My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

After watching countless youtube videos, and drooling over everyone else's construction machines, I finally have one of my own. :D I never thought I would actually buy one, but here I am. My new track loader just arrived today, after a month's journey across the big pond! I can't wait to start building it. This is going to be a lot of fun!

http://i1159.photobucket.com/albums/...ps577a8e1e.jpg

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Can't wait to see the build, I'm currently saving for one of these, hopefully I don't have to save for too long though.
Goodluck with the build.

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Hi Nathan,
congrats on the loader. It´s really a nice peace of equipment. Mine has some hours on the clock and I´m still happy with the purchase. As I see you the servonaut M220 as well. Be carefull whilst connecting. You have to mirror one of the motors. One drivechannel has a 100%, the other one just 50%. It does run anyway, but really slow. I just tell because me and two other guys over here made se same mistake.:D

bye
Ulrich

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Good luck with your track loader, I also have looked at these machines with envy. I was lucky enough to be at the Dortmund fair in Germany this month. I was able to see the model running and have a go with it. So now I have it in Australia and like you are looking forward to digging some dirt. I have ordered the original paint colour from Leibbherr which should be here in two weeks, then let the digging begin.
Paul

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

:jaw::jaw::p oh boy now the needle will be sittin on the shelf for the next few years :rolleyes::p:p:p JK , congrats Nate , now build er up .

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Congratulations Nate, I can't wait to see what you do with it. I'm sure it's going to be a master piece just like everything else you build. We will be watching this build.

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Congrats Nathan!! Glad you got one :mad: My deal for one fell thru so I am back to saving for something with tracks and a bucket.

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Nathan, How much to have it sitting there? I can not figure out the euro conversion.

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Hey Nathan, I can't wait to see your Green and Yellow John Deere version! Are you getting the ripper too?

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Congrats Nathan! Looking forward to seeing it come together.

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Nice! You're gonna finish the KW first though right:rolleyes:....Guess you need to build that old-school dump you were talking about for the needle nose for sure now.:D

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Thanks buzzy! Getting over the sticker shock is a little tough, but out of all the models available, I don't think there is a better entry level machine.

Thanks thuangs!

Hi Ulrich, thanks for the advice! I will keep that in mind. I'm curious how you have your channels set up. What sticks are assigned to the tracks and loader? I haven't read the M220 manual yet, so I'm not sure if I can run the track functions on one stick, and the bucket/loader on the other. I think that is how I would like to do it, if possible.

Thank you Paul! When I first saw these models being built by other members, I did some research, I realized if I could only buy one piece of equipment, this would be the one. It's just the most affordable, functional model out there right now.

Ha ha, Steve, yes, probably! But I hope not! I am not sure if I will finish the Kenworth first, before digging into the Carson, but I would like to get both of them running!

Thanks Keith! I hope you share some build photos of your Carason track loader as well!

Thank you Lynn! I figured I have been spending a bit less money on the hobby then usual, so why not splurge a little, this one time!

NYHowie, I hate to throw numbers around in this thread, so I will PM you in a bit!

Thanks Craig! Green and yellow? I hope not! Grey and yellow, with a Deere emblem, will be a tough enough pill for an International Harvester fan to swallow, but I have always thought the Deere machines look sharp. Love the chrome stacks they all have! On the ripper, I am not sure yet! It would be cool to have, but I don't know that I would use it much.

Thanks Scott! Me too.

Reg, I think I suffer from some kind of modeling ADD. Yes, I will keep plugging away at the Kenworth! Man, now I'm going to have to build a trailer. Maybe two. End dump and something to haul this loader around. Snowball effect! Looking at this track loader kit, the majority of assembly work deals mostly with the cab. A lot of the model is metal, welded together, in rather large, and finished sub-assemblies. I was surprised.

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Congrats on your loader i can't wait to see the build pics on this!!!

Mike

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Congrats from me too, Nathan. Seeing all these nice models you guys have and the ones coming up soon (read THS Volvo) I feel really tempted to buy one or two myself - even in the wrong scale :D:D:D Maybe I could use the children as an alibi :rolleyes:.

