Hi from the UK

Densleigh · Mar 7, 2005

Have been browsing the Build it yourself pages for a few days now.

Notice there are very few from this side of the pond.

I have made a variety of add ons and stand alones for variuos machines over the last 40 years.

Starting with trailers , grader blades for small Gutbrod tractors
(8hp) ! Hydraulic lift for same and a lot of other bits for the workshop.
Currently have a BCS 4wd 26hp tractor with 5ft sema mower
have already produced a log splitter using refuse truck 5" dia cylinder which provides around 20t of force and as a result splits everything!
Found a forklift truck -battery type- and re-jigged to 3pt hitch
works great about 1ton capacity - good for lifting fence posts.
Also produced a 6ft wide by 2ft dia ground roller from scrap
10mm water main. welded up plates at ends and turned spindles. can be filled with water - approx 1ton when full.

Other projects - on the go- are a hydraulic boom mower using 2 of Ransomes cylinder mowers to provide a very fine cut 'striped' lawn finish - aka golf course.
coupled with this is an extension boom to a 700mm flail head
for rough cutting and hedge trimming.combined with a backhoe - ambitious but achievable!

Leaf vacumns are also on the list. Having read some (a lot) of the threads I am on the right lines for all these. All the above driven via hydraulics.

We have different needs in UK, but common goals to enjoy the challenge and save a bob or two.

I look forward to hearing from some of you and would welcome thoughts on things as they progress.

I am lucky to have a fairly comprehensive workshop - all except a milling nachine - but time might tell on that.
We do not have the same range of surplus sources in uk (unless other know better).

Regards

Densleigh john@densem.co.uk

boustany · Mar 7, 2005

Welcome abord!

Taylortractornut · Mar 7, 2005

Densleigh you sound like your in my predicament about the milling machine. I have every thing short of cnc but a mill. I do have a grizzly import table mill but its awkward for me and my clumsy hands after using a 9 by 48 Bridgeport mill .
Last week at an auction i picked up a Covel brand surface grinder with a magnetic table and today bought a large Cincinatti drill press thats about 10 feet tall for 75 dollars.
Im interested in the Gutbrod tractors you mentioned in your post. Are they a smaller garden type tractor or a utility tractor? A friend of mine that imports tractors here has a few Benford dumpers coming that are articulated but have been stripped of their motors and dumpbeds. Im thinking of making a mini loader out of one on them.

EastTexFrank · Mar 7, 2005

( save a bob or two )

Now there's an expression I haven't heard in a long time.

Welcome to the board. There are a couple of Brits who contribute regularly but they are scattered all over the country. One is down south of London and the other is over in East Anglia.

If you like to run around on tractors and sticking stuff together, you've come to the right place and you'll fit right in.

Again, welcome.

wroughtn_harv · Mar 8, 2005

( Welcome to the board. There are a couple of Brits who contribute regularly but they are scattered all over the country. One is down south of London and the other is over in East Anglia.)

How about Vin? Isn't he kinda sorta a Brit? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Welcome to our world. It's a fun place.

Densleigh · Mar 8, 2005

Tyhanks for the welcome, now I feel part of club.

The gutbrod was a German micro machine of about 9hp 2wd with if memory serves 6 fwd + 2 rev via transfer box with pto etc. this was around mid 60's. I have a leaflet which I can scan and email direct to you if you let me have email add.
The machine has been out of production and is not seen any more.A google search reveals little.

An earlier machine we had was a Garner which was a uk bitzer post war with 6hp JAP engine with centrifugal clutch and crash box! very high centre of gravity but would pull hedges no problem if you were brave enough.
these are seen at vintage rallies really designed as a row crop machine. Almost something you could weld up at home from 3x2 channel literally.

The benfords are a bit on the light side for a digger project, there used to be a uk maker who produced a digger dumper combo but it did not really stack up as you had to keep moving from the dig site to empty it!!.

Thats about it for the moment look forward to some more comments - polite - special relationship and all that.

densleigh

Bowhunter · Mar 8, 2005

Welcome aboard densleigh!

EastTexFrank · Mar 8, 2005

( How about Vin? Isn't he kinda sorta a Brit? )

Harvey, I suppose he is but he lives a long way south of London, and a little bit to the left. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif If you're driving there in Lucy and the weather turns really cold, you've missed it. Turn round and try again.

Mith · Mar 8, 2005

Ahoy, great to see another brit here. Thats 3 or 4 i think.
Metalchicken is from up your neck of the woods, Chester.
Im down in Hampshire, but my Grandparents live in Nantwich.

Any pics of your machines, they sound neat.
Where do you get your hydraulic stuff from, or is it second hand......

( If you're driving there in Lucy )
Wasnt there a thread about tractors not floating in the owning/operating section....

Anyway welcome to the UK bunch /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Densleigh · Mar 8, 2005

Mith,

Nantwich is about 6 miles south west of here!
What were youre G/parents surname? and when did they leave area.

I have a source for hydraulics in Scotland, cheap(by uk standards) and extremely helpful. - new kit - have been to see and they have good stocks - cylinders ex stock or 2/3 days for a special. also a local hydraulic service repairer + hose maker. also use RS comps - a bit pricey but 99% stock and foc delivery for account customer.

I've seen some of your threads and you seem to have some good ideas. I made friends with a local machinery dealer who helps out with parts (no dis as such but obliges as they say) Have also found Iitalian suppliers (not dealt with yet) but they do a great cd with spec drawings - see no reason not to deal with us Use Sparex via Burgess machinery - nationwide.

Steel is sourced from local eng co - friend so best price possible + does the really clever stuff - tank weld = no leaks!!

I have done a lot of research into hydraulics and I am currently designing multifunction mower, flail trimmer and backhoe for use on cat 1 hitch - inspiration fron pf eng plans
(a bit micro and missing some info) main inspiration is from long assoiciation with small agri machinery.

Have you managed to build any of your ideas - front mower, leaf collector etc?. If I recall you have a fairly small machine
with no hydraulics built in.

Currently swapping out 14hp kohler petrol for 6hp lister diesel on old lawn tractor (35+ yrs nothing trown away around here!!) to form basis for digger. hope to have that done for summer.
Also have hydraulic auger built from Robin reliant g\box (Trotter & Co) and a home fabricated swinging yoke suspended from fork lift - ensures a vertical dig or indeed an angle one, uses auger bit from Machine mart - they have 15% of events if you reister with them.

Maybe we can swap some more ideas.

Densleigh