Homemade Tractor (Some steering details and pictures)

[mastersduhgree]

This is very well done.My bud and i built a 2 wheel drive rig from a 2 1/2 ton truck.It was far simpler with a 455 olds turning an automatic trans and then a 4 sp.behind that for low low gears.Slid the rear end forward within 3 ft. from the cab an solid mounted it there.Had 4 ft. chevron pat. tires on back an 20 in basics on front.PTO driven 20.000 lbs winch on back and dozer blade on front.But this is a work of skill my friend.Youve put some serious thought into this sir.Bravo.

[StevesProjects]

Excellent build. Looks the buisiness! I'm looking for another project and this might just be the ticket.

[derekbroerse]

What size are those tires? They look like factory 16" Dodge truck wheels.

[benjaminwayneb]

@derekbroerse They are 16.5 16.1 Firestone Power Implement tires, they're about 41 inches tall.The wheels are 16 inch Ford split rims. I cut off the inner 2 inches of the rims and welded in a spacer to make the rims 14 inches wide instead of 6. Widening the rims all to the inside kept the tractor narrower without having to narrow the axles.

[pheenix42]

I would love to build a mini size of this...

Splendid, simply splendid!

[NVMDSTEvil]

Nice Tractor. Did you just run a standard 4x4 truck transfer case in reverse (front axle output for motor power input, output power goes to through-shaft) or did you have to purchase a special one?

How well does it articulate, if at all?

[benjaminwayneb]

@NVMDSTEvil The transfer case is from an old combine. It has 2 forward ranges and a reverse, high range has a gear ratio of 5:1 and low is 20:1.

[NVMDSTEvil]

@benjaminwayneb Thanks. What make/model did it come from to give me a reference to start from? :)

[mitchblyth12]

@benjaminwayneb what model of combine is that transfer case from, I have been thinking of doing something similar, except with the engine in the rear and a 3pt on the front directly in front of the cab. Possibly with a 540 pto if I could figure out how to drive it

[bacus100]

Hi Benjamin, nice work, but your tractor doesn't have a pivot in the middle of the front axle to allow the frame swinging on rugged terrain.

[NVMDSTEvil]

@bacus100 articulated tractors generally "pivot" (referring to torsional movement not steering) in the center of the frame halves, if at all. Front end loaders sometimes have springs to allow the rear axle to move. You replied to me and not Benjamin btw ;p

[stubblejumper11]

This is truely a marvel of personal engineering. I read that you had used 2 dana 60 axles, did you just use two different rear axles out of trucks and flip one over so it runs backwards?

[benjaminwayneb]

@stubblejumper11 I used 2 truck axles and just faced them towards each other, neither axle is flipped. With the pinions facing each other and a common drive shaft rotation one differential functions as though its in reverse.

[sportster1200]

@benjaminwayneb First, let me congrat You to a very nice built machine

Could You please explain it closer to me? I'm in the "startup phase" of building an articulated wheelloader. In My world turning two axles facing eachother and using a common driveshaft rotation without flipping one of the axles would cause the rear and front wheels to strive in different directions. How come they do not?

[benjaminwayneb]

@sportster1200 Thank s for your comments! When one axle is turned around, the front axle pinion gear ends up on the other side of the crown gear compared to the rear. This makes both axles drive in the same direction with a common drive shaft rotation.

[sportster1200]

@benjaminwayneb

Yes! Of Course! My bad...Thx for fast reply!

[RustyCarnahan]

What brand and model axles did you use?

[benjaminwayneb]

@RustyCarnahan The axles are Dana 60's with a 3.73:1 ratio.

[catang347ho]

nice build. was woundering what t case is that. it would perfect for the 6x6 s10 im building

[Mindofblade]

wow really awesome

I build an excavator but it is not as professional

[2500vtg]

Congrats on an amazing build. It looks like an incredibly capable unit and is very nicely finished.

[ddssdickday]

Incredible. People like you just amaze me. Do you have an engineering degree? Not only is it very functional but is beautifully finished. You must be very proud. I'm a city slicker who enjoys restoring antique tractors, but never could do what you have done. Very, Very nice.

[benjaminwayneb]

@ddssdickday Thank you for your comments! I'm not an engineer, I'm an automotive tech.

[mog5858]

very nice bild welld done keep up the good work howmeny year did it take you?

[benjaminwayneb]

@mog5858

It took most of one winter to build. I can't even guess at the number of hours, I never kept track.

[spartaeus]

Looks like the articulating joint uses ball joints. Im curious as to what vehicle the ball joints are from that you used?. I went to the Hamm equipment website. The ball joints they use on there articulating machinery look pretty hefty.

[benjaminwayneb]

@spartaeus

The articulating joint is made using front wheel spindles and hubs from an older full size car.. The spindle shafts are welded to 1/2 inch steel plates on one side of the hinge and the wheel hubs are bolted to 1/2 inch plate on the other. There are 2 tapered roller bearings in each of the 2 hubs. I did use 1 ton truck ball joints to mount the rear axle, the axle mounting allows it to pivot side to side.

[RandomTask2008]

Great tractor, it looks unstoppable!

[deadlyfalcon89]

WOW. I am really impressed with this home build.

[rustyguts133]

Great work, I am intrested in what you would do differnt if you were to do it again? I ask since I have already set my front frame up on blocks to start welding.

[benjaminwayneb]

Thanks, One thing that I would do differently would be to use constant velocity joints through the hinge. Single cardan joints work well enough up to a point, I have the angle split between 2 universal joints but I could have made the tractor turn sharper if I had used CV. joints.

[dukesroc01]

what did u get ur chasis from?

[benjaminwayneb]

The frame is homemade, built with 4X6 1/2inch angle iron.

[Landbarger]

Wow, FANTASTIC job on getting this thing all together as well as finishing it so well. Do you have your build pics posted somewhere so that those you've inspired could spend more time studying what's happening in them? At the very least, could you tell me what you used for the articulating joints? I've been trying to think of how that'd work and what parts I could salvage off a junker '47 Jeep my dad's got. Thanks.

[CDNBadass]

Great choice, I would seriously love to see this beast in the mud.

[CDNBadass]

Great build pics, Just wondering, what are you running for axels in that machine?

[benjaminwayneb]

The tractor has Dana 60 axles, they are common axles in 3/4 and 1 ton trucks.