Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

When he showed up at the shop, he told me about his veteran status, how he lost his eye.....I felt bad for him, & had to put him to work. He's a lil rough at times :rolleyes: & has taken a couple sideboards off of the trucks while loading.

Tractor, hopefully will be completed this weekend, & Mack truck too. :bounce:

Parts fir firetruck are still on a SLOW boat from China.:eek: I thought :thinking: :cop: I had enough ordered. They were suppose to be here TWO days ago. :eek: I've opened an ITEM NOT RECEIVED case on evilbay, am awaiting a refund fir them. I've re-ordered parts from a different seller. Soon as the parts ALL arrive me, I hope to start on that project. :D

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

:bounce: I got a box of parts yesterday. The 4200 upgrades that I ordered from Rimrock arrived me. I've got my work cut out, to get them installed, & get the machine in operating order once again.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4706/...cd2f6aef_c.jpgunnamed 134 by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr

Today, I made a lil more progress on the New Bright tractor conversion. I soldered together 6 of the 2/3A 1800MAH batteries to make a pack for it. :D
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4722/...b5ae23b4_c.jpgunnamed 133 by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr

Then I tried to install the cheap ESC that I had laying around that I had previously bought from China. It DIDN'T arrive with any instructions for it.:confused: When I hooked it up, I had the battery on the side that SHOULD have been the motors supply side. My hopes of getting the tractor finished his weekend went up in a lil puff of smoke! :jaw: I now have to await for some more ESC units to arrive on a SLOW boat from China:( HOPEFULLY this one arrives with some installation instructions with it!

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

I don't come to this site much anymore to see what's happening but you've been busy! Did you get any parts from me yet?

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

No Sir, not yet. I'm hoping they get here within the next few days. I've got enough stuff to keep me busy fir a while, as I wait fir them to arrive me.

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

Nice your going to like the upgraded track motors :cool:
You can see them in action here https://youtu.be/60gSjtnwJog

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

Oh that sucks. You’re the the closest to me and it’s taking the longest to get there.

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

It'll get here, eventually. I remember it took the US postal service a LONG time to deliver the Calendar to me. I remember that there were customers overseas that got them before me, & they were sent the same day.

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

Yes same this again. Hawaii and NY got their stuff already and you are only about 7 hours away.lol

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

I see that www.ruralking.com has blow out pricing on Bruder toys. Makes me wonder if they are going to continue to sell them. With low prices like those, I fear they may be liquidating their supply in preparation to discontinue selling them. I hope they DON'T do that. they were my go to place for reasonable prices on Bruder toys.

No progress has been made on my builds. After the ESC went up in a lil poof of smoke, my motivation went with it.

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

What is ruralking? Is that a legit website?

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

Rural King is like a bigger Tractor Supply Company

https://www.ruralking.com/catalogsea...sult/?q=Bruder
Holy crap, thanks for that heads up!

--
Edit, ya might not have TSC around either. It's kind of a general farm and homestead store: tractor stuff, welding, chainsaws, guns, hunting, clothes, toys, cooking, canning, repair hardware, some grocery... i can't go there often, they have stuff i like

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

/\ What frizzy said /\

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

:bounce: I decided to make a lil progress on the Bruder Mack conversion. :D I built the hydraulic tank behind the cab. This was my first attempt working with polystyrene plastic.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4744/...b27c712135.jpg5 by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr
I made it in an attempt to hide the ESC for the dump controls. Since I got a new batch of those cheapo ESC, (The ones that DIDN'T come with instructions) from China today, I though :thinking: it would be a good idea to hook up the dump controls today. When I tried to hook up the 10A ESC, I fried it AGAIN! :mad:This was the SECOND attempt to hook up an ESC for the dumper. Not only did the ESC go up in a lil poof of smoke, I managed to melt the power wires this go round. :eek:
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4673/...1f041a768a.jpg4 by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr
I REALLY wanted to get the dump controls done FIRST, as I think this will be the most important, AND crucial of all the electronics. So far, it's been the most difficult to get working too.

Since I failed to get the dump electronics functioning today, I got the drive components working. That ESC went in smoothly, & functions properly. Here's a lil vid of the truck (FINALLY, after all these months!) driving on it's own power.
https://youtu.be/7Gf_7tIdtTc
I didn't have the steering servo hooked up, so steering wasn't an option, YET. I have previously tested the steering servo, & know that it functions, so I wasn't too worried about it for now.

The garage floor was wet in this video. I had just finished working on my personal vehicle a few hours prior to taking this video.

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

Quick tip with Chinesieum escs that have no instructions:
First figure out what type connectors it has installed. Find out what the connector standard is for battery, so if battery has a female then the esc hookup is male. The esc output to motor should be same as on a battery to follow power flow.

