Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

[IMG]http://www.rctruckandconstruction.co...&pictureid=281[/IMG]

Hello,
Another refugee from ‘Garden Trucking’ would like to squeeze in to this splendid engineering forum. It’s good to see that in spite of the efforts of career politicians we still have some very skilled people around. Some of the stuff makes me really jealous. If the RC diggers, trucks and bulldozers had been around fifty years ago I might never have wanted to grow up ! Life would have been a permanent playtime.

My own particular interest is in cable excavators and the last five years have been spent building an 1/8 scale excavator influenced by a Marion -111-M /Lima 1201. It started out as Marion but then I got really interested in the machinery layout of the Lima -1201 which although not as simple is a very clever arrangement of the gearing. Fortunately I hung on to my collection of catalogues from which I gained layout information but it is mostly scratch built developing dimensions as I go along and making the odd detail drawing when necessary. The revolving frame is made up of two twin sets of ‘castings’ which are machined out of solid to house the turntable rollers and mounting lugs for hook roller bogies. These are then mounted between side frame plates which at the front make up one of the boom feet each side. As you can see it’s quite a lump. The crawler frames are approximately 26 inches in length and 18 inches wide, turntable gear diameter 12.5 inches. Overall Length of the revolving frame with the tail end section will be around 36 inches but has yet to be determined by back end design and power unit requirements. I would guess the weight is in the region of 230 lbs as it stands but will increase quite a bit even with two sets of track pads. I’ll let you know when I get around to putting it on the scales.

http://www.rctruckandconstruction.co...&pictureid=279

Head on view from front showing boom feet , front hook roller bogie mounting bracket and front turntable roller pins

http://www.rctruckandconstruction.co...&pictureid=276
Another view from the front also showing some internal construction detail of the truck frame

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Machining underside of frame stretcher

http://www.rctruckandconstruction.co...&pictureid=659
View of front hook roller and machined swing ring gear

http://www.rctruckandconstruction.co...&pictureid=651
unfinished drumshaft with winding drum clutches

http://www.rctruckandconstruction.co...&pictureid=650
front drumshast showing main transmission gear

http://www.rctruckandconstruction.co...&pictureid=652
clutch housing showing cooling louvres

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trial mesh of large gear and left hand clutch housing gear assemblies

http://www.rctruckandconstruction.co...&pictureid=278
Front view with detail of crawler drive tumblers

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Almost complete. Final machining to be done after test assembled to mating components

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Front sub component assembly after machining deck

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Showing back of roller mounting carriage with aperture for inner end of roller shaft bearing block and block
before it is fitted into place for maching in situ. Location for bolting carriage to front main component can
also be seen. These holes are later recessed for roller clearance. When machining is completed the bearing
apertures also allow access to tighten the countersunk securing screws.

http://www.rctruckandconstruction.co...&pictureid=294
Both bearing blocks inserted and roller mounting shafts in place

http://www.rctruckandconstruction.co...&pictureid=295
This view of the back shows the front frame stretcher anchor bolted in place. This secures the bearing blocks
althogh they are a snug fit anyway

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Tumbler ready to remove flange and turn over

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Flange removed and ready for machining other side

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First machining position on reverse side of drive tumbler

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Part machned tumbler mounted ready for removing surplus webs of metal btween driving lugs
Position of one set of four quartering holes can be seen in this view

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Machining in progress

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Cleaned out slots

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First stage of relieving driving lug flanks tilting milling angle to 25 degrees. Comparison before
and after relieving can be easily compared.

http://www.rctruckandconstruction.co...&pictureid=249
Relieving of driving lugs completed on one side and ready for turning over

http://www.rctruckandconstruction.co...&pictureid=250
Tumbler flanks been relieved and driving lug is ready to have quartering location removed.

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Driving lug finish machined.

http://www.rctruckandconstruction.co...&pictureid=252
Completed driving tumbler.

