Junkyard Skidsteer Loader

candubobby · Aug 25, 2005

just came back from digging up 1500 sq feet of wild growth. and cut a bank 3 feet tall and made a 20 ft by 10 ft ram to make it easier to get in and out. The whole thing takes about an hour. The modification definitely works well. Just put the bucket down with the curl all the way down, go backward and hit the switch on the joy stick to make the arm float. Never loose traction once. Make the work 5 times faster. put in 10 tines 3 inches at the front helps a lot too.

Tomorrow, will try out a new drive/braking system. Will install a normal spool on one side to provide better braking but leave one side with a motor spool. This way, I think it's easier and faster to go straight ( i.e. the two motor does not have to have exactly the same speed when I need the speed and do not need the torque for digging.) OR put in a bigger motor and pump. Maybe next week.

tjkadar · Aug 25, 2005

That really is a cool project. I love seeing people make things out of what others would call scrap or junk. Sheer ingenuity, a bit of madness, and a touch of genius equals awesome tools.

Jagmandave · Aug 29, 2005

Are those upside down trailer fenders where your feet rest? Nice job!
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candubobby · Aug 29, 2005

Yes, that's where my feet rests and where the brakes pedals are on the left side. Those are actually pieces off an old gym machine ( atlantis I believe ) I had . A pretty heavy guage cover that I cut apart with plasma, than spot welded together and reinforce at the bends with some angle pieces and bend and shape to follow the contour of the frame. Act as the mud guard and fender also.
Most of the metals are from old gym machine except for the bucket frame.
I will post more pictures and details later, right now, doing a driveway with it. So far, so good, sure beats digging by hand and moving tons of earth and lime stone by hand. So far, on this driveway job alone, I figure I moved over 18 cu yard of dirt around already. It's slow work because it is on a almost 15 degree grade to start off with and some parts even more. Lots of close one. Bend the **** out of the anti-tipped safety bracket in the back. Have to have someone hang on in the back going down some of the steeper part with a full load.
Will definitely weld on a few post in the back as counter weght. You probably guess it, counter weight from old gym weight machine. My friend jokes about this being a travelling gym set.

chip_laugal · Sep 19, 2005

Has there been anymore progress on your skid steer and do you have more pictures ?
Chip

BuddyR55 · Oct 5, 2005

Let me ask you one thing, and don't take this as a critique, but are you worried about how open the machine is and the possibility of getting injured by the arms at all. I would think that a closed cage and ROPs would be a must on a piece of equipment as this.