Volvo EC300D
 

In my desire to be more like Santa, I started to build another toy today. The 1:1 is a Volvo EC300D excavator. I'm building in 1/10 scale again to match my Cat and Euclid so this thing is BIG! Hopefully when I'm done my model will look and function something like the real deal. This will be my fourth scratch build this year... I need to get a life!

Thanks for looking!

Reg

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

Judging by the pop can, it looks comparible in size to my JD850. :cool:

You're going to install minature hyds to this model, right?!

As near as I can guess, I think my JD850 is using a 500ml/min Jung pump with 4mm plumbing. You could probably inquire to Vario about getting their excavator hyd set to install into your model. ;)

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

The model will be about 41 inches from the tip of the boom( with the stick folded under) to the back of the counter balance. Is that about the size of yours?

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

Yeah, pretty near identical. The 850 looks to be about 40" from back of counterweight to boom/stick pivot point.

Will you build your u/c from steel? The 850 is a bear to move around or carry by hand with its 80lbs gvw, but it stays put while it's digging. I have the pressure set to approx 25-26bar.

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

The plan is to build as much stuff as I can out of alum because it's easier for me to make the pieces. The drawback is that it is much harder to weld, at least for me anyway.:o My Cat is virtually all alum and it weighs 20lbs with a lead acid battery so my hope is that this will be around 40/50lbs when finished.

Thanks for the info!

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

Reg, Looks like your off to a great start. Any chance it will be finished for CR museum show in Jan. From what I see in the pictures there's nothing wrong with your welding skills. Keep up the good work.
Rob

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

Looking real good Reg, I was starting to wonder when you would start a new project !

Keep the build photo's coming
Cheers
Greg

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

I was hoping I would stir up my fellow islanders! I'm not to sure if it will be ready for Jan. or not, I guess we'll see how it goes. My better half asked me last night how long it would take, my response was "It will be quite a long time because I'm goin to take my time", her response was "so it will be done in three weeks?"

I guess we'll see who is right:D

Not to much happened this afternoon but...

Thanks for lookin guys:)

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

Great start Reg ..At the rate your building we should be movin dirt at the duncan show .Those guys are pretty pumped about us showing up...you gona show up too..? you have your hydros worked out or are you planning something different?

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

I hope to have this done long before the Duncan show and I plan on joining you guys there for sure Lou!

I'm not sure what I'm doing to move the thing yet. I would like to do hydro's and make my own cylinders but I may end up doing something else. My plan is to start building the track frame next week when Princess Auto opens in Langford:).

I haven't had much time the last couple days but I started my digging bucket last night and roughed in some teeth tonight.

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

Hey you lucky dog, when are they planing the opening. It'll be great having them on the island. so let us know when the big day is and I'll be there. By the way the bucket looks awesome.
Rob

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

Princess is supposed to open on the 15(tuesday). We drove by last week and it looked like the shelves were mostly stocked and ready to go! I hope they have the sprockets I need!


I'll probably see you there Rob:D

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

Had time to do a little more tinkering on the bucket today. There is still a few things to weld on and then I'll clean up the welds a bit and properly mount the teeth.

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

This is very interesting, as i have said before, i really like the scratch builds.

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

The Boom,Arm,and Bucket looks awesome,great job on them!! ,looking forward to seeing more of this build!!
Again,very nice work:)
Tommy

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

Nice work-It looks like everything is aluminum. Will you use any bushings on the joints?

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

A little update on the volvo...

Modelman, All the pivot points are made with aluminum bushings for now. I've made them all a little wider than they would be in real life so they should stand up with a little grease.

Thanks for the complements!

Reg

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

Thanks-I like the scratch builds and I will be following your progress.

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

Thank's for using the semi universal unit of measurement-Pepsi Can!
Look's great so far.

Cheer's, Neil.

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

Couple updated photos. I picked up the drive sprockets a few days ago and made the front idlers today. I've just about done as much as I can without spending any money so production will probably slow down a lot shortly.:(

Christmas has to take priority now! LOL!

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

I've had a little more time to tinker in the last few days so the undercarriage is starting to take shape a bit. It's been a bit of a pain in the #@$ but if things go too easy it's not as fun right:confused::confused:

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

starting to really take shape Reg :eek: yes , no fun if it's easy :p

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

I like easy, though really for me it never goes that way... measure three times & still f/k it up. I'm doomed to rely on other ppl's skills to have functioning models. :(

How do you cut your aluminum so crisp & clean?