PLEASE NOTE ALL MACHINING HAS BEEN DONE WITHOUT THE AID OF A SAFETY NET, PARACHUTE OR KNEEPADS: :D !

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

Hi Rustybucket-welcome to the forum! Good to see you are making progress on your shovel. Keep the pictures coming!:cool:

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

I wondered where you went to. Maybe you'll wear some rust off your bucket showing us your work.:D I haven't seen any of your progress for quite some time. Look here guys,Another fine example of building a model without the help of CNC machinery. You're definitely inspiring me to build a shovel next. Only problem,not sure what model? Possibly a Bucyrus-Erie 120B since I have lots of info on that model.

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

Come on, Steve, join us in the cable shovel builders club :D:D:D

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

GREAT! I have no other words for this! Welcome!

Kerst

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

Welcome rustybucket, excellant craftsmanship you have there.

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

Welcome aboard, you have a new home! thank's for sharing this outstanding project!
Later, Neil#2 aka doodlebug.

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

Wow, this is great! I'm definitely looking forward to seeing more!

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

Many thanks for all your kind comments. It's good to be in such exalted company. I'm sticking some more pics up over the next few days. There's a few of them so it may take a while to sort through them. Any questions please just ask.

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

Welcome Rustybucket! another Cable excavator fan:)

I can't see the pics?

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

Nice :) and glad you joined up to showcase the work!

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

WOW, nice work, and dedication. Can we see a pic of the real one, to compare? What is the weight of the progress so far, and what do you estimate the final weight will be? What will you power it with? Looking forward to more from you.

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

Here's a Marion 111M in action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e19A4lVhLI

Lima 1201: http://www.flickr.com/photos/43905040@N06/5340706056/
Lots of other great pictures of old iron as well.

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

Hi Smalhaul,

I'm not sure why you can't see the pictures. I've copied the url for you though and posted it in the address bar and it takes you straight to the page with them all on. Here it is:-


http://www.rctruckandconstruction.co...ead.php?t=2703

Let me know if it doesn't work but you best bet is to get hold of admin.

Regards

rustybucket:)

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

Thanks Rustybucket I wasn't logged in and that is why they didn't show.

Fantastic work! Great pics, should be a good heavy digger when done.

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

It has been a while since my last visit to the forum but I have not been completely idle. Just put up some pictures of how I made the drive tumblers. Couple more pics to follow shortly. Lot of time spent on doing three hook roller bogies which have still to be mounted. Latest job has been machining four swing/propel clutch housings together with their driving gear blanks. I hope it will not be too long before I can start cutting the teeth.

Sad news to start the year with the passing of Freddygeardrive. Far far to young and with all that talent. I'm sure he will be missed.

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

Sorry to say but had missed this one earlier, will follow progress closely now!

Wow, a lot of machinering in only one piece, had to look at frame many times to see all work put into this. How will track pads be done?

Dan

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

Hi Dan. The track pads wil be done very carefully!! I have not drawn them up yet but they will be 4 1/2 inches in width which equates to 36 inches full size. I have a to marry features of full size machines with detail that can be machined without difficulty and look realistic when completed so I still need some more thinking time before which I need to tidy up the design of the inside boom feet and do some more machining on the hook roller mounting lugs. I would also like to cut some gear teeth on the cluch drives but it will all be as the mood takes me. Thank you for your interest. I'll post some more pics as and when.

Geoff

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

Hi Geoff!

I've seen your wonderful machine at the Bristol show!

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6193/6...51b62309_m.jpg
(click to go to photo page, click photo there for larger view.)

I wanted to chat to you, but missed you in the end :(
I was there with the model truckers, I have the model motor grader - we were just opposite of your table.
But at least we now meet here!
Great excavator!

Best wishes
Jens

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

Hey Jens, thank's for sharing your picture's!
Cheer's, Neil.

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

Hi Jens, Sorry I mised you and thanks for your interest. With a bit of luck we'll have a chat at this years show when I hope to have a lot more progress.

