Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Hahaha!

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Done!! Just need to take battery tray apart and add new oil,
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psv9pqiixs.jpg
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...pserypge50.jpg

I was thinking of adding the lights at the steps, center light in back and reversing lights but I think she has enough candles. !!

Dark, one light is the pilot light for gas heater and the other blue is esc,
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psn1hcj4gr.jpg

And with lights on, I think she has some night vision!!
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psis6vkqsn.jpg

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Well I believe I found my white wale so to speak,,,,, my dump truck build!!

Been busy lately and when ever I sit down to try and get going something happens,,,like home and get a drink of milk that is actually cottage cheese!!
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psarj2tbcl.jpg
The wife continually has to pack two pounds of sh$& in a one pound bag!! She finally loaded the freezer up and froze up!! Spent several hours going through thawed food and using hair dryer to melt the gnome igloo in our freezer.

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Tore into the new axles to pack some more grease and check fasteners.
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psyj4xkzmw.jpg
After doing all three and getting sidetracked a few times, installed only to realize I didn't check the inside screws that was the main reason for taking them apart!!

I am completely ecstatic and extremely thankful to have reg get me a dump body. We didn't realize the Aeromax frame is one inch shorter than a kh. Had some mock up and tear down several times and finally ended up moving the rear forward one inch. After,
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psespgfsht.jpg
Making a new cylinder only to realize reg's was better suited.

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psmmnu76pm.jpg
Moved the cab back 5/8". After putting everything together :)

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psigmhbfxx.jpg

Looks a lot better and didn't have to modify any of the dump box. Again it's a great system reg has and the box works flawless!! So far it's the only thing going in my favor!! Lol!!

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psiafekggy.jpg
Drilled holes in stock springs
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psjsgq19ix.jpg
I don't have a pic but I am using m3 all thread with a steel piece on bottom of axle. Some nuts on top. I tried to made u-bolts but kept breaking when I tried to bend them. (Several tries heated, and other ways)

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...pseigvxtfo.jpg
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psggoodt5m.jpg
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1admxgdg.jpg
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...ps8jq5ywdy.jpg

Spent a couple hours figuring out how to do the steering linkage and came up with that piece only to later realize it would interfere with suspension. Scraped that idea and part.

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psr1dyrjxl.jpg
Got this 1:64 gearbox with 65t motor to realize in high gear it's going to be way slow!! Thinking stock motor will be better

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psomimmpoe.jpg
Made a new steering part and mounts for servo to only realize the steering servo should be on opposite side as the shift servo needs to be there. So going to flip steering around.

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psteh9hdka.jpg
Got a nice driveshaft and tires that are just a tad taller than stock but still the front end is sitting up too high, going to have to make new leaf springs, probably several straight layered style. And got rc4wd parts today, tires, the drive shaft and adapter for front wheels to drive axle. Now it's not rc4wd fault as it says in product description (one piece) but I did not read and assumed the hex adapters would be a set of two-nope one. So another order:). When I ordered last, I had realized I forgot something (a longer driveshaft) I made a second order within five min and in the area for comment I asked if they would stuff second order in same box and save me the $40 shipping charge. If they could great if not it's my own fault. But $40 shipping a driveshaft? Wow, oh well. Got the package and it was only one, but shipping email had two tracking numbers. I'm thinking great, dhl lost or forgot the second package. Nope the drive shaft was in same box, but I still am getting nailed for $40. I usually don't complain much but damm if I'm going to pay double for shipping then darn it ship it seperate!! Or credit my cc. Maybe it's just me as last couple days not much has been going well, truck wouldn't start, diesel, cat poop in Landry room - found it on the underside of my shoe on the way out, fridge frozen, have to spend xx on four new sneakers on the truck, ect,,,,, and I've become rather verse in tearing apart whatever I just put together!! Lol!!

But it's the fun of scratch build right? I guess part of it is I just can't wait to haul some dirt,, I even have been thinking of some sort of liner so I don't scratch that awesome box reg built!!

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Despite all of the headache, your truck is really looking good and will be a real workhorse when finished! The color red you chose for the cab and the velvet black box look really good together too! It will be done before you know it and then you will have to start on something else....It's a vicious circle...

