mjncad
Super Member
Welcome. I suggest you email Surplus Center and ask them.
Mini Dozer - Project near complete
- Thread starter workinprogress
- Start date
- Views: 251845
Welcome. I suggest you email Surplus Center and ask them.
ignatious47
New member
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2011
- Messages
- 7
- Tractor
- simplicity and Kubota
I'm starting out with a Simplicity mower that runs well but I want to build a crawler that can be used on steep terrain. I want to use it to pull a brush hog through heavily brushed areas.
I have tried using my Kubota but having tipped it over once already, I decided I was too young to die. It is too high off the ground.
Next I tried a 1962 Agritrac crawler but since it has a float carb, it didn't work well on the steep hills. It was also hard to shift into another gear or even change direction.
The Simplicity has a fuel pump so it works better but needs tracks. Ideally I would buy a diesel engine but until I can find one, in my price range, I need to stick with the Simplicity tractor conversion.
I have some minor machinist skills and I usually manage to make things work with a little modification so this project is not out of my skill set.
I have tried using my Kubota but having tipped it over once already, I decided I was too young to die. It is too high off the ground.
Next I tried a 1962 Agritrac crawler but since it has a float carb, it didn't work well on the steep hills. It was also hard to shift into another gear or even change direction.
The Simplicity has a fuel pump so it works better but needs tracks. Ideally I would buy a diesel engine but until I can find one, in my price range, I need to stick with the Simplicity tractor conversion.
I have some minor machinist skills and I usually manage to make things work with a little modification so this project is not out of my skill set.
Last edited:
cschulz
Gold Member
Any updates?? Nice build!!
Chris
Chris
Deere Greg
New member
Great project. The thread is a very interesting read.
On the topic of blade up/down, I considered a similar problem a while back. Just pondered mind you - no practical experience to share... just an idea FWIW.
My light duty snow blade uses a winch to raise and lower the blade, but in wet slush, it does not weigh enough to cut down to the driveway.
So...
I imagined a vertical post, affixed to the same point as the lifting cable/strap on the blade's frame. The vertical post would follow the path of the lifting strap up to the winch but rise above the winch by a foot or two. By fixing a heavy spring to the top of the post with the lower end of the spring connected to a cable also wrapped around the winch's drum means that after lowering the blade, continued rotation of the winch will tighten the cable attached to the spring, and apply down pressure to the top of the post and thereby to the blade. The assumption is that an inexpensive winch with square-cut gears and a keyed shaft will be able to apply torque equally well in either direction.
I have not had the urge to try the idea out, but if you do try it... let us know how it turns out, please.
Greg
PS, If I made the snow blade work better, I would have had less of an argument for purchasing a CUT.... which got "house" approval last year.
On the topic of blade up/down, I considered a similar problem a while back. Just pondered mind you - no practical experience to share... just an idea FWIW.
My light duty snow blade uses a winch to raise and lower the blade, but in wet slush, it does not weigh enough to cut down to the driveway.
So...
I imagined a vertical post, affixed to the same point as the lifting cable/strap on the blade's frame. The vertical post would follow the path of the lifting strap up to the winch but rise above the winch by a foot or two. By fixing a heavy spring to the top of the post with the lower end of the spring connected to a cable also wrapped around the winch's drum means that after lowering the blade, continued rotation of the winch will tighten the cable attached to the spring, and apply down pressure to the top of the post and thereby to the blade. The assumption is that an inexpensive winch with square-cut gears and a keyed shaft will be able to apply torque equally well in either direction.
I have not had the urge to try the idea out, but if you do try it... let us know how it turns out, please.
Greg
PS, If I made the snow blade work better, I would have had less of an argument for purchasing a CUT.... which got "house" approval last year.
Iplayfarmer
Super Member
Yet another convincing argument extolling the virtues of procrastination.
I'd like to write a whole list of reasons why procrastination is such a good thing, but I'll do it later.
Renze
Super Member
Good quote !! found it, or just thought it yourself ??
Iplayfarmer
Super Member
Good quote !! found it, or just thought it yourself ??
I'm sure I've heard it somewhere before (or something like it), but I couldn't tell you where.
beppington
Elite Member
Well, you could ... but you'll do it later?
ericher69
Veteran Member
Any updates on dozer? Is it done?
David Devuono
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2008
- Messages
- 847
- Location
- Brampton, On\lot Powassan, ON Canada
- Tractor
- Kubota B4200\MF 135\Kubota B3200
Most electric winches come with an intregal load holding brake. That is why the winch seems to work harder letting out cable then pulling it in. Also a good reason to have a free wheeling option for pulling out the cable. It should still work for what you are thinking. Just remember that you are working with both load and internal brake when reversing the winch.
Deere Greg
New member
Thanks for the thought!
I offered that scheme for the OP to consider for his blade - since I recall he already has a winch in the "someday" pile, and wanted down-pressure.
