a long time.
Regards,
David

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Just a quick update...

I went to put the axles back on the subframe and found that by adding the angle pieces and by straightening the rear hydraulic ram bracket, neither axle fits as is. I took the pulley off the front axle, and it fits now. The rear axle had a bigger gear box, and the gear box now bumps against the ram bracket such that the holes don't line up.

I decided to take the axle out of my old MTD mower that matches the front axle of the dump trailer. Not only will the matching axle fit better now and keep the trailer more level, but the trailer will look better too now that the tire tread patterns will be the same.

The other effect of this operation is that by putting the axle with the gear box back into the MTD mower that already has a variable drive pulley in it, I'll really have some options for speed on that mower. I figure I should be able to do about 25 mph in it if I set both the pulley and the axle in high gear.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Another Update. No pictures, sorry. I can't find the camera after our camping trip this past weekend. It will turn up somewhere.

I've got some momentum going on this now. I went to attach the axles and realized that in the process of adding all of the angle supports and cleaning up the welds on the lower ram bracket, I had distorted the subframe by about 1/2". I had to re-drill two holes for the back axle.

I now have the two axles attached (hopefully permanently). I've bolted the bearings in place both on the subframe and on the dump bed for the dump hinge. I also installed the ram and put the dump bed on. When I put the dump bed on I left the bolts for the bearings a little loose. I wriggled the dump bed until it was straight with the subframe and then tightened up all the bearing bolts.

I'm moving the pump back under the bed. This will move the center of gravity of the empty trailer closer to the axles and it will get the pump under cover to protect it a little from the weather. Once I get the pump all installed, I'm going to measure and order some shorter hoses. The ones I have right now are about ten feet long. The new hoses will probably only be about 3 feet long.

Next step: Wood! I'm to the point that I'm going to start cutting wood for the deck and sides.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I told you the camera would turn up somewhere. It was in the bottom cubby pocket of the passenger's side door on the truck. "Oh yeah!" says my wife when she hears that's where it is. "I took it out of the backpack baby carrier and put it there after we got back from the hike."

I snapped a picture of the current status of the cart. I'm leaving the sides off for now until I get the deck put on. Then I'll put the sides on and put wood on the sides and tailgate.

Notice the new matching tires all the way around. You can compare with some pictures from early on in the project and compliment me on how much better it looks now .

I was really wishing I had the cart finished this evening as I was picking pumpkins and squash. I missed the first frost and didn't cover the garden. Now we have to let everything ripen indoors. 13 large pumpkins and 4 or five dozen squash make a few trips with a wheelbarrow.

 

[dangier_VA]

Great picture! Nice stout little trailer! What did your dump angle end up being? You had frost already? Signs of fall.... Being from New England, we are spoiled in Virginia with the longer growing season.
Take care.
David

 

[jsborn]

FROST !!!!

We had a cold spell here too this week dropped into the high 80's last night.

The tires do look better I was woundering about them but didnt say anything because the rest of the trailer looked so good I was hoping you would match them up though.

Great Job

 

[patrick_g]

Let me join the chorus...FROST !!!!

We had a cold spell here too this week dropped into the high 60's last night with temps in OKC about 80 for a day time high (63F this morning at 0630.)

The aesthetic quotient went up by a sufficient margin when you coordinated the tread fore and aft!

I'm chompin' at the bit and pawin' sod for certain with just two weeks left on light duty before I can resume projects. Makes your project even that much more wonderful looking.

Pat

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Yeah we had a "gentle" frost on Saturday night. I think it got down to 31.5. I wasn't sure that it had even really affected us until all the leaves on the pumpkins and squash started to wilt. The tomatoes seem to be fine so far. We haven't had any frost since.

We're still up in the 70's in the daytime.