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Sounds like you need an excavator with a sifting bucket to clean out the litter box. Trucks looking good, looking forward to some video!

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

If you want to make U bolts I take stainless rod thread one end bend down and across then measure for the length of the other side and tread the other end then bend it. I have even flattened the part that goes across the spring before bending the last leg of the U bolt. Ed

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Had some time to get back on track!! Just a pic of the driveshaft. It's plenty beefy!!
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psli3j7g7p.jpg

And figured out the locker servo. I am using a high torque mini servo for all axles. I was able to lay it Inbetwene frame rails without any interference or being seen. I didn't want to hide that big driveshaft.
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psohlgyzes.jpg

And the front, still have a bit of figuring out to do for electronics and placement. Probably going with same style I used on the other aeromax.

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psbf5coycd.jpg

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Thanks ed, I think I'll give that a go.

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Very nice work you got going Cooper. Really like your partners working with you, speaking of your Dog and squirrel. My Boarder Collie is to much of a wimp to be around me, cause i am usually firing up the tools and grinder, it scare's him

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Did you make your own cable holder and I see you have some other CNC made parts on the truck as well?

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

I've kept the door closed to the garage, cats only. The dog, Great Dane still a bit of puppy loves to raid my tire box and the foam inserts!! He is really bad at taking small parts when your not looking only to find them in the bed at night!!! The cats usually sleep on something or in something. They just flick an ear when air compressor kicks on and maybe lift a head when I hit the chop saw,,that's really loud!! But other than that they just are happy that the dog isn't using them as a living squeaky toy!!!

Yes, bingo, I made the holder for the servo and cable stays. 2-56 set screws holding the cable housing in place. I'm going to go and mill out/away any unneeded material to lighten it up as much as possible. And it's all manual milling no cnc,, my redneck cnc = crank, number, and crank again!!! I do have a digital read out for the mill and that was the best thing ever for me. I've been thinking of going cnc but I would still need the manual mill. Have been looking at setup thank still have the crank handles to allow manual milling abilities. The hard part for me is the computer stuff:).

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Hauling some tail:)
http://youtu.be/pkKis96mwNk

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Lol! My cats would run away!
Cheers, Neil.

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Well it's confirmed it's a kitty (better word but keeping p.g.) magnet !! Glad I got a few of you to chuckle. :).

Ugg one of those days again!! Rain today so some playtime or work from home as I tell the wife. Designed some fuel tanks and was going to change filiment from white to black in the printer. Pretty easy to do but,,, the roll of black I have is bigger and I have to print or make a holder for it. And my enclosure is going to be too skinny for that little wider spool!! Ugg another project I guess. For now I'm going to print in white as I'm sure some tweaking will be needed.

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

And thebigo sorry about bingo, darn spell check!!

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Made some square fuel tanks up, have some tweaking to do but general idea.
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...pssvt04z08.jpg
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5iywlid7.jpg

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

No I will not, I won't, I don't need a 3D printer.... DAYUM, those tanks look good. :D

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Humm,, can I twist your arm from this far away:cop:

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psgn5kb7uh.jpg
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...pszw7xswhw.jpg

Lol!!! Now that I have a small grasp on the software stuff it's becoming easier to do!! Only took me about 15 min to draw these up.

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

And some more pics of the trucks
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psyrwshbqx.jpg
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...pscitwn0zx.jpg

Still have lots to do on dumptruck, flaps, tanks, might mess with fitting bumper better. I keep telling myself it's a 4x4 conversion and body is higher cuz of that :). Hitch for back, lights, ect. It's never really done :).

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Cooper the dump truck is looking good. Check out Hanks truck pictures/ Robert archer collection and look at the page on dump trucks it has a bunch of Ford/Sterling pictures, it might give you an idea of the bumper style they used on their dump trucks. That 3D printer will come in handy!

