DIY Home built compact tractor
- Thread starter GT2
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I lucked out on my wheel hunt at the bone yard!
I found two 14"x7" wheels and two 16.5"x9" wheels.
On the left are the orignal samuria wheels and on the right are the bone yard wheels. I start by carefully slicing thru the welds on the back side.
Then I sliced the rim from the back side being carfull not to cut into the center much. Here it is from the outside, you have to connect the slices in the middle.
A couple whacks with a hammer and out comes the center. Here is the backside.
Here I'm cutting the center out of the 16.5" wheel, I'm leaving a small lip in the wheel. 16.5" wheel with the old and new center.
The plan is to clean everything up and carefully weld the samuria center into the 16.5" wheel. It will look something like this.
I found two 14"x7" wheels and two 16.5"x9" wheels.
On the left are the orignal samuria wheels and on the right are the bone yard wheels. I start by carefully slicing thru the welds on the back side.
Then I sliced the rim from the back side being carfull not to cut into the center much. Here it is from the outside, you have to connect the slices in the middle.
A couple whacks with a hammer and out comes the center. Here is the backside.
Here I'm cutting the center out of the 16.5" wheel, I'm leaving a small lip in the wheel. 16.5" wheel with the old and new center.
The plan is to clean everything up and carefully weld the samuria center into the 16.5" wheel. It will look something like this.
3RRL
Super Member
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2005
- Messages
- 6,931
- Tractor
- 55HP 4WD KAMA 554 and 4 x 4 Jinma 284
This has been a most interesting project and I'm glad to see you are back at it. I thought you might have stopped completely, but seeing some progress now is good.
Very cool idea to cut those rims to use the Samuria wheel centers.
Very cool idea to cut those rims to use the Samuria wheel centers.
rpoage
Gold Member
I'm also following this project and I can only say Wow! I've fabricated a lot of stuff in my time but I wouldn't even give a thought to attempting this project. You doing a great job and us back seat fabricators are really enjoying your efforts.
rpoage
Gold Member
I'm also following this project and I can only say wow! I've fabricated a lot of stuff in my time but I wouldn't even give a thought to attempting this project. You'er doing a great job and us back seat fabricators are really enjoying your efforts.
Thanks for the kind words and input of ideas guys! I've learned a lot off this fourm.
I welded up the rear 16.5" wheels tonight.
After cleaning up all the surfaces I used thin alum "shims" in three places around the wheel center. I then clamped the center down and put 3 good tack welds in place to hold everything.
I then mounted the wheel up on the front hub and gave it the spin test.
Everything looks good with the spin test so I added 3 more tack welds to the back side and then proceded to weld the front side.
I welded in about 4" increments going back and forth 180* to spread the heat out evenly and hopefully keep the wheel from warping.
I then fliped the wheel over and welded the tacks into 1" long welds. After cooling down I mounted the wheel for another spin test,
and amazingly the wheels came out as perfect as my eye ball can detect!
I welded up the rear 16.5" wheels tonight.
After cleaning up all the surfaces I used thin alum "shims" in three places around the wheel center. I then clamped the center down and put 3 good tack welds in place to hold everything.
I then mounted the wheel up on the front hub and gave it the spin test.
Everything looks good with the spin test so I added 3 more tack welds to the back side and then proceded to weld the front side.
I welded in about 4" increments going back and forth 180* to spread the heat out evenly and hopefully keep the wheel from warping.
I then fliped the wheel over and welded the tacks into 1" long welds. After cooling down I mounted the wheel for another spin test,
and amazingly the wheels came out as perfect as my eye ball can detect!
bx23barry
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2006
- Messages
- 500
- Tractor
- Kubota BX23
Ya mean ya didn't put a dial indicator on them. At tractor speeds a little wobble is no big deal. I have recentered/reversed wheels and trued spokes with a dial indicator (a piece of wire for an indicator works pretty good too) and hub set-up but for what you're doing there is no need. Looks good!
At tractor speeds a little wobble is no big deal. I have recentered/reversed wheels and trued spokes with a dial indicator (a piece of wire for an indicator works pretty good too) and hub set-up but for what you're doing there is no need. Looks good!I thought about breaking out the indicator for about 2sec, then like you said, hey its a tractor! Not going to be breaking any land speed records!bx23barry said:Ya mean ya didn't put a dial indicator on them.
I did cantaliever a 2x4 off the frame rail and next to the rim, its perfect!
Defective
Platinum Member
Just for gits & shiggles, I'd be tempted to take it down to the nearest tire shop & see how it balances.
Like you say, it's a tractor, not critical...
But it'd be interesting.
Like you say, it's a tractor, not critical...
But it'd be interesting.
Aquaman
Silver Member
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2007
- Messages
- 187
- Tractor
- Kubota BX24
Thank the Lord Almighty for good 'ol yankee ingenuity! To paraphrase Mr. Foxworthy, "If you can build a tractor out of stuff lying around the yard, you might be a redneck!"
Come to think of it, if you have stuff lying around the yard that could make a tractor, you might be a redneck.
And proud of it, man.
Come to think of it, if you have stuff lying around the yard that could make a tractor, you might be a redneck.
And proud of it, man.
Aquaman said:Thank the Lord Almighty for good 'ol yankee ingenuity! To paraphrase Mr. Foxworthy, "If you can build a tractor out of stuff lying around the yard, you might be a redneck!"
Come to think of it, if you have stuff lying around the yard that could make a tractor, you might be a redneck.
And proud of it, man.
I've never been accused of being a redneck, I have however been accused of being a Concrete Dweller!!
I think redneck is better
3RRL
Super Member
- Joined
- Oct 20, 2005
- Messages
- 6,931
- Tractor
- 55HP 4WD KAMA 554 and 4 x 4 Jinma 284
Lookin' good!
Keep the progress reports coming.
Keep the progress reports coming.
Iplayfarmer
Super Member
WOW! Those wheels really turned out nice. I suspect this is homemade tractor is going to be a little nicer than many of the homemades that I see.
Keep the progress coming.
Keep the progress coming.
Renze
Super Member
GT2, just one curious question:
Do these axles have different gear ratios to make up for the 2 different size of tires, or does the diff in the VW transaxle need to even that out ?
I'm not sure if the differential would be happy to turn the satelite wheels all day long. I think they are designed for incidental rotation just when you turn, not to even out 2 different ratios... ??
Do these axles have different gear ratios to make up for the 2 different size of tires, or does the diff in the VW transaxle need to even that out ?
I'm not sure if the differential would be happy to turn the satelite wheels all day long. I think they are designed for incidental rotation just when you turn, not to even out 2 different ratios... ??
Yes I have a different ratio ( yet to be installed ) for the rear diff.Renze said:
I'm going to eventually weld the "center" diff in the VW trans; If I dont any one wheel that slips would kill power to all the other wheels.
