My Ride-on Tracked dumper

[David Devuono]

Been waiting a long while for the right tire at the right price to come along. Finally it did and I picked up 20 tires (13.5x5x6). each can support 370 lbs. Each track will have 10 tires. 8 road wheels and 2 tensioning wheels + metal drive wheels powered by hydraulic motors. Each of the 8 road wheels per side will be paired and mounted on upside down trailer leaf springs, two springs per side.

I have now two hydraulic motors, one big pump, a cylinder for a dump bed, my road wheels, four leaf springs. Now I need to source some 4-6" belting, two pieces per side connected with cleats tied together with 3/4 rod to engage the driving gears. Will be two weeks before I start assembly. Looking to haul 1000 lbs of dirt, plow, and tow a X-country ski groomer in the winter. Approx 4 feet by 8 feet?

 

[Johndeere3720]

Sounds like a fun project. What kind of motor are you gonna use?

 

[David Devuono]

I was looking at a 10 HP diesel but now thinking something around 15 hp gas as I don't think the small diesel has a glow plug and I want to use it in the winter as well. Either can be had for around $500. Anyway keeping my eye open for a good deal. Both those engines might be too small for my 10GPM at 2500PSI pump?

 

[schmism]

Now I need to source some 4-6" belting,

your local farm store/TSC will have flat belt stock in both 4 and 6" widths for sale by the foot.

 

[BHD]

years ago I saw where a guy got to older tractor tires, and cut the sides walls nearly off, leaving a little side wall, and used the 2 large rear tractor tire for a set of tracks, over a set of small tires for drives, alway thought it was neat idea,

I was give a home made snow machine about 40 years ago, and the guy used two sets of belting, and bolted oak slats to it, and then for drive sprockets , he used aluminum plate with tire rubber for filler, there were about 2 inch's wide, I think there was a strip of flat iron as well under the slats,

in the military they made track sections that would work on a duel tired 6x6 truck and they look like belting and a 2" channel bolted to them, there in sections so one can use on different trucks some what similar to these Tandem Axle Track Systems - Right Track Systems Inc.

 

[BHD]

also you could check with a grain elevator many times they have used belting they may have taken out of a leg,

 

[955er]

Keep this thread updated as you build. This one looks cool...

 

[pat32rf]

When you get it rolling bring it to Bancroft for a test drive......
Sounds like fun, but I'm a little nervous about those 3/4" rods bending if one side rides up on a stump in the snow. Have you considered 2" channel or similar? Easy to fasten the belting to as well.....

 

[David Devuono]

The 3/4 rod will be used to hook into the drive gear. It will be welded to plates that will be bolted to the rubber tracks. Final design not determined, I suppose I could try channel but then I would have to custom built some drive gears to engage the channel. My plan is to double up 3/4 pitch #60 gear wheels on each side to engage the Rod. I can envision 3/4 Rod welded to 2" channel though. This thing will have suspension which I can adjust by adding or removing leaf springs. It should flex somewhat over obstacles and there will likely be a Rod every 4-6 inches with channel for traction and grousers below to keep the track on the wheels. Anyway when the time comes I will look at all options for track, up to and including chain & plate tracks like on the tracked wheel barrow I made a few years ago, though they are less snow friendly and very heavy.

 

[VroomVroom]

Hello, Im always interested in tracked vehicles. I often thought of making one myself. I have quite a few J5 bombardier tracked machines. Very good machines. I have done hydraulics only a little, but noticed you were wondering about the size of your engine. I believe your engines would be too small for your pump and flow rate. HP needed would be about

Horsepower = (Pressure in PSI x Flowrate in gpm )/1714

so = (2500 x 10gpm)/1714

= 15 hp

And due to inefficiency and such you would probably stall the engine quite a bit when pulling maximum. Use a larger engine, maybe 18 or 20. Or cut your flow or pressure down to compensate for the smaller motor.