So on my cheap 20a if i want to run a deans on all my battery, i can cut the female jst and some wire off the esc, solder on a deans male, then the off-cut Female wires can slap onto the motor and it's now really easy to swap if stuff goes bad.

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

I'll have to get some pictures of it today. I don't recall dealing with this style of connectors before. Perhaps you can identify what type it is, & what one needs the battery infeed connected to it.

On this try I used the opposite wires from last time. However, I think I may have had too much battery the first try. I no longer have use in my stuff for the 6S battery I have. I thought it may be handy to keep near the bench, & use as a testing battery. I think I may have had the wires right the first time, but overpowered the ESC. I don't know fir sure. I really struggle with electronics.

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

Here's a few pics of the unknown battery connections. If anyone can help identify them, as well as what side is suppose to be the battery infeed connection, it'd be greatly appreciated.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4662/...3e2ba1a73a.jpgunknown battery connectors2 by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4720/...4c0a121844.jpgunknown battery connectors1 by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

:bounce: Tonight I finished the Bruder Mack dump truck conversion. :D I wanted to use a small 10A speed controller, so I could hide it inside the hydraulic tank. Since I've now fried 3 :confused: of them cheapo ESC units, I used a larger ESC unit. I used the same cheap unit that I used for the drive motors. The down side, I had to cut out the passenger side seat, :( to have a place to put that unit. I placed approximately 12# of BB's in the dump box to test it out. It dumped it with no problems. :D Here's a couple videos of the finished product.:)

Testing the dump functions ,& driving the finished truck
https://youtu.be/L54N8OoEEOA
https://youtu.be/ZcZ_VAaZkAw

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

The Rural King toy clearance mentioned above is good.
I missed out on any bruder stuff, but i got a tonka chevy dumptruck for under $5, and an Ertl bigfarm pete semi with flatbed for under $13.

6S can let smoke out of a LOT of stuff.

Those look like mini JST. check out either my vw, fiero, subaru, econoline where i use that same 20a red esc with brake.
The male plug coming off board goes to motor.
The female coming off board goes to battery.

Double check me though
Hold it 4 big ic and switch up, wires toward you. Left to right:
3 to rx. 2 black switch. Red to Batt. red & black motor. Blacb to Batt

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

Frizzy, as ALWAYS, thanks fir your help. I'll try it again tomorrow, & see if I can get one of them installed in the New Bright tractor conversion. IF I can get one to work in it, WITHOUT frying, I will be able to complete that build. I MUST have a small ESC in it. The BIG ones that I used on the Bruder conversion WON'T work in it. There ain't enough room to fit er in there.

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

You aren’t alone! I’ve fried a few of those too before I got it right. I ended up figuring it out doing just as frizzen suggested. I found an old receiver 4 AA pack that had the correct plug and went from there.lol Very frustrating when it takes weeks to get more of them though.

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

Yes sir that it is. I wish I would have found a battery pack with a plug like that on it. it would have saved me a LOT of headaches.

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

:bounce: This just came in the mail today!
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4605/...ce24083d88.jpg8 by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr
Now I have everything needed to finished the New Bright tractor conversion. :)
This one cost 3 times:eek: the cheapo Chinese ones, BUT it came WITH instructions. Not that I need them for it, as it's CLEARLY labeled what wires go where! Seeing as I've fried 3 of the cheapo type on the Bruder Mack build, I think I will abandon the cheapo Chinese ones, & go this way from now on! I just re-ordered 3 more of these lil gems. :cool: Now off to hobby central I go, so I can FINALLY complete the tractor build! :D

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

:( Well POOP! I just finished tinkerin in the garage. The ESC I bought on Evilbay ONLY has a forward function. I spent a bit trying to figure out hoe to calibrate it to the radio. Once I FINALLY figured out how to calibrate it, I tried to run it a bit. After getting it all put together, & bothering to get the camcorder out, I finally realized my mistake.:mad: I just ordered a different ESC that has Forward, & REVERSE capabilities. Soon as it gets here, I will install it in the tractor & get er did!

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

That’s a bummer. Atleast you have the correct ESC ordered now. Did you have a chance to install your new track motors on the 4200 ?

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

No sir, I've yet to get around to the 4200 upgrades. Washington weather this time of year doesn't allow for much play time, WITHOUT an indoor play area. Since I don't have indoor play area, I haven't touched it.....yet.

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

I FINALLY finished the tractor :bounce:
Frizzy, you sir were correct about the connections on the cheapo ESC's.:) I fried one more even with it hooked up correctly, AND only hooked up to a 7.2V NMH battery pack, while trying to get the New Bright tractor conversion finished. :( It now has FWD, & REV functions. Here's a lil video of testing it out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30tb...ature=youtu.be

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

Looking good, maybe a bit quick. But it is Turbo Tractor.

