NEW ROLLER & SHEEPS FOOT - ON THE WAY

[crash325]

Well this build is pretty well wrapped up. Sure feels like it took forever. 8/16 to 10/6, includes time wasted on a bad tank.

Both roller and sheep's foot have about 3 hours each of banging around. Tongue on roller was a little too limber when it came to 6" or so rocks, so a stiffener was added. Still have a tiny bit of give in the bridal, but not enough to do anything about. Maybe stay away from big rocks.

Filled in a gap with some diamond plate. Gap looked bad and the diamond plate was just about the right size. You can see in 1 of the pictures that the "Inspector" has given up on me. :laughing:

Fairly happy with most of the build. In a few days I will get into how to do it better and faster. Or with a well thought out plan and the right material how I would have done it.

 

[crash325]

Sheep's Foot -summery

A couple of minor little things planned. Add a 1.5" pipe plug & coupling to make water filling & draining easier. Mount springs for drop leg tongue support.

Building cost.
Having almost all material used in the build, out of pocket cost for material was nil.
About 15# of welding rod $45 Electric bill went up around $125

If metal had to be purchased at today's prices ( Used or Salvage ) .55 per pound. Around 500 pounds ( give or take a little ) $275. The feet are not accounted for in the 550#. A local guy sells 2"X20' drill rod for $40 each. 3 Would make about 290, 2" feet and at 6" spacing should do the job.

Buying all material used in the build, welding rod & electric comes out to $525

Likes & dislikes = Used 5" spacing for the feet. 6" would have been better.

If building another 1, Feet would be made from 2x2x1/4" "C" channel iron. Cut to 2" length's and spread slightly into a sort of "M" shape. The slight slope keeps kick out down when the feet come out of depressions. And a lot less welding.

Pintle type hitch is the way to go. Next best would be a "Bull Dog" type. A normal trailer hitch is not going to hold up very long, as when pushing there is only a small bolt holding the hitch on.

When thrown together as a roller several years ago, stub axles were put on. They have held up well and I picked the tank full of water up with them. But if starting fresh a through axle as used on the roller would be my first choice. Spindles & bearings could have been used as I do have them laying around. Just my way of thinking, but that would be a waste. If the aluminum bushings don't hold up they will be replaced with brass. No signs of wear after about 3 hours of use.

 

[crash325]

Out of sight = Out of mind.

Just in the thinking point at this time. No a plan as of yet. Would like to hear your thoughts.Good idea / bad idea??

Thinking about selling either one or both roller & compacter. Next idea is renting them out. Next is to offer custom made rollers & compactors.

If you were in my area would you buy 1 or have 1 built?? What do you think would be a fair selling price. Heavy material like these, plus welding rod, paint, supplies & electric comes to around $500. Now that these are done, I can see better & faster ways to build them. But any way you go about it there is a lot of work in either one of them. :confused2:

A few little things left to do. But for now I'm going to give them a rest, OK, gona give me a rest from them. :laughing::thumbsup:

In a week or so plan on finishing up the clearing & cleaning of my flying field. May have to put a faucet out there, stubbed up the water line when I put it in. So that will be fairly easy. 2 Days after a big rain, dirt is still too dry to work.

Now that they are done, sure would like to hear what you folks think.

 

[bindian]

Out of sight = Out of mind.

Just in the thinking point at this time. No a plan as of yet. Would like to hear your thoughts.Good idea / bad idea??

Thinking about selling either one or both roller & compacter. Next idea is renting them out. Next is to offer custom made rollers & compactors.

If you were in my area would you buy 1 or have 1 built?? What do you think would be a fair selling price. Heavy material like these, plus welding rod, paint, supplies & electric comes to around $500. Now that these are done, I can see better & faster ways to build them. But any way you go about it there is a lot of work in either one of them. :confused2:

A few little things left to do. But for now I'm going to give them a rest, OK, gona give me a rest from them. :laughing::thumbsup:

In a week or so plan on finishing up the clearing & cleaning of my flying field. May have to put a faucet out there, stubbed up the water line when I put it in. So that will be fairly easy. 2 Days after a big rain, dirt is still too dry to work.

Now that they are done, sure would like to hear what you folks think.

Jim,
I like them. What is your flying field? What are you flying???
hugs, Brandi

 

[crash325]

Jim,
I like them. What is your flying field? What are you flying???
hugs, Brandi

Hi lady,
Always good to hear from you. Glad you like.

When & if I ever finish a few "Little" projects around here I plan to get back in to flying "Toy Airplanes":laughing:. Sure makes some folks mad when I call them toys.

Some of the "Little" projects are a new front porch, blacksmith / welding shop. out door entertainment area, some low brick walls & planters out front. fix up 2 compressors, get my wood shop set up, got some more rock walls to build around back, plus a few things not on my mind at the moment.

Since I spent my fortune getting rich, I'm waiting for my ship to come in. Also my grandson my come and live with me next spring and I'll have a helper.

 

[bindian]

Hi lady,
Always good to hear from you. Glad you like.

When & if I ever finish a few "Little" projects around here I plan to get back in to flying "Toy Airplanes":laughing:. Sure makes some folks mad when I call them toys.

Some of the "Little" projects are a new front porch, blacksmith / welding shop. out door entertainment area, some low brick walls & planters out front. fix up 2 compressors, get my wood shop set up, got some more rock walls to build around back, plus a few things not on my mind at the moment.

Since I spent my fortune getting rich, I'm waiting for my ship to come in. Also my grandson my come and live with me next spring and I'll have a helper.

Jim,
You know airplanes are my bread and butter.:licking:
hugs, Brandi

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Weight of the watter is 1400# rough, does not count the wall thickness or the loss of the 2" pipe in the center. Add the metal weight; are you sure your tractor can pull that through soft dirt?

 

[crash325]

Weight of the watter is 1400# rough, does not count the wall thickness or the loss of the 2" pipe in the center. Add the metal weight; are you sure your tractor can pull that through soft dirt?

Hi SeaBee,

Thanks for the thoughts & concern.

Seems to have plenty of power. Been pushing & pulling both Sheep's foot & Roller quite a bit. In the picture is a pile where I had been cleaning out a drainage ditch. Pushed & pulled over the pile and several big rocks, Pile is about 2.5 feet high & rock over 6". Have not had to go over 1,200 RPM yet. Got a couple of steep, but short banks to try it out on. Want to see if it drives the tractor or not.

 

[jkis]

hi crash, just read your posting, and i'm interested in building a sheep foot roller, i do stuff similar to you in that i use up what i have, old gas bottle that i could use about 5 ft wide with a dia of around 18", i also have a fair bit of 1 1/2" pipe for the feet, my main concern is it going to be enough weight and would it do the job.
cheers stuart

 

[crash325]

hi crash, just read your posting, and i'm interested in building a sheep foot roller, i do stuff similar to you in that i use up what i have, old gas bottle that i could use about 5 ft wide with a dia of around 18", i also have a fair bit of 1 1/2" pipe for the feet, my main concern is it going to be enough weight and would it do the job.
cheers stuart

Hi JKIS,
It should work fine if water filled. 1 1/2" pipe is a little large for the feet. Maybe cut it in 1/2 like a C and keep it about 1 or 1.5" long. Space about 7" apart and the rows the same.

Your pipe is fine for the bridal and through the center of the tank. You will need about 6' of 1" for the axle.

If I can help you send me a PM or post again.

have Fun,
Jim