Differential steering

[VroomVroom]

If I was to slap a drive train and regular truck rear end with brake steering, my only problem now would be methods to have the brake drum or disks mounted so that a sprocket can be mounted and tire guides won't hook thr drum. Any methods or ideas ? I can't contact many who've built something on YouTube. I was thinking a c channel frame with two sprockets driving the tracks. And simple bogie system Flat deck to carry a little. Used just to retrieve moose off trail. Until I can replace a j5 or two. I can't open the above link or it seems you have to pay

 

[Renze]

A more advanced solution would be to add a planetary gear set so that the hydraulic motor becomes a sun gear, and will only rotate to generate a speed difference between both shafts, and not rotate when driving straight. This would further decrease friction losses,

You just need two differentials with the wheel flanges hooked together with a chain drive on one side and a gear drive on the other side. The wheel flanges on the second differential turn in opposite directions while the ones on the first turn in the same direction. If the pinion on the second differential is held stationary, the wheel flanges on the first differential are forced to turn the same speed in the same direction. If you have tracks driven by the first differential you will go straight.

If you turn the pinion of the second differential, say with a hydraulic motor, the tracks will turn at different speeds while still both receiving power. It's infinitely variable steering with small losses. The steering motor only handles a fraction of the power of the main drive.

I didnt think that far ahead, but you describe the perfect DIY practical application of the theoretical idea i wrote above

I never realised it was this simple, but maybe one day i'll concert a tractor

 

[VroomVroom]

Being someting just to drive over some brush, and softer ground with about a 1000 payload, I'd probably just use a rear differential........I'm really stuck. I'd probably just place 3 or 4 torsion axles underneath a frame and mount a differential up front or back. I'm just wondering of any ideas to mount the sprocket on the hub without tire guides hooking the brake caliper or drum . I thought of shortening a differential , sending it to a machine shop...then having the brake system inside a frame........and run drive chains to an axle on either side which would drive a sprocket. this is getting a little bit more time consuming and more things to break. This doesn't have to be pretty, just work without much trouble. A pickup is pretty reliable, I have a silverado with little miles but the frame is gone. so I'd just remove the drive train out and mount it on some c-channel frame I'd make up . put some torsion axles underneath. I have lots of cleats, and if they didn't work I'd just use some small c channel. I have conveyor belt we would make the j5 tracks out of and alot of tire guides. Mostly is mountain a drive sprocket on the differential without the track making contact with the brake drum or disk/caliper.

 

[davedj1]

A sno trac has exactly the diff you need. So is an OC12
You can get some ideas and some great discussion on brake steering an axle on here: Hi new to the site and the sport but not to snow. - Page 3 - Forums Forums - Off Topic Forum FUN

 

[VroomVroom]

Yeah I saw some of those. Theres another build, Hudlow tank, that shows some detailed pictures. I would like to take the time and build something decent, but I'm not caring for that right now. I'd do similar to the hudlow tank, except he has a good suspension. Thats better riding, but I just need maintainence free, and simple. Maybe two walking beams like they have, without the swing arm suspension, rear end on two beams....throw in the engine and trans, driveshaft and make a flat deck on it. Can throw a seat or two on it, or leave it free to carry . I'm looking for some J5's, I'd like to get at least one more before next fall.

 

[VroomVroom]

I have seen another homemade design, it was supposedly made after a Thiokol? But it had no sprockets....4 truck tires on each side, and tracks around that. I'm not sure how they adjusted the track, maybe just deflated and inflated the tires to make tight, like an argo, it looked to be just an old 50's era truck on 8 wheels with tracks around the 4 on each side. I'm wondering if it spun in the tracks much without a sprocket.