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

Hi Geoff-any progress on the "Limaron Shovel"?

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

Hi Jens,
Thanks for you comments and your interest. Sorry I missed you at the show. Perhaps we will meet up this year when I hope to have a lot more progress. I did send a reply to you posting a while back but it seems to have got lost in cyber space so you probably didn't get it. Where are you from. If you are local give me a call when you're in the area.

Geoff

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

Thanks Geoff :)
You posted to the thread all right - I forgot to reply :(
I'm from Bath. I hope to have my grader painted this spring, but who knows...
Looking forward to your progress!

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

Why is this forum so hard to get back onto and upload fresh pictures. All I get is a notice saying I don't belong to any groups. How to I belong to a group. Most of them are trucking I am not. I have been absent because of slow progress on my project but now, like Arnie, I'M BACK' :cool: . But I cant upload. If this state of affairs carries on I'm gonna throw my rattle out of the pram.:mad:

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

Hi Geoff,
I wouldn't know how it works, I have my images stored on another website and just link them. Hope someone can help you!

Cheers
Jens

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

I see you have 60 pics in your album now... as far as I know we don't offer unlimited storage here.. it's a convience to get you started, but at some point you'll either have to delete old photos in your album before adding new ones or use a photo host site to link photos to the forum.. like photobucket.com. It's free to use.

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

Please hurry and get a photo sharing site started. I use Imageshack for mine. I'm anxious to see your latest progress.

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

Ditto what Steve said! I use Photobucket.

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

Wow that looks amazing

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

This is going to be got to see this all the way to the end

Re: Cable excavators of the 1940's and 50's
 

Between Rustybucket, modelman, and 9W's work I am beginning to get cold feet about my little 3/4 yd dragline project! Just kidding, what wonderful craftsmanship guys! I agree, the cable machines from the US built a lot of miles of interstate, autoban, and countless other highways around the world. They required great skills to build and to operate them.....we sort of lost out to joysticks and hydraulics along the way!!

Limaron Project
 

I was on the forum some while ago with pics of my hybrid 1/8 scale Lima/Marion cable shovel. For some reason the got deleted and I couldn't get back onto the forum. I'm here now in disguise as a shedgnome. Some progress made since last time which I hope to post now or very shortly

Re: Limaron Project
 

Nice to see you back at work j-er-I mean shedgnome1. Keep the pictures coming.

Re: Limaron Project
 

I remember the original thread - very impressive work. Keep up with the work and pics!

Ken

Re: Limaron Project
 

Thanks guys I'll try and put some more pics up shortly. Last time there used to be a way of creating an album but I don;t see it this time? I also have two other queries.

A request to be a friend which I have tried to respond to but I'm not up on social media and the instructions on the page are confusing ?

I have over the years accumalated a surplus of excavator manuals and other books etc. Now willing to part with two shelves full at reasonable prices to give me some space. Is there a facility onthe forum for such exchanges - Huh?

Re: Limaron Project
 

That looks really nice. Beautiful machining.
At which exhibition were these pictures taken?

kerst

Re: Limaron Project
 

What was your prior username & name of project thread?

Re: Limaron Project
 

Very nice as expected from you. I too was wondering why we have not seen any updates on your build.

Re: Limaron Project
 

Thanks once again for your kind commments. My former thread was cable excavators of the 1940s and 50s. Rusty bucket was the name but like I said all the pictures got wiped so there's nothing there anymore. Progress has been made since then although some of the jobs have taken a long time, like developnent of the sideframes which took over 12 months. The pictures were taken at the annual Bristol model engineering exhibition which once again will be in August. I hope to be there but now have a smaller car with less room and Limaron is getting very heavy and it may be difficult getting there since I don't belong to any clubs.

In the meantime I will put up some random pictures while I get on with a couple of components for the front drumshaft which also carries the propel gears and dog clutches for selecting crowd or propel drive. Watch this space.:cool: