Looking to build a mini skid steer loader. Any plans around?

[Xfaxman]

robotix, what country are in? You didn't provide a location in your profile.

Shipping is $350 to the US:

 

[radios1]

robotix, what country are in? You didn't provide a location in your profile.

Shipping is $350 to the US:

View attachment 561017

WOW, how big is that non working model they send you for $350??.. it would be much cheaper to rent one locally, and make a blueprint for it, measure and write down all the parts used.. but then, you are going to find you will spend a small fortune on just buying the steel for it!..

 

[/pine]

No offense but that sounds like a terrible idea. There痴 a good reason you usually just buy a whole machine and not all the individual parts to build it. Most machines are built to tight tolerance. Good luck just finding a bunch of parts and cramming in it. I致e only seen one homemade machine that was as good ( and his was better) than a commercial machine.

The logic is sound...why reinvent the wheel?...why waste time fabricating a frame/foundation from scratch and or new material?
i.e., why design and fabricate say a steering gear/linkage etc. when you could utilize one from a scrap yard...
I never suggested that one should buy all new parts to build a machine...

 

[4570Man]

The logic is sound...why reinvent the wheel?...why waste time fabricating a frame/foundation from scratch and or new material?
i.e., why design and fabricate say a steering gear/linkage etc. when you could utilize one from a scrap yard...
I never suggested that one should buy all new parts to build a machine...

What other good option do you have? It’s not like you can just go find some hydraulic motors and an engine and cram it together. A mini skid steer or a full size one for that matter doesn’t have much room to work with.

 

[4570Man]

WOW, how big is that non working model they send you for $350??.. it would be much cheaper to rent one locally, and make a blueprint for it, measure and write down all the parts used.. but then, you are going to find you will spend a small fortune on just buying the steel for it!..

Or just find a dealer that sells than and go over after they close and take the measurements. Most dealers leave the new stuff out.

 

[/pine]

What other good option do you have? It痴 not like you can just go find some hydraulic motors and an engine and cram it together. A mini skid steer or a full size one for that matter doesn稚 have much room to work with.

I was making suggestion based entirely on what the OP stated he had to work with...

Have you ever tried to build a working machine?...trying to engineer even a part of the mechanics is hard enough...let alone building everything from scratch...

 

[/pine]

To follow up on the thought of using a retired (junkyard) machine that is at least somewhat salvageable just to have something to start with rather than a new from scratch machine...
...And I was wanting to fabricate a home made "Toro Dingo" etc. type machine...one of the things I would look at is scrapped concrete buggies...there are many different types made for different terrains and there are likely more of them around than there are actual mini skid steers...
...Some of them have similar drive systems as the Dingo etc...
concrete buggy - Google Search

 

[Groo]

Actually, I have seen a fair number of fire damaged machines for sale.
That might be the best way to go.