Bruder small Cat conversion

[skeeter]

Tonight, I started a Conversion of the small caterpillar, D4 I think it is.

[skeeter]

Once my Email quits lagging, & I can get them to show up in my INBOX, so I can upload them to flilcker, I'll post up a few pics.

I CAN'T take credit for the inspiration on this build. Jug has done it & posted it on his YouTube page. I liked the idea. I wanted to use Micro Servo's for it, but was having a problem finding a part that would connect the micro servo to the track sprockets. Since I couldn't source the parts I wanted, I ran with his idea. I will deviating slightly from his build in the way the sprockets mount to the motor......That is, once the parts FINALLY arrive on the SLOW boat from China.

[skeeter]

FINALLY, they showed up in my Email. Here's a few pics of the build so far

20170809_234213 by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr

20170809_234244 by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr

[skeeter]

20170809_234155 by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr

[frizzen]

I think thats a D5, and looks like a good start.

You may want to shim the gearbox shafts, some have too much play and the gear mesh is inconsistant.

[skeeter]

Originally Posted by frizzen

I think thats a D5, and looks like a good start.

You may want to shim the gearbox shafts, some have too much play and the gear mesh is inconsistant.

I wish I would have saw that BEFORE I did what I done on Thursday morning. Thinking I would be slick, & try & dust/dirt proof the gearbox a bit, I did this little mod.
20170810_051457 by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr

20170810_051447 by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr

In addition to dirt proofing it a bit, my thought was, it'd give the inner workings a SAFE place to lay, WITHOUT risk of getting caught in the gearbox. In hindsight, I'm sure I SHOULD have completed the build & tested it prior to doing it.

[skeeter]

Those are the only pics I have of it. The glue has since dried, & the clamps are removed.

[skeeter]

Rain delays this weekend at work, left me with some spare time this weekend. I did a bit on the Cat.

Added a bit of weight, about 6OZ to it, mounted the blade servo, & affixed the track sprockets to the Tamiya gearbox.

20170813_013849 by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr

20170813_034818 by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr

The bolts I had that were lengthy enough were WAY TOO LONG. I used them, cut them off after installation, & filed them flat with the adapter.
20170813_035955 by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr

Since I had the gloves on to work with the epoxy, I decided to drill a hole in a fishing weight. It was an 8OZ weight, with a bit trimmed off of it. I guestimate it's about 6OZ left on it.
20170813_032420 by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr

The sides of the dozer modified so the redneck lifting mechanism for the blade can do it's thing. YEAH, I KNOW, I went a bit overboard hogging out the holes in it. I had some leftover scraps of plastic laying around. I glued them into the excess opening. I forgot to take snaps of it.
20170814_023921 by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr

The metal gear micro servo installed
20170814_030713 by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr

[skeeter]

Just a few more mods to do on the tracks, & then it'll be time to test it out. I know being plastic if WON't be durable, or powerful enough to push much of anything, but it'll still be fun.

[skeeter]

A quick note about the lead weight. If you plan to drill a fishing weight, as I did, & it's pure lead, be prepared for a LOT of work. I'd get about 2 seconds of the drill working in the lead, then I'd have to spend 10-25 seconds cleaning the drill bit. The lead clogs up the bits. It DOESN'T spit out in ribbons like other metals do.

[frizzen]

Looks like it's coming along well.

Watch some videos, bruder conversions are pretty capible, even though it's plastic.

Lead likes some thin lube and a slow feed rate so it spits little flakes off the bit, and pulling out to clear chips a lot.

[honda3]

I just received a d5 conversion from small haul on youtube. This is one bad little dude, not only will it push dirt but it will also cut in. It is a very capable machine and affordable.

[skeeter]

Originally Posted by honda3

I just received a d5 conversion from small haul on youtube. This is one bad little dude, not only will it push dirt but it will also cut in. It is a very capable machine and affordable.

I'm glad to hear that. I was worried that being plastic it may not do so well.

[skeeter]

Originally Posted by honda3

I just received a d5 conversion from small haul on youtube. This is one bad little dude, not only will it push dirt but it will also cut in. It is a very capable machine and affordable.

I've many questions about yours. Are the tracks still the stock Bruder kind? Is the cab interior still in it? What size battery pack is it running? Is/was any weight(s) added to it when it was converted?

[honda3]

Yes tracks are stock bruder, they actually provide way more traction than i thought they would. Cab interior is still in, 2300 mah nimh pack, It was stuffed with as much weight as he could fit, It weighs around 5 pounds.

[skeeter]

Do you have pictures of how & where the battery mounts in it? I'm struggling trying to figure out how to put the battery pack in it, while including the cab interior.

[honda3]

I don't know how it is mounted inside it came RTR, And i probably wont take it apart until I have too. Look up "small haul" on youtube, he has a bunch of videos and I'm sure you can find what you need.

[skeeter]

After looking at a few of his vids, I found the info for his builds. There's an internal RECHARGEABLE battery pack in his I LIKE that idea.

[skeeter]

After working Thursday, & then finding out we're working Friday NIGHT, I stayed up all night to get my self acquainted with night shift AGAIN! I had a LOT of time to work on the littel dozer.

I found a PROBLEM with where I mounted the blade control rod. I SHOULD have ended the bolt between the 2 side of the blade arm, & NOT ran completly through it.
20170817_225951 by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr

It SHOULD have ended where the knife blade is, & has since been re-located.
20170817_225345 by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr

I cemented the blade pivots where the knife blade is, to prevent it from moving while working
20170817_225400 by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr

Each drive sprocket got TEN screws placed into them between every OTHER tooth. 20170817_205810 by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr

NOTE: DON'T do like I did! Before I reinstalled EVERYTHING onto the tracks, I adjusted the slack in the track by lengthening the distance the screws stuck out form the sprocket. Once I re-assembled the track guides, the tracks were too tight.

[skeeter]

I somewhat flattened a 20Ooz teardrop shaped fishing weight. I plan to trim it to shape, & place it in the dozer for more added weigh. I still have bugs to work out with it. Once my Email quits lagging, I'll post the vid of it. The video ISN'T a very long video, & doesn't show the quirks I have yet to work out with this little dozer.