Bruder Liebherr 574 Conversion

[motocrawler]

Hi guys!

Just wanted to introduce myself, and say I have been lurking around this site for the last month and have been soaking up all the amazing information. I thought I would post up my Bruder Loader conversion.:)

So the parts required for this conversion are:

Tamiya Semi axles
Tamiya CR-01 transmission
1x Hitec Hi - torque mg servos
Set of Tamiya Hummer rims
Set of axial 1.9" tires
3x Linear servos or Linear actuators (I am using Ferigelli Linear servos for this build)
A bucket load of Tamiya Hi-lift hardware

Step 1: Dismantling

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/shahrestani/P1012309.jpg

[motocrawler]

Step 2: Figure out how to connect the linear actuators to make the boom and bucket work properly. I started by cutting and drilling a hole at the bottom of the boom chassis.

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/shahrestani/P1012315.jpg

The cut was required to gain the proper clearance and the hole was drilled to push a brass rod through to connect one end of the actuators

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/shahrestani/P1012411.jpg

From there I drilled a hole through the booms to connect the other end of the actuators

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/shahrestani/P1012409.jpg

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/shahrestani/P1012410.jpg

The bucket ram was easy to install, I just drilled a hole through the existing mounts

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/shahrestani/P1012404.jpg

[motocrawler]

The next step in the process was figuring out how to make the articulated portion of the loader work. As easy as the photos make it seem I actually spent a lot of time trying to figure out what would give me full travel and yet be out of the way and not require to much hacking of the body/chassis.

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/shahrestani/P1012431.jpg

Now came the tricky part, how to get power to the wheels. I am using Tamiya semi axles as they are a exact match width wise as the original axles. This was a serious multi step process with a lot of swearing and head scratching.

Step 1: Mask and cut clearances for axle, the point of no return!

Before

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/shahrestani/P1012377.jpg

After

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/shahrestani/P1012382.jpg

Step 2: Make brackets to hold the axles to the chassis

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/shahrestani/P1012379.jpg

Step 3: Lock the diffs-a nifty little trick-insert a 4th bevel gear and viola she is locked

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/shahrestani/P1012386.jpg

Step 4: Paint axles and brackets and assemble

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/shahrestani/P1012388.jpg

Step 5: Mount axle to chassis

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/shahrestani/P1012391.jpg

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/shahrestani/P1012390.jpg

[motocrawler]

Once I got the rear axle in I worked on the motor and transmission. I made these aluminum motor mounts

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/shahrestani/P1012393.jpg

With motor mounted

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/shahrestani/P1012395.jpg

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/shahrestani/P1012397.jpg

From there I moved to the front axle, I had to make alot of cuts to get it to fit but she did!

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/shahrestani/P1012416.jpg

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/shahrestani/P1012418.jpg

Made some mounts for the axle and installed them

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/shahrestani/P1012420.jpg

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/shahrestani/P1012423.jpg

From there I made a custom drive shaft and connected it to the axles

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/shahrestani/P1012424.jpg

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/shahrestani/P1012426.jpg

From there I put it all back together sans cab

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/shahrestani/P1012434.jpg

[motocrawler]

Here is a quick video of the test run...still need to get use to the controls and get a smoother speed controller...but she is powerful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=famTtbUEBJ4

[Azonic]

Very nice done, looks very powerful and good traction! Maybe need for alu or steel arms and linkage? :) Looks a little wobbly! :) Well done!

[Madda]

Oh, one of the best bruder conversions I've seen. You did very great job on hiding the servos making everything look scale!

Now take off all orange stickers, make better wheel hubs and finish the cabin and we have a very cool model!

Keep it up!

[motocrawler]

Here are some final finished shots of the loader.

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/shahrestani/P1012440.jpg

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/shahrestani/P1012438.jpg

http://i1260.photobucket.com/albums/ii561/shahrestani/P1012436.jpg

I will try to get some video of it in the next few days. I actually built a 1/16th scale short course track in my back yard with this, the excavator and dozer.

[pumptech]

Very nice loader conversion ,looks like it works great ,look forward to some more vids :D

[dabears]

Looks really good!! Looks like it works well. I love the conversions people do. One of these days ill start mine.

[rc_farmer]

Very nice conversion. I like the clean look.

[Ths]

Very nice. Do you have the specifications of the linear servoes you used?

[caterpillar]

great conversion! dying to see more pics and video's of it. I have one of these at home too, maybe I should also convert it.

[rcman]

very sweet! you did a great job! i like the linear servos looks like they were made for it!

[RCP57]

I see that in one pic you have a single 645 servo and in another you have two servos. What servos did you end up using for the steering?

Reg

[mog]

looking good you got it done up nice all i ever did was get my 574 taken apart lol.

[kcusumano]

lookin great but I would have converted a ertl case 1/16 scale pay loader model looks so much more american and scale

[farmhauler]

awesome! i have one coming in the mail and this thread is gonna help me out alot!

[pumptech]

How are the Linear actuators working out for you on the loader ..

[rc_nut]

Hi there,
Iam going to do the same.
Can you please, please tell me what Linear actuators you used?? Thanks
Brian

[Giuseppe]

You is a great,especially for the differentially locked!!!!!!.

[ScaniaMANMark]

Can anyone please tell me where to purchase the linear actuators used in this conversion? What make and model?

Thanks