My Bruder excavator w/screwdrives
 

Video of my bruder excavator working at the logpile,just need a thumb.:D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5gw5...el_video_title

Re: My Bruder excavator w/screwdrives
 

:cool: I could have sworn that some cowboy was in the cab.;)

Re: My Bruder excavator w/screwdrives
 

That looks amazing, a thumb would make moving that stuff alot easier. The boom looks very solid and i love the lights mounted on the sides like that , i may have to get a set from you.

Re: My Bruder excavator w/screwdrives
 

Thanks Car5858
It was a local guy in the cab,hired him on from labor finders:p

Re: My Bruder excavator w/screwdrives
 

Thanks bigpipespete :D
Yea,a thumb would sure work nice with the loose material.
will see how it fairs ditch digging next time.
I found those lights at walmart in the automotive accessory section.12 volt led,2 per pack.

Re: My Bruder excavator w/screwdrives
 

Made a stiff arm thumb for the excavator,only running 6 channels had to go this route,it works good.
Video with the thumb attachment:)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bc7mr...el_video_title

Re: My Bruder excavator w/screwdrives
 

Well,decided to make another boom for the Bruder,:eek:,like the servo further in the boom,seems to work better.Yea,thats a bucket pin from a real excavator for the counterweight on the door on my grill,last pic,LOL:)
Also uped the battery from 7.2/1800 mah to 3500 mah , running a Hitech 755mg servo in the boom.

Re: My Bruder excavator w/screwdrives
 

Hey pumptech any chance you can show some close up pics of how you attached the servo to the track gears?

cheers

Re: My Bruder excavator w/screwdrives
 

Here's a pic of the servo mounted.
Here's the build thread link at scale 4x4

http://www.scale4x4rc.org/forums/showthread.php?t=58009

Re: My Bruder excavator w/screwdrives
 

Well ,figured I would update this old thread :),made a few vids here lately of the excavator.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARl6f...DgbNaA&index=4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j28gnuh01WA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pHdGKJJ2x0

Vid of my old Hobby engine excavator
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJjc4WR3H5w

Re: My Bruder excavator w/screwdrives
 

I'm trying to figure out the time line on your Bruder conversion. Is it about two years old now? Is it working good? Any maintenance issues or things you like or dislike?

Thanks,

Jim

Re: My Bruder excavator w/screwdrives
 

Hey Jim ,I started this conversion ,January 2011 , during the beginning of the build/conversion was finding the right high torque metal gear servos ,using different torque ratings on parts of the build. Highest torque needed for the boom and stick .One dislike I had was in the beginning ,needed more lifting power at the boom ,decided to redo the main boom ,using a 1/4 scale hitech755 mg there ,has good lifting power now ,changed to a 2.4 ghz transmitter from the 72 mhz no glitches now !! Have had good luck with the servos ,havn't fried one yet ..As of now and last year or so ,not much maintenance issues ,just charge up the battery and go:)

Re: My Bruder excavator w/screwdrives
 

Cool, just the sort of response and info I was looking for. Can you tell I'm thinking about a bruder conversion? :D

Jim

Re: My Bruder excavator w/screwdrives
 

Kinda thought that:cool: ,good luck if you decide to convert one , forgot to metion ,when I overhauled the boom ,since I had it back apart I added a 6 wire slip ring ,link to follow

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw...at=0&_from=R40

Re: My Bruder excavator w/screwdrives
 

cant wait to see her running on that slip ring.

Re: My Bruder excavator w/screwdrives
 

Hey Igotit ,slip ring has been in it for awhile now ,guess I should have taken a couple of pics showing installing it ,its the same as yours ,fun part was heat shrinking all the wires lol !! really don't see the use in filming it doing 360's for 5 min.lol!!
Will get some more vids up soon :D

Re: My Bruder excavator w/screwdrives
 

im assuming it works well then...I was afraid 2 amp draw per wire would be enough on long travel trips.
glad to see its working out.

Re: My Bruder excavator w/screwdrives
 

Well decided to put the bruder excavator back on the workbench, nothing was wrong with it still running fine, wanted to experiment with a new style boom.In the process of building a new boom based off a pic I found of a demolition excavator .Also building a new arm with a thumb attachment , still have a lot of work to do on it, have a couple of pics so far , will get a test vid up soon

Re: My Bruder excavator w/screwdrives
 

What screw drives are you using?

Re: My Bruder excavator w/screwdrives
 

I am using 1/4" masonary auger bits ,found at any hardware store ,wood auger bits will work also ,incased in 3/8" SST tubing with two set screws to travel in the valleys of the bit.
Here's my build thread over at scale 4x4 ,have tweaked it a little since then ,but basically still the same method.
http://www.scale4x4rc.org/forums/showthread.php?t=56870

Been working on the excavator a little here and there ,will get a update soon.:D