Hay wagons suck to back, the short tongue on that makes it even worse.

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

Really sucks to back it. It's even worse then backing up the millennium style dump trailers, as the tongue is SO short on this wagon. The video was shot in the TURBO gear for moving down the roadways from field to field. I didn't get video of it driving in the farming gear. The bad part, the gear selector is on the rear of the tractor, just above the 3point hitch. There isn't enough room for me to figure a way to servo activate it. Guess lil skeeter will have to get off the tractor every time it's necessary to change from farming mode to get er done mode(s).

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

This is what the problem was with the 4200 :eek:
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4704/...94b25f7255.jpg4200 drive sprocket parts by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr

Those are the pins that keep the drive sprocket connected to the motors. I started to replace the motors today.:) I found that (I was fairly warned this may happen) the motor mounts needs the motor hole enlarged to fit the upgrade motors. I spent over an hour with the Dremmel tool trying to do one side of it. :jaw: I only got about half way done with it. I realized I needed help. Having heard the owner of the LHS talking about a guy they know that does custom machine work fir them, I called them. I dropped off the motor mounts so they can resize the motor holes fir me. HOPEFULLY they get er did faster then the 3-4 weeks I was quoted

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

If anyone needs/wants a set of 4200 stock drive motors, send me a PM, & we can negotiate terms. I no longer need them, thanks to Rimrock AKA Soyland Industries & his upgraded motor kit he sells. Here's a link to the BST thread with them in it. http://www.rctruckandconstruction.co...ad.php?t=13070

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

Yeah I also had to bore out the motor brackets on mine. Dropped them off at a local machine shop and guy did it for 25$ for both brackets. Picked them up 2 hours later. I too tried doing it myself with a dremel but quickly lost patience.

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

I'm glad I'm NOT the only one that decided it's too big of a project to tackle on my own. As far as cost, I've no idea what that will be.......yet. I hope it's NOT too big of a surprise!

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

Check out this video! I like it, showing how to make 2S, 3S, & 4S batteries.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsxVbwgALiw

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

Here's a neat & simple video to make the XT60 connectors EASIER to unplug

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ap8qlzApfzo

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

Also found this neat lil vid of how to remove a cell from a LiPo that has a bad cell.
Yeah, I'm a lil bored tonight, & have been on YouTube learning a bunch tonight......Well, I hope I'm learning a lot. I know some vids there give miss-information.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaaF84KFAek

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

hi skeeter did you ever receive that 1/16 army truck off of ebay? I haven't gotten mine and I see the seller is suspended so I'm trying to get my money back. was wondering if you had any luck?

eBay just refunded my money. took maybe 5 minutes.

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

Yes sir, I got mine. I now have 2 of them. The original that I pre-ordered (forgot where I pre ordered it from) AND the one I bought from Evilbay.

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

Well, I tried to make a lil progress on the Weyerhaeuser logging truck yesterday. :) I found a sketch fir a Peerless headache rack that I would like to scale to size. When I scale it out, the size of it on the computer screen, I watch it change size(s). :cool: When I try to print it the size on the paper DOESN'T change. :mad: I took it to the FedEx Kinko's yesterday to have them give it a go. :lol: I brought the original printing, AND a thumb drive with the original picture on it. I told them what sizes I wanted to enlarge it to & asked if they wanted the thumb drive, OR the already printed version. They declined the thumb drive option, & took the printing behind the counter. I was thinking possibly they have a different copier machine then I've seen before. :rolleyes: They would have to in order to be able to enlarge the picture by, (just throwing out a few #'s fir an axample) 125% top to bottom, & lets say 130% side to side. They ran a couple of different prints, & brought them to me, with a ruler. I measured them, & neither was what I told them I wanted. On was close enough to the right height, :D but WAY too wide. :( When I told the gal that neither would work, & what I needed to have happen, she said they COULDN'T do that. :cop: I'm NOT too tech qualified, but I could have told them that a copy machine WOULD'T get the dimensions that I needed. I thought they were a print shop! Shouldn't a print shop know how to take a thumb drive with a picture on it, & manipulate it to the dimensions that a customer requests? :mad:

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

Here's a picture of the print that I took them. This had the measurements that I wanted, and the current dimensions written on it.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4649/...988803b1a2.jpgLog Truck Headache Rack by Anthony Kalnoski, on Flickr

Re: Skeeters contracting services
 

Since they suck, try this with mspaint and word

http://www.rctruckandconstruction.co...ad.php?t=11281 post 22

Also, do you have tire height and axle witdh on the m35 yet? I had an ebay scam shutdown the one i had coming.