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

looks great! What scale is it? It looks huge!

Brian

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

I just use patience, a geared down bandsaw and a file or grinder with a flapwheel. I try to use flapwheels that are worn out so their not as hungry.

It's 1/10 scale, and I wouldn't call it huge because it's only 21" tall and 56" from the bucket teeth to the counter ballance:eek:

Reg

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

Looks good Reg, you are moving along at a good pace.

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

Thanks Greg! I'm trying to do as much of the building as I can while work is slow then hopefully when work picks up I can do the spending on the things I can't make:eek:

I ordered a couple Sabertooth's and three gear motors yesterday so hopefully that will keep things moving for a bit.

I machined the front idler guides and got them welded on along with a few other bits. I hope to tackle the swing bearing and gear this weekend...

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

very impressive fab work and build...great to see more Island talent...where are you located on the rock?

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

Everyone is probably bored of my pics but here are a few of my swing gear setup. Hopefully I will see my gear motors late next week so that I can have it spinnin and drivin soon!

Reg

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

Yes we are tired of your photos, hurry up & finish it and post some videos of it working already! Geez Reg?! :confused: :p :D

Where did you source that large gear & pinion from? What's the dia of the pinion, looks a little big? Is there smaller ones to pick from?

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

Looks great Reg

Looks like you will have it done by the end of the weekend at the pace your going...hahahaha

greg

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

HAHA! I knew someone would ask... It's a modified Honda Z50 primary drive... with rubber dampers. I hate spending money and I'm a hoarder so I thought I'd try it... might not be strong enough though:rolleyes:

It's reduction is about 3.7:1 and I'm using a 17 rpm gear motor(12v)so it will give me around 4.5 rpm all said and done. the 1:1 turns at 7 rpm so it will be a little slow I guess but I may run a little more than 12 volts so we'll see.

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

HAHA maybe...:cool: I'm pushing to have it done by the end of the year but it really depends on how much of the hydraulic system I can piece together. I am hoping to make it all instead of buying it but it will take some time. I have a lot more time than money though so...

Starting the cab tomorrow...

Reg

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

Although I didn't finish it by the end of the weekend like Greg had predicted, I have made some progress...

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

a few more...

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

Progress is looking good Reg. Looks like you may be done with the body work in some short time at the rate you're going right now. Keep up the pace, it looks good.

Tyler

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

Reg. she's looking real nice! Is the Lincoln in the picture your main tig and how do you like it . Been a long time since I used one, but would like to get back at it again. Just looking to see witch one is the better mach. What's your take on the Miller.
Rob

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

Disclaimer; I am not a welder and have no formal training in anything therefore I do not know WTF I'm talking about at the best of times but here it goes:p


I have a Miller Diversion 165(which I'd like to sell) and the Lincoln Precision 225. My Dad and I originally bought the Miller because it was the most affordable TIG that could weld Al, stainless ect, and it suited our needs well at the time but I started making headache racks and other stuff so I wanted more amperage. We picked up the Lincoln used back in Feb(only 3 months old) of this year and I really like it but it should be better as its twice the price of the Miller new and has more features.

Before we picked up the 225 I did a lot of research and it seems like both Lincoln and Miller are very competitive in any size or type of machine and that it usually depends on which color your more used to.

One thing that I will say though is that our Diversion is an inverter style(50lbs) and the lincoln is the transformer style(288lbs) so the size factor is a pain plus all the new inverter type welders in either color are much less power hungry for their given outputs. A welder friend of mine suggested that I save up for a Miller Dynasty 200(inverter type) but it was way out of my price range and probably too complex for my level of understanding so I bought the Lincoln and I'm very happy.

So go out and buy one! What's your favorite color? Red or Blue?

Reg

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

Reds my favorite color:D
I must say ,outstanding job your doing on the excavator,your skills are amazing.
Great build ,coming along nicely.:)
Keep the pics coming!!

Re: Volvo EC300D
 

Thanks!

I wouldn't say that red is my favorite color but some of my favorite things do happen to be red... go figure:confused:

Here's a few pics of todays chicken turds...