F-350 to tractor conversion, PTO, etc ?'s

[txslowpoke]

Hi all, lets hit the door running. I have a old f-350 1 ton dually I want to convert into a "tractor" that can pull a small disc for fence lines and food plots. Plus a small bush hog/shredder. I was thinking old rearend pointed down, homemade blade bolted to yoke. Build a cover...... ground speed cutter.
If you guys have any other ideas or tips on the truck I really would like to hear them. I plan on welding the rearend direct to frame, the truck is not going to be streetable. I want to add a hay fork for round bails too, that ought to be fairly simple.
Truck in question is a 1984 F-350, dually, 6.9 diesel/4spd/4.10's open( soon to be welded or spooled) I know my trucks and 4x4's, gearing etc. I am new to the pto's, farm equipment, etc.

 

[srjones]

A truckter. Nice

Just a thought...for the amount of HP you'll running with that V8 consider a hydraulic pump somewhere (belted on the engine or geared off the tranny). Then the hydro power will go wherever you plumb it to.

Good luck and post pictures

 

[srjones]

A link to look at:

Unimogtrucks: Unimogtrucks

 

[HGM]

I'll second the hydraulic idea.. I know it may not be as "free" as the rear end idea, but it will be much more usefull and forgiving.. Your tranny might even have the PTO "trap door" on the L/H side from the factory, that would be the right way to add one if its available.. BTW, maybe you can find a rollback somewhere that is being sold for parts or in the junk yard, might get a reasonabl price there...

When you turn a diff, you have to worry about oiling and leakage.. I'd have to look at the particular gearing of that trans, but you could also run a driveshaft to a center support bearing at the rear bumper(eliminating your rear shaft to the axle) and welding a tractor/PTO output shaft to it.. The only issue is that the output will vary dramaticly with gear change.. It would be hard to get 540RPM for your cutter .. You dont hear of a FWD tractor much

If you go hydraulic, you can build a 3pt hitch as well to lift your hay spear and hook other implements..

 

[schmism]

you might consider a devorced transfercase (or change the trans to a trans/transfercase) and use the output as a pto.

best choice would be to go all hydrolic i would suspect and just run a large pump off the PTO... then use a second pump as a rear PTO. this would allow you to vary the output pto speed indpendant of your groundspeed/engine rpm.
pluss give you hydrolics for a 3pt, and rear remotes.

Perhaps you can find a boneyard skid steer and use the pump of it as they are usually high volume as your input pump.

 

[txslowpoke]

I have thought about the hydraulic pto's, pumps etc. My problem is education on it. I walked into a hydraulic shop Wednesday, told the guy what I was looking to do , that was his expression. I figure he has a creativity problem, just wait till I know what I am talkin about
The 4spd tranny has the PTO mount.

 

[txslowpoke]

what about a forklift pump? I can get access to old forklifts.

 

[srjones]

You'll go broke in short order if you *only* use the hydraulic shops... D)

That's a good sign that you've got a PTO mount on the tranny. There's quite a few pto-hydro pumps to choose from. From there, it's just basic hydraulics.

A few suggestions...

1. First off, knowledge is power. Use the search function on TBN to learn more about hydraulics. Also, don't be afraid to buy a book or two. I have "Industrial Fluid Power Volumes 1 & 2" which is a great reference.

2. Surplus Center - Hydraulic Equipment Electric Motors 'nuff said.

3. Get to know your local truck wrecking yard(s) if you want to salvage used stuff. If you find a wrecked dump truck you may get quite a bit of what you need.

4. Use the hydraulic shops when the cost of repair is significantly less than getting a replacement, (rebuilding cylinders, valves, etc.)

BTW, I know that look exactly. If I'm persistant, it usually results in the guy looking in a catalog and saying...nope, we don't have anything like that. I'm making the mistake of asking an engineering question to a technician.

 

[srjones]

what about a forklift pump? I can get access to old forklifts.

It's part of the puzzle. If you can adapt it...go for it. Especially if the price is right. You may also be able to scrounge:

the tank
hoses
valves
the cylinders

Heck, for that matter, mount the whole fork assembly on the front end. Imagine the stuff you could move with that.

 

[txslowpoke]

As far as the FWD tractor- I thought about cutting the rearend off an old chevy 4x4 I got. I mean frame and all. Taking the old brush hog I got welding it the frame behind the cab and running the rear driveshaft to brush hog. Basically a ranch style ZTR.
Front wheel drive aint that bad either, in sand its better than Rwd. My wifes minivan at the beach would make my old Jeep blush.