Hydraulics/wheel motor question

[MossRoad]

Power Trac used to offer a 3pt option on some of their machines. They did away with it. Don't know why, but I suspect it wasn't needed or requested enough to justify, or maybe it didn't work too well. Anyhow, I've never missed my old IH2500b tractor loader since I've had my Power Trac. Once we bought that, the IH sat unused for about 8 years and I finally sold it.

If you haven't seen some of my old videos of the PT, click on my little animated tractor icon in my logo. That'll take you to the website. Then click on the videos page and there they are. Very old, small and grainy.

Also, there's a couple on youtube better quality, but no award winning cinematography hahaha!
Moss Road
- YouTube

 

[farm boy00]

A simpler option would be using truck axles and a transfer case. Drive the transfer case with a hydraulic motor. That was you have options for 2wheel, 4 wheel high and low. Also would most likely be cheaper and simpler for one to do.

 

[4570Man]

But without modification you don't really have 4wd.

 

[MossRoad]

A simpler option would be using truck axles and a transfer case. Drive the transfer case with a hydraulic motor. That was you have options for 2wheel, 4 wheel high and low. Also would most likely be cheaper and simpler for one to do.

It's a lot more complicated to make a pivoting joint for both the two tractor sections and the drive shaft VS just running some hoses for wheel motors.

 

[4570Man]

The wheel loaders that I've seen usually have driveshafts. I haven't looked close at how they work.

 

[curtjeep]

If I were to mount the transfer case close to the pivot, then the u joint coming from the transfer case could be at the pivot point. Only issue would be ensuring the tractor doesnt turn sharp enough to bind the u joint. Or a cv would have to be used. Moss- to your point about oscillation. Have you seen control arms for a jeep wrangler like rockcrawler? They have a johnny joint or heim joint on the end. My plan was to use one of those from the front between two plates to allow the body to oscillate. The only other solution I had was to build the front wheel motors on a steel beam with the center connected to the frame allowing it to pivot like a tractor or lawn mower.

 

[MossRoad]

If I were to mount the transfer case close to the pivot, then the u joint coming from the transfer case could be at the pivot point. Only issue would be ensuring the tractor doesnt turn sharp enough to bind the u joint. Or a cv would have to be used. Moss- to your point about oscillation. Have you seen control arms for a jeep wrangler like rockcrawler? They have a johnny joint or heim joint on the end. My plan was to use one of those from the front between two plates to allow the body to oscillate. The only other solution I had was to build the front wheel motors on a steel beam with the center connected to the frame allowing it to pivot like a tractor or lawn mower.

Yes, there's a large ball/socket joint like a heim joint between the two sections of my machine. Actually, there's an upper and a lower. The lower just connects the two halves. The upper has a long rod going forward that connect to another joint about 2 feet towards the front. Think of it as kind of the two bones in your forearm. You can twist one over the other, but you can't bend either. This is what allows the oscillation.

 

[GLyford]

For more ideas, also look at the cadtrac from cadplans.

CADTrac

If you just want to build the project, but not design it, buying his plans may be a good way to go.

 

[MossRoad]

One thing I think the Power Trac 400 series has over the CadTrac is the width. The CadTrac is 48" wide. The PT is 42" wide. Easier to go through gates, and back into the bed of a pickup truck.

It's listed as top speed of 3.5MPH. The PT is 8mph. So I'll guess that the CadTrac has more ground engaging grunt, but it'll take you forever to move any material across your yard VS the PT.

 

[ptsg]

Actually MossRoad. I joined this forum because I ran into your website about your power trac. I then researched power tracs as a potential to own, but I am thinking I may want a new (extremely large and difficult) project. After looking into them I decides I wanted to build my own power trac like tractor that is smaller... The 3 point may or may not come to fruition. I will be building a FEL on it. Thanks for the information guys. I think I will start with building the basic articulating tractor once I iron out all the kinks, then move to the FEL. I don't think I will need a pto.

There is nothing like making things with our own hands. Yes, it can be difficult, it can be more expensive than buying, but the feeling of making and see it working in the end, it's just priceless. I've made my own 6x4 backhoe, and yes, it probably got more expensive than buying a used one and restore it, but I running all the test drivers, start the engine for the first time, do all the math, fabrication and so on, it's just awesome. :thumbsup:

Can't wait to see your project growing up! Hopefully you will post it on this forum.