New Wedco 345d Quick Release

[titandigs]

Here are some photo's of the new quick release for the 345d.
Paul
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff431/titandigs/345excavator004-1.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff431/titandigs/345excavator005-1.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff431/titandigs/345excavator006-1.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff431/titandigs/345excavator007-1.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff431/titandigs/345excavator008.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff431/titandigs/345excavator009.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff431/titandigs/345excavator010-1.jpg

[titandigs]

A video of the quick release in actionhttp://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff431/titandigs/th_20110918184951.jpg (http://s1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff431/titandigs/?action=view&current=20110918184951.mp4).

[Tamiya Cowboy]

Very Nice.. Great looking set up..

[mazdaparts]

That is very cool. Just another touch of realism to add the the scale realm.

[fhhhstix]

I am sorry the coupler is made very nicely but just not even close to the real thing. The rest of the model is great so I wonder how the quick release design got screwed up. On the 1:1 the pins stay in the bucket and the coupler clamps in between the pins. Forgive me if there is some other kind of coupler used but here is a pic of what I am use to seeing every day at work.

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss185/brokenb4/C482845_CIM01.jpg

Travis

[Markus]

Hi Travis,

It looks like a CW55 CONNECT'O'MAAT® QUICK COUPLER SYSTEM (http://www.verachtert.co.uk/Work_Tools/Excavator/Coupler/quick_coupler/CW55.aspx), which is also quite common for CAT excavators.

The excavator looks great and the moves are very realistic.
Great model.


Cheers,
Markus

[chaseracer]

I am sorry the coupler is made very nicely but just not even close to the real thing. The rest of the model is great so I wonder how the quick release design got screwed up. On the 1:1 the pins stay in the bucket and the coupler clamps in between the pins. Forgive me if there is some other kind of coupler used but here is a pic of what I am use to seeing every day at work.

http://i574.photobucket.com/albums/ss185/brokenb4/C482845_CIM01.jpg

Travis

I haven't see a pin bucket type setup in a long time, all the excavators at my work have the very similiar setup as that wedico. very cool, it works exactly like the cat 328 I run everyday.

[Trucker47]

Very cool model and really realistic, maybe someday ill be able to get one :D

Chris

[fhhhstix]

I haven't see a pin bucket type setup in a long time, all the excavators at my work have the very similiar setup as that wedico. very cool, it works exactly like the cat 328 I run everyday.

Must be an non U.S. thing, I work for a CAT dealer and all of our buckets are pin on and untill know I have never seen a set up like that.:cool:

Travis

[chaseracer]

Must be an non U.S. thing, I work for a CAT dealer and all of our buckets are pin on and untill know I have never seen a set up like that.:cool:

Travis

interesting Travis, I learn something new everyday. I even noticed a difference in the way some machines were setup in what I ran back on east coast compared to what I now run here on the west coast of canada.

[doodlebug]

Hey Travis, that's the same coupler(in your picture) that I have on my Cat 305C CR mini ex. It's made by Miller, in the UK for Cat and sold through Paladin Brand product's. I've seen the Wedico Version at Conexpo/Conag, can't remember the name's at this point in time.
Later, Neil#2 aka doodlebug

[fhhhstix]

Hey Travis, that's the same coupler(in your picture) that I have on my Cat 305C CR mini ex. It's made by Miller, in the UK for Cat and sold through Paladin Brand product's. I've seen the Wedico Version at Conexpo/Conag, can't remember the name's at this point in time.
Later, Neil#2 aka doodlebug

Could be all I know is they have CAT cat right in the side and have CAT SN. plates but as for who actually makes it I don't know. We see grey iron machines from time to time that look real similar to U.S. built machines but they don't show up on the CAT service information system.

Travis

[doodlebug]

Hey Travis, I had a chance to talk to the Miller people at 2 of the show's, nice bunch to talk with. They did tell me they are contracted to build for Cat. Don't know all of the size's they build. They wanted input on how well I like my coupler, I gave them my opinion for improvement. It's hard to keep track of everything that's available for equipment.
http://www.millergroundbreaking.com/
This is similar to the wedico coupler http://www.kenco.com/WBCOUPLER.html





Later, Neil#2 aka doodlebug.