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Will do thanks, I've been thinking of the bumper, will have to learn how to split for printer bed isn't as wide. I think it will be easy, the hard part will be the finish, I like Crome bumper but that ain't happening with printer. But parts can be sanded and filled to look flawless. Just now getting the finishing down with my home meth lab,, lol,, cooking acetone in an old crockpot. My wife was wondering why I was doing that and I told her to go watch breaking bad ! (TV show on meth stuff). Just for those that don't know, a vapor bath in acetone will flatten much of the imperfections from 3d printing.

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Didn't somebody cover a bumper with "chrome tape" a while back?
Cheers, Neil.

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

I know just what duct tape you are talking about, foil tape, I have lots in the work truck :).

Just a short video of truck speed in low gear and high gear. At first I was thinking way too slow but for what I'm using it for I think it will be just the right combination between first and second gears. And got the big kitty back together with lights. (Just in time for the ground to be frozen:(. )

http://youtu.be/NnE1AoXVTJI

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Trk spd looks about right. It looks like it doesn't turn that sharp though. :thinking:

Are your lights hooked in series or parallel? Could you rig up the rear lights on a separate switch or just activate in reverse? cause they look bright enough that they may impair your view while travelling forward.

Your radio not have model match? You have to turn one model off before turning on another?

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Speed- check,, like I said when I first ran it I was like darn way too slow but realized hauling dirt on dirt road, speed should be perfect for me.

The lights are in pairs, front, top, and back. I can turn on/off any of them as long as those pairs. Example, front 4 lights on one circuit, left two are series wired then parallel with right to a switch board that can be turned on/off manually for each circuit (6 all together) with that being controlled by radio switch. So whatever switches I have on I can control by radio. And fan on one also.

Model match,, keep forgetting to try that. I'm not sure about the sabertooth and radio rx I have. I may have to program fail safes to keep it from drifting.

And the steering, the tires will contact leaf springs. The axle will turn more than twice that. I may look into what others have done. They are stock tamiya springs with rcbirm axles. I am using super wide tires in front. Will play around with that in mind.

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Hi Cooper
Don't tell me your a dirt biker to? I see your fridge in the background and recognize some of those stickers, some of which are in fact on my shop Oil cubberd.

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Lol,, yup mx'er at heart. Back in 2001 I went pro, before first race I had 60 staples in my knee:(. It was a year before I could get back to practicing and then two more surgeries, another 6 months, and yet another, about 4 months,,,, by that time I decided to level all my practice tracks and bought a street bike. Kinda what got me into rc stuff,, can't get hurt right?? Well not as bad and definitely not as risky. As the saying goes the old man is wise and wisdom comes with age!!-- I got old too!! Friends always try to get me back riding but I know once I do it's gonna be expensive again. Guess the wisdom thing works:lol:

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psuybn6jyw.jpg

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psjbtoxagv.jpg

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...pseqawwfif.jpg

Got one side tank done , one more to go.

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Ya, I do a little of everything, I have a mx track on my place, just started trials couple of years back and really like that, also like to do enduros and hare scrambles. Use to race Stdium R/C truck's way back in the late 80's. Guess you could call me the jack of all trade's master of none. Now just learning from you guy's on the trucks and equipment, and just love it. I do still love riding, but I can tell my reflexes are slower from age, so can't school the youngsters that much anymore.

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

You guy's need to stop talking about dirt bikes! I'm getting the urge lately to buy a new bike even though I haven't ridden much in the last three or four years(where has all my time gone?Hmm?)....Hearing others talk about it is not helping. I even groomed my MX track a couple of weeks back but then the weather turned cold and the ground froze before I could ride. The weather is warming up so I guess I will have no excuse not to put some laps in on my oldy! Too bad I'm so outta shape and fat.lol At 9K for a new bike I think my business needs to pick up before I rush out and buy a new bike!haha

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

I hear ya!!! Bouncing off the dirt from 20 feet up just isn't as fun as it was when I was in my 20s. Lol!!!

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...pslemdlem2.jpg
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psuaysb21m.jpg

Got the ubolts done. I just settled on m3 threaded rod and a piece of steel brazed then ground round.

