My Ford FW-60 Project Now With A Disc!!!
 

Well after seeing Freddy build his Ford I just had to buckle down and start on mine. I of course started the same way with a bone stock push toy that was new and started butching from there. I've put a couple of evening into it so far and have several more to come to get it going but here are a few pics of my start. :rolleyes:

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2259.jpg

Crawler transmission installed. Hopefully this will have enough torque in the gearing along with the 9 tooth pinion to pull this hog.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2260.jpg

Steering knuckle made up and mounted.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2261.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2262.jpg

Bottom view. All the screws will be tapered and flush mount and stainless when they come in from McMaster this week.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2263.jpg

My version to get as much axle and driveshaft clearance resulted in machining a custom joint to clear the servo flush under the arm and still twist under the axle.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2264.jpg

Thats all for the moment but I hope to have more progress pics of this up soon.

Tyler

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

Ok got the driveshafts made up and installed. Hopefully this will be running by the end of the week.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2265.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2266.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2267.jpg

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

Looking good. I need to get me a few of these tractors to convert. Any binding or issues with the rear driveshaft. I thought most 1:1's had the ujoint inline with the articulation joint.

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

It's hard to see in the pics but the center of the u joint pin is right in line with the center pivot. It has no binding issues at all and seems like it will do good at its location. There is hardly any flex in the rear shaft at all forwards and back at any angle of turning.

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

Another tractor conversion! These are great. I'm working on one too, but I've got red in my veins, so my tractor will be too. I have to say, after starting work on mine, it looks like these Ford and Steiger tractors are more easily converted. The chassis/frame is much more old school, and straight forward. The more modern tractors seem a little tougher. Not quite as much room in between the frame, but a little more under the hood.

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

Lookin real good so far! Are you going to put a gear reduction in her?
She might be a tad on the fast side w/out one.The first one I did was race ready w/out one.:eek: With those tall tires it really decreases the ratio.
Just tryin to save you the work that I had to do after it was done.;)
FGD

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

Hey Freddy I'm not sure how fast this little guy will be bookin it along but I'm not doing much for a gear reduction just yet. I'm putting in my goat crawler system so if it gets too fast I'll just turn down the timing on the motor and maybe tweak it with a little lower torque. The tires are going to be changed and a little smaller diameter so we'll see how that goes. Thanks for the heads up though.

Tyler

Rolling Chassis
 

It's time for an update. :D

She's now a rolling chassis and is operatable in a sense. I got the axles mounted up driveshafts complete and got the new hardware in for the skid so she got to go on her first run tonight on the carpet.

Here are some pics of the beast sitting in wait for some organization of wires and an electronics plate to be installed to hide it all under the cab and engine. :rolleyes:

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2268.jpg

Kind of a wiring nightmare sitting on it right now but it will all be hidden soon enough. :cool:

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2269.jpg

The New hardware makes the bottom nice and smooth.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2270.jpg

There is still lots of room around the motor and tranny so it can all breath better.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2272.jpg

Any comments or ideas on wheel and tire choices or even what impiments I should build for this thing would be greatly appriciated. I've got a box blade in the works at the moment so I will need some more after it's completed.

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

Looks like you did a fine job,

waiting on the video now:rolleyes::rolleyes::D

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

There will be a video up soon for everyone to view.

Tyler

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

Well it's part one of my weekend update on this little beast. I finally got the cab mounted along with the hood and engine installed back in the tractor. I finally have a ll the electronics installed and almost every piece is hidden from sight while the tractor will be driving. If you look hard enough you may be able to see where some of the electronics got stashed. :D Anyways enough with the talk right now here are some pics for you to enjoy.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2273.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2274.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2275.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2276.jpg

I still have some more finishing touches to do to the frame and mounting before I strip it all back down and sand blast it then repaint it but for now while testing I think it should do fine. Lemme know what ya'll think. :rolleyes:

Tyler

First Shakedown Run In The Sun
 

Well I got the tractor programed and ready to go so here is a quick video of it making a few turns around on the pavement out behind the house. I still have a little adjusting to do on the steering and make some better pivots for the center but the major part of this build is complete. :D Here's a video for you all to enjoy.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...h_100_2277.jpg

Hope you all enjoy the video. :D

Tyler

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

Tyler,

great video and great works. :cool:

Manfred

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

Thanks Manfred, It's currently in it's painting stage so when I get it all back together I will take some more pics of it and another video for you all. I hope to have it back together tommorow and I will be starting on the box blade for it tonight.

