Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

My parts came in yesterday and it looks like the sprockets are going to fit really good! :p the plasticky "roller" chain is sort of cool, it comes in a bag and you snap each link together. It will make things much easier than the O ring setup since I can break it at any link to take it off and on. I ordered HiTec spline hub sprockets so I made new hubs and tapped them for mounting to the sprocket and put a set screw in the hub.

I STILL have to make rollers! :rolleyes: but, this baby is really close to moving to the job site!:cool:

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...pshdtvdlr4.jpg

Jim

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

Looking good jim-You are really close to making a move across the floor. This is when it gets exciting!! Did you find a slip ring that will fit this model?

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

It's been a while since I was on. You are really getting it to all come together nicely. Thanks for sharing all the pics and your build with the rest of us.

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

ITS ALIVE, :p enjoy the mistakes the operator makes, you can tell it has been several
months since I ran this thing ;)

http://youtu.be/MBk1NOU6REk

http://youtu.be/pKyItv_0cYU

Thanks to everyone for the comments, helps me keep going!

Now, I wonder what my subconscious aversion is to making the upper and lower rollers? I know it will work better once I get those done. I'm sure that is the first thing the shop manager is going to throw at me when I show up tomorrow!:rolleyes:

Jim

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

A fricken brilliant job you did on that little machine!

Congratulations are in order :)

Stephan

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

That's great, Jim! But I don't think that driver was very happy with the way you treated his truck:D It walks just like the Link Belt LS-52 I've been around a little. Tracks snap, pop and squeak just like it. Rollers will make it smooth as long as they stick down lower than the tumblers/idlers. You don't want the bottoms of the tumblers and idlers at the same height as the bottoms of the rollers or it will still hop. When the pad transitions from flat on the ground to the tumbler, the leading edge goes up but the trailing edge has to go down since it cannot conform to the radius of the tumbler. If you see any steel tracked machine that is hopping along, it means the undercarriage or at least the bottom rollers are worn out. Sucks when you are trying to hold a grade with a dozer or walk it any distance on hard ground.

Did you have to do much monkeying with those drive chains to get the proper amount of slack? Where'd ya get 'em at? Looks like the direction I might want to go.

I see one more item to add to the list: a fairlead to keep the drag cable away from the tracks.

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

Thanks guys!

Ya, Jared, you got it right on the truck driver.:p I was cracking up when I watched the video the first time. It was like I was sleeping as I swung around and clanged into his truck. :p

If I had a fairlead on the drag rope it wouldn't try to boom up when the rope get stuck on the track. My current rope path goes around two pulleys low on the boom so when it pulls hard it booms up:o

The chain is from servo city. It is .25" plastic and I used their plastic sprockets. It comes in a little bag with all the parts loose and you have to snap the links together. I got lucky with the slack, I didn't make any adjustment allowance in the drive tumbler or motor mount. I could put on a smaller tumbler sprocket if needed but I was able to pull it together with needle foreseps and pop the links together. On one side I removed the pin from the tumbler and assembled the chain and then slid the pin in place. I already had some standard steel chain bit the plastic stuff is going to work good and is munched easier to work with.

Jim

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

Looking good Jim. We could bind that up to my controls next month.
Anyhow, Try changing the host chain length and dump cable length. I noticed the drag chains not pulling like they should because of the dump rope. Just some minor experimenting you will be able to dial it in I'm sure.
There seems to be an art to getting a bucket to work correctly as I had found out with mine.
Next project would be to build a fairlead to get the drag rope out away from the track.

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

Some photos of the chain drive setup...

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...psdnqzx1dy.jpg

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...psahwb6nbs.jpg

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...psdiw5ok9a.jpg

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...psujmfwxvc.jpg

Working on upper and lower rollers today:bounce:

Jim

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

Nice work jim-this is the pay-off for all that work. The operator does look a bit rusty but I'm sure this will work it's self out :D. How many channels are you running? You have a lot going on there.

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

Steve, ya a fair lead would be good. I was trying to dig wet packed sand the other day and my attach points on the drag rope at the bucket are too high and cause it to tip the aft end of the bucket up. I plan to make some new brackets so I can move the attach point up or down for different soil types. I haven't really tried to tune this setup since I got it running last fall. I have the airplane instrument panel ripped apart for an upgrade so it looks like I will be driving again this year. I should find a topper for the truck so I don't have to sleep on the ground this year ;) don't think Jennifer is coming with me this year. Going to be a long drive doing it all myself :(

Tom, i thought i had the bucket a bit higher on a few swings:rolleyes:. As soon as i sat down i knew it was going to be a crash fest.

I am running 6 channels. The stupid motor controller is fussy so I have to use a separate BEC for the radio and servos, and that means every one of the seven sockets on the RX has a plug in it! They put the pins so close on the RX that the plugs hardly fit.:p

Jim

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

I should have just copied this picture from your thread Jared! :p

Jig to make the roller axel shafts. I decided to do it just like you did with a flat on each end of the shaft and drill them and tap holes in the side rails.

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1llhpkvq.jpg

Jim

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

Those drive chains fit very nicely under there.

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

Steve, ya I got lucky! They have a smaller plastic chain but I didn't think it would hold up and it might have looked too small? I think this stuff turned out just about right.

Here is a picture that explains how I get any work accomplished in the shop AND read the forum and post updates all the time. The iPad is on the wall right above the band saw. ;)

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...psvhgmtb5u.jpg

Jim

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

Jim-I know what you mean about the rec.. The last one I hooked up was so small I almost couldn't deal with it. I think you made a good choice on the roller pins. It may take some time to make the jig but then it should go well and I think you will like the results.

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

Rollers and pins, rollers and pins...and I'm only about halfway done:rolleyes:

Need to make 5 more of these and then match drill and tap the holes. And that is only the bottom, five each side:p

I think I will/can do 2 each on the top.

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...ps01amwjry.jpg

Another one of those things that I think, "well, that shouldn't take too long" and then I spend all day doing it:D

Jim

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

:D:D:D Nice

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

Ha! I'm kicking some pins, spacer and roller butt now! :p

http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...pscgh2rw46.jpg

Going to be five on the bottom and probably two on the top. I tried it last night with just the two outboard rollers on each side and it works SO much better with rollers!:cool: it almost like having bluetooth on this sucker!:D

Jim

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

I got the idlers rollers all finished and installed!:cool:

http://youtu.be/fiCI-9QpdCQ

Makes me wish I had a truck and an low boy to haul it on...

Jim

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

Jim-that seems to work really good!! Your suspension looks a bit stiff to me though. :D :D Just my opinion but you have gone this far, I say put a 3rd. roller on the top just for looks if nothing else. The bottom looks much better to me but the top needs more. Great job either way!!Maybe you are tired of making little parts.

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

Tom,

I was not looking forward to today's thanks of making eight more roller,pin, spacers sets and then mounting them. But, today I tried the pneumatic drill for the small #50 drill for the mounting holes in the frame rails and it worked really good. So, I might add more. My big problem is the placement of them and interference from the rest of the frame.

Did you mean the tension looked too tight or something else on "suspension"?

I am elated at how well it worked out! I have been running it a lot today and can't wait to see how it "breaks in" and what trouble spots pop up.

Jim

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

Awesome result on the tracks - simply, very realistic and they work a treat, with great scale operation. The chain drive was a good move - I think the o-ring drive set up would not have been able to transmit the sort of torque your unique track gear requires. I watched the digging vid too and was impressed - I wish I could find these sort of old retired workhorses over here in NZ to convert like this.
Nicely done I reckon and such a marvelous result without all the flashy gear.
Top marks!
Glenn

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

Glenn,

Thank you very much! It is actually quite fun to dig and even more so now with the undercarriage !:D

The pulley and O rings was just my lazy initial test to see if it was actually gong to be a workable system, I already had the .25" steel roller chain, but the new plastic stuff became available and it is very easy to work with and seems up to the task. I also really like the fact that it should be a "weak" link in the system I case of over stress.

Jim

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

Jim-I was just teasing you. A lot of people on here like to brag about how much suspension travel they have in there models and watching you crawl over that air hose made me see just how realistic this model worked. Watching it go over the hose and the blocks looks just like a real shovel moving. I know the rollers are your choice but this is a great model and you should be proud.

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

Tom,

Thanks for all your tips along the way, that helped me keep going!

I looked at the top rollers again and I think you are right, it sort of looks like it is missing something. The track pads are actually resting on the sprockets and chain at the top center. I'll ponder it a do something.;)

Jim,

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

I was kinda mesmerized watching those tracks roll over the blocks and hose. I think the chain is pretty realistic. Great job, Jim.

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

Jared,

I should give you a big Thank-You also! I couldn't have done it without all the good information from your thread!;)

Thanks to Steve for posting all the drawings of the BE In Jared's thread! I have some of them printed out and hanging
over the bench in the shop!;)

And, here is a link to 20 minutes of moving sand at the loading dock.

http://youtu.be/J_7SKGJWoV0

Jim

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

Nice video jim-looks like the operator is getting back in the groove. You may have the drag chains mounted too high on the bucket. I think that is why it wants to tip over forward. Just some minor tweaks though. Looks like you are enjoying yourself and the tracks seem to be working perfect.

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

I painted the undercarriage and made some other adjustments. Also put in a dirt ramp on the south end of the loading dock for the crane and trucks to get up and down.

http://youtu.be/tQO3R-t4RXk

Jim

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

Very nice!

Kerst

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

Kerst, thanks!

I ran the poor thing in the dirt and spun a set screw on one motor, so into the shop. Cleaned a bit and put a new set screw in. Then I took it back to the sand pile and it had a nice squeak and I hope I figured out my low audio volume so I recorded another short video. The squeak is classic! :p

http://youtu.be/wgfCpIFZDwE

Jim

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

Looking better every day jim-That is a steep hill but your drive motors seem to have plenty of power. The bucket is working good also. Did you make a change or just better digging conditions. I wasn't expecting that ending. What a shock!!!!! :eek: The operator didn't have time to jump out so I guess a change of clothes is in order for him.:lol: I like the squeak also.

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

Made a new video today. The sand is really wet and a bit tough and sticks in the bucket a little. Toward the end I try to move but I had some sand jamming things up...

http://youtu.be/f4G3C7oiO1k

Jim

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

Looks like some tough digging jim but the machine handled it really good. The model looks to be balanced well, do you have any ballast in the back end.

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

Tom,

Ya, there are two chunks of lead in the back along with two 3S lipo batteries. With the sand wet you can see the weight shift as I lift a full bucket.

Jim

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

for some reason BoobTube duplicated my cab view video, so naturally when I deleted the second one that indicated they had trouble uploading, they also deleted the primary video. So, I uploaded again.

If an Admin can/or would like to edit the post with that old link and use this new one, and delete this post that would be good, or not...

https://youtu.be/N-ctlSUP2lM

Jim

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

That is working beautifully. Now you can stop here on your way East and help me work on my control panel:D.

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

Steve, are you ready for next week? I think I got the wife convinced to come out with me again this year. It is about 12 hrs of driving and I wasn't looking forward to that on my own. See you in a week, we are planning to get there late afternoon Thursday.

Jim

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

I hope I'm ready. Still painting some stuff. Stop by here on your way through. PM me for contact info.

Re: Dragline Crawler Build
 

Build is coming along just great! Really nice work on those tinny rollers and track pads! Love the old shovel crawler system look!