Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Looks great RW. I feel your pain with welding 1/8 aluminum. Just like you I can do it sometimes but as you said, a moment too long or a touch too much on the pedal and it's like snow in the summer.

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Still amazing I would have used brass but I guess that's train thing background . You aluminum welders work out s stunning to see

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

the hand rails look good what you have done so far ..I am pretty ok at working with brass and my soldering is above average ..the other day while working on my ladders something didnt look square enough for me ..took the plyers and tried to tweek it a little ..ended up breaking the joints..not super strong but it will do..I purchased a square wave lincoln 200 last summer and still have yet to set it up..some good vids on youtube welding some small stuff..maybe some helpfull tips on there for you ..well i hope to be able to do somewhat ok behind a mask one day .maybe holloween . lol wishfull thinking

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

I don't know why I didn't go with brass, guess because I had alum on hand and some steel. But still need to get a couple more pieces of steel. The aluminum is tricky to bend, as I couldn't find any bend able stuff so 6061 rod. Have to heat it and then it's may still stress crack on some of the 90s. So that's why I'm also doing steel. A lot more forgiving in the bending and welding. Was having a hard time keeping parts in place even just to get a tack on them. A little bump or poke with the rod and they are moving. So I made this up to get square 90s and to hold things in place. As long as it last for a couple it will be fine. Just have to get a quick tack
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psfhaazeqw.jpg

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

What type of bender or method are you using to bend your material, I'd like to get something to use on brass just not sure what works best. Your railing looks great!

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

That's because he is OCD and ADHD

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

http://youtu.be/2IZyqBTl-Yw

A dirt video haul truck

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

http://youtu.be/tWlCpFVv6NQ

Another video this time with comparison to my regular dumptruck.

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...pshzftrqvn.jpg

A pic showing the articulation in rear

This is just three loads
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7n2o7kiw.jpg

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/...psokbwry2x.jpg

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

I was mostly using a 30" 3-in-1 brake shear roll bender. I know it's hard on the bar but I used one section on end for all my bending. Would square off blade vertically and horizontally to try and keep square. And a bit of tweaking in the ole bench vise while slipping a tube over the rod as to keep material bending at the bend and not length of rod.

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Wow looks and run great can't wait to see it painted

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

she can haul and climb
http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/...ps82glrdc3.jpg
http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/...psyaadouea.jpg
http://i1335.photobucket.com/albums/...pstocgx6rv.jpg

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Hard to appreciate its size just from pictures... maybe someday I see it person. :) :cool:

Looks like it gets around with plenty of power to spare.

What's the hyd pressure set at to dump the load?

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Great job Cooper

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Anytime you are south, and east,,, your always welcome joe,, power, yes plenty, she will go up more than 30 percent incline. I haven't tested fully loaded but for what she is designed for around a 10-15 percent grade that doesn't pose any problems. I may even change some of the gearing in the 4:1,4:1,3:1 tranny. May switch to three 3:1 plantary. Just off top of my head I think the total reduction is 144:1, I may drop it to 81:1 or 108:1. They are my options that can easily be done by just swiping carrier , planet and sun gears

I think the pressure is still around 100 psi, haven't messed with any of that yet. I did notice in the grass when fully loaded sometimes the steering cylinders would stall when vehicle was stopped. But hey it's never good to be trying to crank the wheels unless you are moving. So that really isn't any problem. And lifting is no problem even at that pressure!! Guess that big 3/4" boar really does pack more punch!!

Thanks mikem!!!

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Well done ..steller build ..yellow with make it stand right out

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

When are you going to demonstrate it as a beer cooler?

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Cooper-that is a big truck!! Like Joe said-it is hard to see the size from the pictures but I can see it is big and will haul a lot. Nice work!!

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

Well I've been trying to gather all my options and solutions for increasing the speed of dumping the bed. After a lot of numbers, ideas, evaluations,, I pretty much came to the conclusion of it is what it is!!! I could possibly get a different pump, as I have the lesser flow one from premacon. I think the 600mil/min. Could go with the 1200mil/min. Now that would theoretically cut my cycle times in half, and the bed should take 15seconds to go up. But with running two cylinders off one valve and having a internal boar of .75" and the I.d. Of fittings acting like road blocks the best solution is to get the higher flow pump and have each cylinder supplied from its own valve. And run 4or 6 mm hose to them. Rather expensive modification:). Guess this is good reason for most people having a "plan" or doing the calculations before they cut parts or purchase parts:)!!!! I don't like the idea of independent valves unless a equalizer line installed.
Do you guys think doubling mil/min flow from 600 to 1200 will noticeably improve cycle times? I keep going back to inner diameter of fittings and hose as major restrictions for rate of flow. I'm sure I'll find a home for a hydraulic pump if I purchased a new one, :)

Re: Great Dane excavating co.
 

I'm not sure what your fittings are like but the SAE fittings I use have the same internal bore for both 1/8 and 5/32 sizes. The excavator uses 5/32 hose and fittings but was restricted at every connection. I drilled out the fittings to match the inside diameter of the hose and the difference in speed was noticeable. I'm not saying it was an earth shattering change but it did help. Can't you swap the motor and spin the pump a bit quicker?