Tyler

Video Time
 

Ok time for another test run out front this time but at night. I decided to strap on a few lights to see what I'm up against lighting this tractor up like a christmas tree and here is what I have so far just to see a little more action of it.:D

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...h_100_2278.jpg

Hope ya'll like the videos so far and lemme know what ya wanna see next.:rolleyes:

Tyler

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

Have you tested it's pulling power yet? Kind of curious what it's capable of.

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

Such a great looking little vehicle there that I hope it's staying blue when you paint it.


~ Jeff

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

I did hook it up to our air bubble lastnight but wasn't able to get a video of it as I was kinda thinking of how cool it was that it pulled it before the driveshaft slipped and I had to shut it down. I will get it back and going tonight and give it another go this time with video hopefully.

Thanks for the compliment Jeff. The tractor is still blue after painting it but I'm not satisfied at all at how it came out and how rough it looks along with the color being too dark so I'm going to dissassemble it again blast it completely smooth it all up and powdercoat it instead so I get a true match to the color I want. I also want the coating to be a little more durable than the paint also so it may be a few days before I have it back and going but it will for sure be worth it.

Tyler

New pull scraper started
 

Well I decided to spend some time this afternoon working on the Ford and got it going again and also had some time to work on the pull scraper for it. Here are a few pics of the start of my powered pull scraper for the FW-60.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2279.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2280.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2281.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2282.jpg

Tyler

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

Well I've been debating on what wheels and tires I'm going to be running on this tractor so I can put the fenders back on and I finally pulled the trigger tonight. I will be running a set of RC4WD wheels and tires on this tractor just so I can get a feel for how this thing will run. The tires and wheels on here now do great on carpet and concrete out front but the new tires should do great in all the conditions and the wheels look really similar to a tractor styled wheel that I just couldn't pass them up. I hope to have them here mid week and have the tractor all back together very soon.

Tyler

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

Time for a quick update for the evening. I'm still waiting on the wheels and tires to get here so I decided it was time to start making some more detailed parts for the Ford. I got a little bored tonight looking at the plastic exhaust stack so I decided to do something about it. Took me a few hours but I think it's worth it and looks much better than before. Tell me what you guys think.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2286.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2287.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2288.jpg

Thanks for lookin,
Tyler

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

looks good.

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

What rims did you end up going with? The RC4WD Militants?

The rain cap is a cool little touch.

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

Hey Nathan I did end up going with the military wheels and tires. They just look great on a couple of rigs I've seen them on and think they look really close to a tractor wheel that I can make them work. I hope to have them soon and I'm really hoping the offset will work too.

Tyler

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

The tractor looks great. Makes me want to build my own.

New Wheels And Tires
 

Well it's time for a little update. I started to re-arrange the electronics and components in the tractor so I could hide it all better and I think it worked. All I have that will be visable will be the wire connections at the back once it is all done so I think I accomplished what I set out to do so far. I also got the new wheels and tires in and put a couple together in hopes they would look better and I have to say I think they look pretty good right now. I'm kinda debating now wether or not I should go duals, lemme know what you guys think.

Anyways enough with the talk here is the tractor as it sits right now. :rolleyes:

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2289.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2290.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2291.jpg

Hope you guys enjoy and lemme know what you think I should do about the blankness on the front of the frame on the passenger side. It just looks too bare for me.

Tyler

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

You could hang a tool box on the frame or make some kind of suitcase weights, you could also add a tow cable like most all Scraper Specials have. Those tires look a little short, if your going to keep them I would dual them up.

Here is some photos of steps, tool boxes, tow cables and front weights.
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...nger-ch85e.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/94608668.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m.../1687673_1.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...t/93696334.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...x-500-case.jpg
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...st-stx500I.jpg

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

Well just a small update for this tractor. I'm still drilling out the new wheels for duals and they should hopefully be able to be turned out next week sometime and ready to put back on. I have been working on getting everything solid mounted and it seems it is all gonna fit. All I really have left to do is strip it back down to the bare frame and powdercoat it all to match. I got some new axles in for it that I will post pics of this week along with the new lights that I hope to be installing this week as well.

Tyler

Nearing the finish point!!!
 

Well Its almost been a month now on this project and got some time off today to work on the wheels. Still have one left to finish up but it shouldn't take but maybe an hour. Anyways thought I'd post some progress before it gets too late.

