In the US they get a lot of snow, and a Quad with a snowplough blade on the front seems to be the weapon of choice for rural dwellers. Used 4WD quads are not that expensive, (even at the moment, when you can't buy new ones,) and a lot easier to set up than making a tracked vehicle from scratch.
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truckdoctor
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How about this skid steer loader on ebay £500 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/19556513...d3lDfELMC2WfkAfnMEUXBRNas=|tkp:Bk9SR9q1vOK6YQ
Basically I want to make a miniature fordson tractor crawler to take to steamfairs and vintage shows, having a blade on it to clear a bit of snow we get every two or three years would be a bonus!
That would be handy, unfortunately I am in Northern Ireland so too far away!
What about a bristol or ransomes crawler for restoration then. Or even a calf dozer.
Properly fit in at the steamfairs then.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/14484039...fYP82DLStC&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/11471639...fYP82DLStC&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/27562912...fYP82DLStC&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
I am really into my Fordsons so as I’ve built big blue I want to make wee blue in crawler form!
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I saw a calf dozer at the Much Marcle show a few years ago, there's not much to them
I would go hydraulic drive to keep it simple. Most mini diggers are hydraulic drive not hydrostatic.
What size are you wanting then as this will affect the best system to use. And are you going to go for metal tracks or rubber.
If metal tracks then finding an old metal track mini would give you everything. If going rubber then a tracked dumper would be a better bet slightly cheaper and smaller.
I only suggest these options as it will come out far cheaper than buying all the parts to do a decent job. Even if you end up cutting everything about you get tracks track frame idlers sprockets drive motors and engine. Even get hydraulic rams for a blade or 3 point linkage
Hi Agrismith,
I was looking for a tracked dumper as this would make things a lot easier as you say but even scrap ones command high prices as used parts are expensive, maybe the small walk behind ones are cheaper complete but probably not man enough for what I want, I have got plenty of time so I’ll wait for the right time for the right thing to come along!
The small ones that you stand on the footplate to operate should be more than adequate. The type you sit on are a fair size. Running the tracks off them will nearly result in something the same size as the original fordson roadless conversions. The small ones of a reputable brand will be hydraulic drive rather than geared and even have 2 speed tracking.
I was going to have the blade going up and down hydraulically anyway so I would need to incorporate a pump for that so I may as well get some hydraulic drive motors to drive the tracks via further reduction by using sprockets and chains, trying to pick up used hydraulic final drives would be probably too expensive!
Slowing the oil flow will reduce the torque output. May or may not be a problem in this circumstances. Also high flow rate are more efficient than low flow rate.
Probably more reliable to use reduction gearbox than chains. Chains are really unreliable in the drive of machinery. Pretty much non existent now.
Pete.
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Some guys doing underpinning on a site I was on were using a couple of those. they let the labourer drive one and he was half way up a scaffold ramp running slightly off-line. Grabbed a fist full of brake and smashed his hand between the controls on the machine and the scaffold handrail post. Came up big all black and blue.
Erie Fred
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Because that was tried on the mighty Oliver dozers, and the brakes wore out at an astonishing rate.
Also, because they were a pain to drive, having to be constantly on the levers.
Reducing flow reduces speed.
Reducing pressure reduces torque.
The hardest part with hydraulic motors is controlling speed.
Simple single/two speed is reasonably simple.
Variably speed is more complicated, as you need decent flow control to avoid cooking the oil.
I'm sure if you asked @Rannsachair nicely, he might give his input on the more cost effective methods to achieve variable speed and still be able to steer.