[kcjeepn]

Nice work, really nice piece

[Espeefan]

That's a great looking machine, and neat quick release. How do you like the Wedico model? Looks fairly new. Have you had a chance to put it through it's paces yet?

In regards to the quick relase being prototypically correct, sometimes I think it's better to ask first, rather then make a bold statement and find out after the fact that there is always an exception to the rule. Many times I find there is a prototype for everything, even if it's not the norm.

[titandigs]

Espeefan thanks for taking a look at the thread I have had the 3 Wedico models since July 2010. Since then I have made the wider bucket put on the quick release although I am now only putting the brushless motor on the pump and the extra servos for the finger grab that I have ordered yesterday, At nearly 800 euros. Also I have put on the after market chain drive as the original belt was not very strong. I hope to have the booms moving a little faster with the new motor fitted but will have to wait to see.
As a model it looks good runs well but a friend of mine has just received his Chinese version from rc4wd at less that 50% or the cost. Time will tell who got the better deal. ( I hope it is me):):)
Paul

[Ian (the norwegian)]

Espeefan thanks for taking a look at the thread I have had the 3 Wedico models since July 2010. Since then I have made the wider bucket put on the quick release although I am now only putting the brushless motor on the pump and the extra servos for the finger grab that I have ordered yesterday, At nearly 800 euros. Also I have put on the after market chain drive as the original belt was not very strong. I hope to have the booms moving a little faster with the new motor fitted but will have to wait to see.
As a model it looks good runs well but a friend of mine has just received his Chinese version from rc4wd at less that 50% or the cost. Time will tell who got the better deal. ( I hope it is me):):)
Paul

Hello.
I'm currently also building a Cat 345.. The things I'm not that happy with are the fact that there are a LOT of flaws in the kit. Almost all are parts that don't fit without modifications. But, if one don't expect a "bolt on" kit, I think the machine can be made to look very good indeed. With just a little detailing and mods. The one problem I have, though, are about weight. Only 12 kgs. Very light indeed. But, I'm adding at least 5kgs of lead balls inside the hull. So, hopefully, it's gonna get a lot better than the standard WDC Cat :)

As for this china machine.. I'm convinced you got the better deal. Shure, it's only half price, but then you pay for wall to wall problems. Everything from hydraulics to electronics are failing on it. And on top, I think it looks a bit like it's constructed by Fred Flintstone. Ugly as sin.
So far, I don't know anyone that have got a "RTR" china-machine that they could really start using right away. So, as for now, I think it's NOT a recomended purchase if you're not a tinkerer and an extremely patient person..
You know, it's still a fact that the WDC machine got a machine of the year award the very first year it was made. So it can't be all that bad, huh ;)

The kit you have put on, it's from Leimbach? Quick release and extra hydraulics?

[Azonic]

How do you think the belt drive will hold up to the extra 5kg? Are you going to upgrade to the chain drive?

[Ian (the norwegian)]

How do you think the belt drive will hold up to the extra 5kg? Are you going to upgrade to the chain drive?

Don't think the belt drive will be strong enough. So I've ordered the chain set.. But, just for fun, I'm gonna test it and maybe make a tentioner for the belt drive. Since it's gonna be replaced anyway, why not experiment a bit ;)

On the other hand, I'm not one of those that expect my scale machine to be able to do things no 1:1 machine are able to. Like belting up a 45 degree slope when the ground are soft :rolleyes

Also, after building one of theese machines my self, I see a few things that can cause problems with the drive system.. And I know some have done errors in assembly. The thing I find strange are, some have problems even getting it on to a low bed trailer, while others have no problems at all..

[Azonic]

Don't think the belt drive will be strong enough. So I've ordered the chain set.. But, just for fun, I'm gonna test it and maybe make a tentioner for the belt drive. Since it's gonna be replaced anyway, why not experiment a bit ;)

On the other hand, I'm not one of those that expect my scale machine to be able to do things no 1:1 machine are able to. Like belting up a 45 degree slope when the ground are soft :rolleyes

Ok, make sure to tape that test with the belts! :D

Im sure it will be night and day difference between belt and chain drive.