\greg
OP
workinprogress
Bronze Member
Sounds like an interesting idea with the winch controlling the blade. I have seen a few sites that use a chain connected to a winch as lift. Not to mention many older fork lifts work on a similar idea. Check out the atv attachment.
MultiMate ? Multi-Utility Attachment Systems
Currently mini dozer down the road at the neighbor痴 house in his garage. He used it to move fill behind the garage. Unit keeps on going. I have not made the drive line improvement yet because I have been waiting for things to fail and they haven't. The improvements to track slides have done wonders for keeping the tracks on the unit. I have a small list of minor improvements on the to do list.
Will post any improvements.
MultiMate ? Multi-Utility Attachment Systems
Currently mini dozer down the road at the neighbor痴 house in his garage. He used it to move fill behind the garage. Unit keeps on going. I have not made the drive line improvement yet because I have been waiting for things to fail and they haven't. The improvements to track slides have done wonders for keeping the tracks on the unit. I have a small list of minor improvements on the to do list.
Will post any improvements.
matthewmdn
New member
Joined just for this build. Stayed up way too late to read and research it all. This is exactly what I was looking for. I have settled on a mini-dozer for my small property that needs lots of "little" jobs done. I am looking to practically replicate this build hoping to learn from your successes, as I am starting with almost the same tractor.
Any aversion to me adapting your design? I was thinking of creating a build log with part numbers and such for sourcing. Possibly even some drawings; Open Source so other more experienced builders like yourself can add some sanity and wisdom. It seems like there is a lot of interest here and I think it would be cool to a have something documented people can work off of. Your build thread is the most informative I have found so far.
Any aversion to me adapting your design? I was thinking of creating a build log with part numbers and such for sourcing. Possibly even some drawings; Open Source so other more experienced builders like yourself can add some sanity and wisdom. It seems like there is a lot of interest here and I think it would be cool to a have something documented people can work off of. Your build thread is the most informative I have found so far.
Iplayfarmer
Super Member
Please do start a build log. I love seeing these projects come together.
Welcome to TBN.
Bladehauler
Gold Member
I know this thread is over a year old ,but.... I also live near Houston and am wondering where i might pickup some of these used golf course
machines ??
machines ??
ben2go
Gold Member
Check local classifieds for equipment auctions.You can also inquire at golf course service departments.Around here it is hard to score golf course equipment.What is sold is usually what can't be repaired any more,or is severely damaged.
Iplayfarmer
Super Member
The ones I've picked up have been in the category of "can't be repaired or severely damaged." There are usually enough parts on them, though, to make a lot of fun stuff... valves, pumps, wheel motors, cylinders. Usually it's the motor that is shot.
OP
workinprogress
Bronze Member
Originally Posted by matthewmdn
Joined just for this build. Stayed up way too late to read and research it all. This is exactly what I was looking for. I have settled on a mini-dozer for my small property that needs lots of "little" jobs done. I am looking to practically replicate this build hoping to learn from your successes, as I am starting with almost the same tractor.
Any aversion to me adapting your design? I was thinking of creating a build log with part numbers and such for sourcing. Possibly even some drawings; Open Source so other more experienced builders like yourself can add some sanity and wisdom. It seems like there is a lot of interest here and I think it would be cool to a have something documented people can work off of. Your build thread is the most informative I have found so far.
Matthewmdn,
No problem with adapting the design. Let me know if you have additionals questions. I have not done much more with dozer than my last items. I still want to change the drive system just because the dirt and snow keep causing problems in the 50 pitch chain I am using from the hydraulic motor to the drive axle.
Good luck.
Joined just for this build. Stayed up way too late to read and research it all. This is exactly what I was looking for. I have settled on a mini-dozer for my small property that needs lots of "little" jobs done. I am looking to practically replicate this build hoping to learn from your successes, as I am starting with almost the same tractor.
Any aversion to me adapting your design? I was thinking of creating a build log with part numbers and such for sourcing. Possibly even some drawings; Open Source so other more experienced builders like yourself can add some sanity and wisdom. It seems like there is a lot of interest here and I think it would be cool to a have something documented people can work off of. Your build thread is the most informative I have found so far.
Matthewmdn,
No problem with adapting the design. Let me know if you have additionals questions. I have not done much more with dozer than my last items. I still want to change the drive system just because the dirt and snow keep causing problems in the 50 pitch chain I am using from the hydraulic motor to the drive axle.
Good luck.
carplace
New member
- Joined
- May 7, 2012
- Messages
- 1
- Location
- Granger, IN
- Tractor
- Scag, Case, Deere, Craftsman, IH Cub, Bobcat, Ford plus a custom mini dozer work-in-progress
How about an electric/hydraulic snow plow pump? You could incorporate it as a lift mechanism for a 3 point hitch and plumb the angle function into the front blade to provide up and down pressures. It sounds like you have enough alternator to keep the system charged and the mounting/ plumbing/ electrical would all be super simple, plus used plow pumps can be found cheap.
cschulz
Gold Member
Good idea on the snow plow pump. Try Angelos they have cheap prices or ebay.
Chris
Chris