This is how I did the tanks and strap, used ss for the strapping.
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psxi43jzmz.jpg
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psp1vudrrt.jpg
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psuwxp22oq.jpg
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psbusvjhje.jpg
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...pssgswaejl.jpg

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

And in the spirit of Great Dane construction company business I'm going to tear into the 4200 ex despite being done with other projects. We here at GDC, never really finish anything and are always eager to start something new :) before finishing anything old. :).

On the docket for the 4200;
New cylinders
New rx/tx system
Update track drives
Scale cab and body more towards 1:14
Bucket possibly with quick connect.
More lights
Not sure if it's going to be a hitachi or cat, I'm partial to cat but it suits a hitachi better (I think)

Just let the dogs out and some of the loose dirt is workable, I may have to load a few loads with the excavator into the new dumptruck before dismantling. I have noticed to be careful with hydraulics in -0 weather. It's probably just not a good idea -is it? I may have to get them pretty warm before taking a video. :)

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Coop, are you going to use the RC4WD upgrade track drive's? Why are you changing out cylinders, are they just worn out? By the way the truck is looking awesome.

David

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psxmpvhfcu.jpg

That's one reason for changing out cylinders, look at my dozer from summer, and I changed/added oil several times. But I want to make better cylinders and hard lines. Kind of like the six million dollar man show, we have no reason to do so but we have the ability and technology to do so :).
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psc0d9scho.jpg

I've been thinking of going the hitachi way but I am a cat man at heart. For scale in the 1:14 range , keeping with the trucks, what do you guys think would be better suited? A 345d or a 374L? I'm leaning towards the 374 as I can build up the back some to make appearance of the bigger machine. As far as cab goes I may cut down or print new parts.

And thebigo, I do have the track upgrade motors, I tried them before and had some voltage problems. But this time around I'm using different esc and better radio that I can tweak how I want. The esc I'm using has a drag brake. I've noticed with this model that in heavy digging force you can roll the machine forward. I really hate that. I would rather have force to skid it than have the tracks roll. And with making new cylinders I'm upping working pressure. Ah, another question for you guys, I was planing on keeping the original pump/motor. I have the premacon pump it the dozer and it is flawless so far. By going off specs the rc4wd pump can deliver higher pressure but what is reality? I'm wanting to limit it to 25 bar- 300-350 psi. (If everything can handle that, I think I was running around 20

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

The Premacon hyd kit has a Jung pump capable of 100bar. The pump motor is properly gear reduced so the brushless motor & pump run at correct speeds & the esc won't be maxed out in Amps or heat. And the Meinhart rotary valves are just far superior in smooth oil flow.

I think this model's overall size is moreso a 345 series.

Does the track motor upgrade have planetary reduction? I don't think spur gear will hold even with a drag brake in the esc.

What bore size cyls were you thinking of making?

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Hey joe, yes the drives are planetary gears, so some movement might happen but minimal (I think). I just hate when the machine rolls forward!! I like how I have the dozer set up to run pump at 30% until stick imput ramps up to 100%. I don't know what's better, that or having pump %100 with bypass like the excavator is set up with a 4th valve. I never timed it but using the same battery I know I can usually get close to an hour on the dozer and in the excavator I doesn't last as long. I would have thought different with dozer running two motors and pump vs one big pump on ex. I think the drive motors in dozer are pretty mild and the big motor in the excavator is amp hungry. Running 8400mah 3s battery.

The cylinder tube I use is 1/2 I'd and 3/4 od. I can easily lathe down od to suit whatever. Also the 1/8 wall allows me to drill bolt holes into cylinder without soldering another piece. Cylinder rod will be 5/16? I forget exact size something along that. Are those meinhart valves the premacon ones? If so that's what I have in dozer and have had no leaks, problems whatsoever.

I know some may wonder why I'm transforming a decent working machine this rout but my intentions when purchased in beginning of year were to use it as a template to make one or to revamp using most parts to make a heartier beefier momma earth cutter :).

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...pszlck7mqf.jpg

No turning back now :)

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...ps20d7aa57.jpg

Just an estimate if I can run 400 psi. I have hose rated to 350 and have been using it with no heat breaks or leaks. That's what it's rated for so I'm sure it can handle a bit more :)