I had weak track drives on my 470, i hated not to be able to go where i wanted to, it ruined the whole excavator, then i upgraded it and now i enjoy every cm i go with the tracks! :)

[titandigs]

:)HI Ian,
I think by adding 5kg to the model with the original belts will be a big problem. Do you have the plastic belt pullies or the aluminium pullies? You may find that the belts will slip because they are only 3mm wide unless this has been changed. I changed mine to 4mm wide to give more area over the pullies with better performance. The chain is better again. Where did you get your chains from I got mine from TTM in Germany at a better price than in Italy. The extra pieces I have put on are from Leimbach purchased from TTM in Germany I have found the service from TTM 100%. The new grab will be shipped next week so it should be here and fitted in about 4-6weeks so will be able to give comment on the grab then. I think the people having problems loading onto the trailers may???? have the plastis pullies as I did. My machine number is 102 and as you may know the first 100 were pre ordered so my model was in the first run and had the plastic pullies. Ian how much of the model is complete?
If you look on youtube at titandigs you will see on of my vids showing the build process by still photos.
Paul:):)

[Ian (the norwegian)]

Hiya Paul.

Yes, I have seen that the earliest machines had plastic pullies and narrow rubber belts. A friend of mine fron Denmark told me about that. He also had that first edition of drive system. But he got it replaced with the alu pullies and wider belts from WDC.
On my machine, who are number 203, there's only alu pullies and 5 or 6mm belts. But there's still no kind of tentioner on the belt. So I'm thinking that I might make a simple tentioner if there are problems.

I got my chain drives from TTM also. Great guys. I've been there a few times on my travels to Germany.. I actually baught my first Scania there :)

Well, yes. They might have the plastic pullies, or, they might also not have been careful when the assembled all the wheels and bearings in the undercarriage. I noticed that if one just slams it together, a lot of wheels get half stuck. Including the sprocket wheel. I have seen at least one Cat 345 with that problem. Wheels didn't turn freely. And, of course, the guy that had built it was NOT to blame ;) While others don't have a single problem.

I've also been looking at the hydraulic cylinders on this machine. The couplings are all wrong, compared to the 1:1. And there are supposed to be metal pipes along the cylinder with couplings near the end og the cylinders. On top, the WDC couplings are standing WAY to far out from the cylinder sides. Look darn, right ugly.
As far as I have seen, the hydraulic pipe set from Leimbach also seem to contain replacements for the original cylinder couplings. Is this so? Kind'a hard to tell by the tiny photos in the Leimbach homepage.

So far there's not all that much of the model that I have completed. I am rebuilding quite a number of things as I go along. Detailing, making new parts and modifying existing parts to make it look more like the 1:1. Undercarriage are complete, and now I'm working on the boom.
All the yellow parts have been repainted, since the original WDC color are not correct. I'm lucky enough to be living not very far from a Cat dealership:) So I could take a lot of pics of a brand new 345. And also purchase the original paint.

In my singature, there's a link to a forum where I have a building thread. It's not in english, but there's a lot of pics there, if you wanna have a peek :)

[doodlebug]

I've had really good luck with Cat spraypaint!
Cheer's, Neil.

[titandigs]

Ian Do you have ant photos of your mods?

[Ian (the norwegian)]

I've had really good luck with Cat spraypaint!
Cheer's, Neil.

Me too. The finish of that spraypaint are great..

Ian Do you have ant photos of your mods?

Not many. About 30 or so, I guess. You can see them here:

http://www.rcmodeltruck.dk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=83&t=8253

The text are not english though. Sorry about that ;)

Tried to create an album and upload pictures here, but that didn't work. After uploading 10 photos, it won't upload anymore.. Sort of useless..

[titandigs]

:)After saving a bit of coin here is a video of my latest attatchment from leimbach. I have only reiceved it on Friday 10/2/12 so some testing will prove it's ability, but at the moment I'am loving it.
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff431/titandigs/th_20120211143323.jpg (http://s1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff431/titandigs/?action=view&current=20120211143323.mp4)