As always here are the newest pics for everyone to see.

Here's the blanks that I started with.
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2306.jpg

Being turned and all the holes drilled.
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2336.jpg

And now a few to show the difference between the single narrow tires and the duals installed.
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2338.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2339.jpg

Much better with duals all around.
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2341.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2342.jpg

And a few close ups of the wheels and tires.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2345.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2343.jpg

Good spacing I believe.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2346.jpg

Thanks for looking guys and hope you all like the progress. I'm hoping to have this tractor running before the snow flies.

I have to get the chassis blasted tomorrow hopefully at work and then powder coat it this week as well then it will all go back together then the blade will be finished and ready to plow.

Leave me some comments if you'd like.:p

Tyler

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

That looks great. I wonder if RC4WD would mold some of those tires without the sipes for a solid v tread.

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

That looks much better with duals Tyler... although your tires are too close together. Would it be possible to make a spacer to add 1/4 to 3/8 inch between the tires? It's not for looks, but rather to improve traction performance by allowing the tread of each tire to penetrate the surface so the earth will roll up each side of the tire.

I have 24.5x32 tires on my 1:1 4wd with about 16" spacing.

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

You did a pretty nice job turning the rims. Did you make brand new one piece rims, turned to look like duals, or separate rims that bolt onto the RC4WD rims, like true duals? I wouldn't worry about the tire spacing. It looks a little tight, but not all that unscale. I've seen clamp on duals that fit that tight on 1:1 tractors, and some clamp on duals that had a much wider spacing too. Some so wide they almost match the width of hub mounted duals, spread wide to clear the crops.

In anycase, I think it looks much better with duals.

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

looks good Tyler , you did a good job on those : thumbs up :

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

Thanks for all the compliments guys. I wasn't sure if I wanted wide mount duals or narrow, but I decided narrower so it was easier to turn this beast around. I have pushed it in a circle a couple times and the turning radius grew tremendously. Adding that other 1/4" that I was thinking on each wheel would have really killed me I think.

On another note, I got the fenders all mounted and everything is now done no the frame for now so I will get it blasted tomorrow instead of like I was hoping for today and hopefully get it powder coated by this weekend so I can get it all back together and running for some more test vids.

Now it's time to start on wiring up all the lights.

Anybody know where I can get some 8mm clear lenses? I can't seem to find anything that will work for me. I tried cutting a piece of plexi dowel rod but it didn't look to clear when it was turned out on the lathe. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Tyler

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

8mm LEDs? There are quite a few options out there. You could also buy some 8mm lenses and build an LED holder - more less a tube with the lense on the end of it. I know Axial has some larger clear lenses, used on their light kits for the rock crawlers they have. Garden Trucking sells some larger round lenses too, also clear, or orange, or red. They are larger then 5mm, I know that much, but how bit, I can't remember. Check under the company store, and then click 'lighting'.

Axial's light bucket set -

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXYWV9&P=7
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXYWW1&P=7

Here are some 8mm LEDs, available online.

http://www.ledssuperbright.com/8mm-led-c-8
http://ledz.com/?p=leds.8mm

Maybe this will help. I do believe you can also polish fiber optic cable and acrylic rod. Try sanding it in various grades, working your way up as fine as you can. Something like 2500 grit or even better! I've heard some guys use a business card to finish up the ends of fiber optic cables. I don't know how well it works.

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

looking good! love the duals!

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

nice work on the wide rims :D test drive video?

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

Thanks for the compliment. There was a lot of time and work into making that one set of wheels.

Very soon Russ, very soon hopefully. I've got the chassis blasted and at the powder coaters so hopefully he can slip it in with some other parts this week and that way it would be kinda like a christmas present to myself. :D

Tyler

Re: My Ford FW-60 Project
 

Well ladies and gentlemen the time has come. As of six months ago I started what I thought would be a quick project. Boy howdy was I wrong. Through the last six months I have spent a lot of time with trial and error building my Ford tractor, but luckily for me time prevailed and I now have a final result to all my hard work. I now present to you "Big Blue" in it's final stages. It is now running and all buttoned up besides a few front lights and details now. So enough with the talk and here are some new pictures to hold you guys over till I get time to take some video tomorrow. :D

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2557.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2558.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2559.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2561.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2565.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...0/100_2555.jpg