Designing a Corvair Custom Hydraulic Tractor

[CorvairGuy]

Hello Everyone,

I'm new to this Forum. I could use some help, for my latest project, as I know my limitations!!

A little back ground on me first. I'm 50 years young and a retired mechanic with lots of time on my hands.
I collect Corvairs and most anything Corvair; i.e. car, truck, wagon, RV and even a Corvair boat all of which I own. However, I have NO interest in a Corvair Plane.
I like to keep my feet on the ground for now. My head is always in the clouds anyways, with all my ideas - :laughing:

This is where I can use your help:
I have never work with or built anything using hydraulics. Unless you count the time I was a mechanic, working on tanks, in the US Army.

My plan is to build a Corvair Tractor to use around our new farm. (why not, everything else we have is Corvair - LOL)
It can not be a manual as I have bad knees.

My design is to only use the Corvair engine, maybe the differential or some form of Diff (looking for input on a hydraulic diff), and everything will be hydraulic - even how the Diff operates the rear wheels.

1) I want the gas pedal to control how fast it goes. (my neighbors are not that close that I care to walk - )

2) I will also have a way to lock the engine RPMs at 1,500 to 2,200 to run other hydraulic attachments - but I still want the pedal to control my speed of the tractor.

The things I want to build and use the tractor for:

Spring/Summer use:
a) 60" cutting deck - with a single hydraulic motor to pull behind the tractor. (I'll look for such a deck used with the bad gas engine and rebuild the rest to mount the hydraulic motor in place of the gas engine)

b) a dump trailer to move firewood, dirt, and what-not. (Hyd raise only and let the bed bring it back down)

Winter Only:
c) at least a 30" min, 46" max, mounted up front.
(my plan is to remove the gas motor, drive setup and only mount the rest of the front half of a used walk behind with a hydraulic motor right to the main shaft) The entire thing will quick disconnect from the tractor.

At a much later date and for anytime use:
d) I like to build a front bucket the same size as the snowblower to use at any time of the year.


Specs:

110HP Corvair Air-Cooled engine RPMs = HP: (should be more than enough)

RPMs - HP
1,000 = 25

1,500 = 35

2,000 = 50


Corvair Diff comes in the following ratios listed below:

NOT SURE - which would be best. (this project will never see the streets)
I do NOT want to go over 30MPH or 2,500RPMs


3.27:1

3.55:1

3.89:1 (I believe this is the one I will use - If I do use the Corvair diff)


Main Pump, operating @ 2,500RPMs or less, mounted to flywheel of Corvair Engine with couplers

Forward and Reverse control valve to drive tractor

Hyd Storage tank TWO to TWO and Half times the size of GPM

Filter

Cooler - mounted right above the cooling fan for the Corvair air-cooled Engine (will always cool Hyd fluid while engine is running; drawing cool air over Hyd cooler before engine)

Quick disconnects for front and back attachment to tractor

At least a FIVE lever control vavle to operate:

1 - turns the shute from left to right

2 - to adjust how far the snow goes

3 - WINTER operates snowblower hydraulic motor - SUMMER - operates cutting deck hydraulic motor

4 - extra (block off for now)

5 - WINTER raises and lowers the snowblower - SUMMER raises the dump box to empty it


Questions:

What else will I need or did I forget?

Is there a Rear-end out there for a garden tractor that is hydraulic?
(One big enough for a mid-size tractor just a little bigger than garden size - but NOT a full size farm tractor)


Thanks ahead of time..

Sincerely, Tony

 

[yooper1]

I will be watching this thread to see your ideas.

Then when you get building it, I will follow your progress too.

Sounds like a neat project.

Ambitious one to boot

 

[doall]

very ambitious. You will need a lot of flow on that hydralic mower to cut grass cleanly.

 

[mjncad]

Welcome, and we want pictures...lots of pictures.

 

[lhfarm]

Welcome to TBN! Drove a Corvair in high school and part of college. Having a hard time envisioning one morphed into a tractor .

Lots of good hydraulic information and expert advice here. You might do some searching for threads on home build tractors for ideas that might be helpful too.

Keep us posted and do send pictures.

 

[Redneck in training]

Welcome to TBN. You should post additional thread in hydraulics forum.
We need pitures not only of your project but also of your hobby such as Corvairs, your shop etc.

 

[CorvairGuy]

I already have the Corvair engine. I used it for two years in one of our Corvair RVs and I will be taking it out to replace some seals. I'm working on a power plant conversion for that same RV with a larger engine for future use. I already have the donnor vehicle with everything I need.


The pictures below are of a Corvair Pulling Tractor once used for tractor pulls and shows. It is where I came up with the idea of making my own Corvair Tractor. It sold on Ebay this past summer - for way more than it is worth.
The new owner is now trying to sell it, even though he states it runs and works well, he is not haivng much luck finding a new buyer.

I have bad knees and can not have a Manual Tractor, which the one in the pictures is, and this is yet another reason why I want mine to be hydraulic. I want to simply push on the pedal and it goes - just like a car.

Tony
PS - I'll post an R&D thread @ Hydraulics. Hopefully someone on this fourm can help me with sizing up the pump and motor(s), making sure I have a list for everything needed, and help with the layout of the hydraulics.

 

[Craig Clayton]

I built a Power King from a Ford Pinto with a 9HP wisconsin engine. It was successful. I scraped it.I would suggest you pick up an existing tractor and drop the corvair engine up front. Use the existing wheels etc., why bother reinventig gear reductions.
Craig Clayton

 

[J_J]

Do you have any turbocharged Corvairs in your collection? I had a 1964 turbocharged Corvair Spyder.

In looking for a hyd pump, you need to know the pressure and volume of all the pumps that you want to use. Keeping in mind that all the pumps may be used at the same time. You could get by with less if some of the pumps was only used some of the time.

The Power-Trac's use a variable speed hyd pump to power the hyd wheel motors. I have three pumps, one for the steering/lift. one for the PTO, and the VSP.

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

I would find a hydrostatic drive tractor with a bad engine and install the vair engine in it. You are not going to have enough gear reduction trying to use an automotive rear end. Blowing snow requires high RPM's and sloooow speeds. On my tractor in 1st gear at wot I can crawl faster. You could modify the hydrostat controls to be hand operated. good luck.
Bill

 

[CorvairGuy]

J J, Thanks for for your help and popping in. I started reading some of your post, the other day, and turly enjoyed them. I look forward to reading more.

Hooked, Using the Corvair rearend was merely a thought. I already have one. But I know it would make more sense to use a hydraulic diff from a used tractor. However, not being around tractors - I myself don't know of any. I was told just yesterday that some tractor company has a hydraulic diff that he thought might work.

I need to look at my notes to recall what tractor/company it was. I will post it here once I have it.

I want my tractor to be a good size garden tractor - that can use the attachments listed in the first post. If anyone knows of a mid-size tractor using a hydraulic diff - PLEASE let me know.

And for the viewing pleasure of those who like pics - - below are a couple of our toys and our new farm. NOTE: the toys are why we purchased the farm this past summer and the last two pics are of our current home. :thumbsup: :laughing:

Hope you enjoy,

Tony

 

[DanD78]

I worked for a mechanic when I was in high school that was a Corvair nut. Pretty simple to work on. I agree with the idea of finding a doner tractor or tractors and mixing parts. I don't think the Corvair rear end will take what you have in mind or take the weight transfer needed. Have you thought about a govonor? If I recall there is a rod going acorss the top of the engine that controls both carbs unless you get the manifold to put on one carb. A mechanical govonor driven off another pully on the front may work. I can't remember where the Generator sets. Been a long time. You should be able to recover some good heat off the engine for winter use.

Sounds like a fun project

Dan

 

[brokenot]

I will also have a way to lock the engine RPMs at 1,500 to 2,200 to run other hydraulic attachments - but I still want the pedal to control my speed of the tractor.

Are you installing a governor of some sort? That's the only way you'll be able to maintain a target rpm as loads change. Setting up some sort of simple throttle stop won't give you the results you're looking for.

Something like this would work if you can fab up some mounting brackets and linkage to your carb. You'll then need to dial it in:

Mechanical Governor (engine) 4cyl- 6cyl - eBay (item 320615450191 end time Dec-09-10 15:03:19 PST)

Alternatively, you could use an electronic governor and actuator like this:

PG Engineered Control Solutions > Products > E-361 Three Speed Control for Spark Ignition Engines

You provide the company with some "ballpark" parameters and they can build one for you. Once you get it installed, you remove the rear cover and fine tune rpm settings and governor response with trimpots.

Lots of people have used car engines for projects like this, but they often overlook the governor, (and its expense), until the project is done or nearly done...

 

[/pine]

I like the roller skates...

 

[CorvairGuy]

Hi Dan,

Up here the winters are cold. We see -40f. Way to cold for this southren guy. My wife is from here and we all know who moved. :laughing:

EM = Early Model - Corvairs came with a gas fired heater that could really toast you out. I'm hoping the one I have in one of my parts cars - will work
nicely, for my tractor porject, and the cold weather up here to keep me warm while removing the snow.

Our farm is at the end of the road. Or should I say the house and the barn are at the end of the road. Our property starts a the telephone pole in the first picture and you can see the barn in the upper left. The property continues way past the barn and is wide too.

We are truly blessed to have this property! We lost out on it in Mar of 2009. A year after it sold the new owner had to let it go and we were able to get it this past summer. It has 154 acres and is land locked with park land all around us.

The township maintains the road to our barn - because they want to be able to use our turn-around. In the second picture I'm standing at our barn looking toward our closest neighbor. You can see just how far away it is and the township takes care of all that right to the barn. Everything on the right to that same neighbor is Crown Land.

I only have to take care of the laneway from house to barn and behind our barn. Our laneway from the house to the barn is about 75 feet. You can see the snow piling up from where the township uses the turn-around to clear the road. From there looking towards the house is what I have to look after.

 

[beenthere]

Will also be interested in your progress.

Friend of mine has his original Corvair from HS days, and is presently putting the Corvair body on a Porsche Chassis (almost an exact match he says) with the Porsche engine.

Where is "up here" ?

 

[CorvairGuy]

Thanks Brokenot.. :thumbsup:

Things like this - are why I am asking for help.

BTW - I'm also working with a local hydraulic supplier. However, I don't want to keep hit him up with so mnay questions - that he gets tired of working with me.

I plan to build this once!
I need to get it right.
I need this tractor, I have lots to do around our new farm next year.

Tony

 

[CorvairGuy]

Beenthere,

I'm in Ottawa, Canada where my wife is from.

If your friend does not already know of Corvair Center - have him check it out.

There is one guy who has done or is doing the same set up as your friend. Another guy is doing a subaru engine in the place of the corvair.

Lots of detailed info and pictures of many other Corvair projects on this site too.

The link is: Corvair Center :: Corvair Center Forum

Tony

 

[CorvairGuy]

I found the name of the tractor company my friend was talking about.

It was Ingersoll.

Here is a link to their site.

BTW - because the Corvair engine is a flat six; the heads stick way out on each side and the exhaust manifolds would hit where most tractor frames are.

For ground clearence I need to have the engine above the frame and not below.

I plan on making a frame simular to the one in the picture below. Note the area with the four bolts right above the front tire and how the frame mounts to the bell-housing. It should be easy to have someone, cut something out of flat stock, with one of those programable cutting tables, using a drawing or cad program with my design.

 

[kude]

Not to be a dissenting voice, but did you ever read Unsafe at Any Speed? Good luck with the project.