SMALL DOZER

MACHINIST01 · Aug 30, 2005

I was talking with a freind and he was wondring if he could use the rear axle out of heavy duty hydro lawn tractor for the drive and just set up a set of brakes to steer the machine.I have looked and cant find any info on this.I have been on the machine builders network and have notfound an answer there either.One guy is making his own tracts on that site and they look good so it just got thinking.If I cant do that what size pump and motor would you suggest.This is my freinds next project.It started out as tracted atv for use on the farm but then he said he wanted to put a small blade on it for trail maintanace.

EddieWalker · Aug 30, 2005

It's projects like this, that lead to the creation of new inventions that benifit the rest of us. Sounds like your friend will have his hands full, but if it works, WOW!

It sure will be fun to see it happen. Post lots of pics and keep us updated. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Eddie

diggerman · Aug 30, 2005

I'm thinking of building a track machine for my 3pth backhoe . I'm going to use a 3 ton rear end , a 3/4 ton, 2-3 back car axles , 18 horse motor or small car engine ,hydraulic pump, 2 hydraulic motors and heavy frame. The only thing stopping me is the tracks & time.

jmc · Aug 30, 2005

Are you going to have a suspension system on it?

MACHINIST01 · Aug 30, 2005

I dont think he is going to use suspension,but I dont know for sure.Do you guys think that a rearend out of a big hydro lawn tractor will work or do you think that it will kill it?

Taylortractornut · Aug 30, 2005

ANy of the older Sperry Rand hydrostat transmissions, or any of the wheelhorse,AC or Cubcadet rearends shoud work. If you wanted to you could probably use a worm drive golfcart rear end with a hydraulic motor on the input shaft. They were all heavily made. You can order mill chains that have brackets for bolting or welding flat pads to like a conveyor or dozer pad. My machine tool supplier has 2 48 inch conveyors they brought in on a trade I bought them the other day for the same reason a mini dozer.

DMF · Aug 30, 2005

This guy over on the Cub Cadet web site made a crawler out of a garden tractor. No blade at this point...
http://www.ihcubcadet.com/cgi-bin/forum/board-profile.cgi?action=view_profile&profile=dhoefler-users

AntrimMan · Aug 30, 2005

I did the axle in my '72 era 12 HP hydro Wheelhorse years ago. It does have a diff of sorts so the brake idea will work. The gears as I remember were all about a half inch wide. I would hate to bust the cluster gear, it don't look cheap. The thing about lawn tractors is that they lose traction before they break gears. If you increase traction that may no longer be true.
Does sound like a lot of fun. It's all about learning really, so give it a go and please do post the pics.

All the best,
Martin

RonR · Aug 30, 2005

I know its a cost deal, but I think the best way to do this would be to find a dual pump/motor combination, such as is some ZTR mowers, and use that for the drive mechanism. You might still need to use a gear reduction or chain drive, but that gets you the simplest/cleanest operation. If you design it properly, you will just go over your pressure relief valves when you max it out, so nothing breaks. Too bad I don't know how to calculate that.

That is what so appeals to me with the bobcat recently posted as homemade.

Best wishes,
ron

rdbrumfield · Aug 31, 2005

I just shortened a 3/4 chev axle to a small tractor for the neighborhood kids. Was thinking of a small tracked rig for my neighbor to get out in the field. He is wheel chair bound and would love to be able negociate uneven ground. Kicked this idea for a while. With hyd brakes already there, and using a couple of master cylinders it should be an easy build. With all the off road, fat tired rigs available it would just be a fun project to do.