Stefan

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Nate, its finally here! That month must have seemed like 3. I'm excited for you and cant wait to see the build. Congrats!

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Whoo Hoo..Congrats Nate ..Nice ..Pretty pumped when that arrived at the door huh..Big trouble now because you cant top at one peice ..haha ..have fun building

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

M220 :
> Battery and motor should be no problem.
> Connect the yellow wires to the right motor.
> Connect the blue wires to the left motor.
> Look at the option table and find the correct jumper setting for
> your battery (A B C).
> Turn your M220 around and set (X) or remove ( ) the small black
> option jumpers A B C accordingly.
> Connect the upper cable "Driving" with blue servo plug into the up/
> down receiver channel you want to use for driving.
> Connect the lower cable "Steering" with black servo plug into the
> left/right receiver channel of the same stick, important!
> (you might change this after setup/programming)
> Connect the brake and rev. lights, you need them later on for
> programming.
>
> M220 programming :
> Turn off the M220.
> Turn on the radio.
> Hold the stick in the lower left position.
> Now turn on the M220. It will blink 3 times.
> Move the stick to the upper right position and wait. The M220 will
> blink 1x.
> Release the stick to the middle and wait. The M220 will blink 1x.
> Move the stick up. The M220 will blink and is ready.
> You only need to do this once. You might repeat it if necessary.
>
> Now move the stick carefully forward. The model should drive
> forward, otherwise swap the connections at the motor.
>Hope this helps !

Mitch

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Congrats Nathan you lucky dog!:cool:
I agree with others....finish the needle first, then you can play with the spoon:D. Lol
Looking forward to another Sweet,Perfect build.....;):cool::D

Mario

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

:jaw: Lucky!!! Wish I had one!!!! im sure you'll find some way to add something cool to this kit!!

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

That´s the setup I drive. The left stick is acceleration and steering, the right one for the arm/bucket. I also used a mixer to combine the channels hyd valve (f.e.3+4) with the one off the pump(f.e.5). So if I move the right stick the pumps rpm rises proportional. That saves a lot of battery. If I want constant hyd pressure I can set the rpm with an prop channel.

bye
Ulrich

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Nathan I must say when you do something you go all out. The only thing that I can is missing is the pump control to shut it down when not in use. Ed

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Thanks Mike!

Thanks Stefan! As much as I love to look at the THS models, there just isn't any way I can spend as much as I need to buy one of those beautiful Volvo models! I will 100% happy with much more affordable Carson! I feel very fortunate to have even purchased this one.

Thank you Jason! I'm pretty excited too, but I'm thinking one thing at a time. I still have a truck to try and finish, and it's getting close.

Thanks Lou! I was pretty excited. I checked the tracking number for the package every day....sometimes multiple times a day. :D I think I will be able to limit myself to one piece of equipment. I had wanted a loader for a long time. Trouble is, now I need a dump trailer, and a lowboy to haul the loader. But I think I can be quite happy with one loader. I need to think more about my future, and save money for other things!

Thanks Mitch! I had been looking at the Servonaut manuals online, and even did some translations. Thanks for posting that here! Now I can reference it easier. Any word on your track loader? I know you bought one too.

Thanks Mario! Yes, I'm still working on the Kenworth. I might take a break, now and then, to at least look at the parts for the Carson. :D I can stare at them, and imagine it as a completed model!

Aaron, thanks! I think the beauty of this model is that there really isn't much more it needs. It will be really nice to simply build a model. :D The detail is awesome, it's very scale, and I like the looks of it, as it is stock. I can't say I will find myself machining any extra parts for this one. I might do a few little custom touches, but that's in the details.

Thanks for the explaination, Ulrich! That's perfect, as I was hoping I could drive and steer the tracks with one stick, and control the loader and bucket with the other. Question now is, should pushing the stick left curl the bucket in, and stick to the right to dump it? :D

Thanks Ed. I didn't quite go all out. Had I done that, I would have gotten metal tracks, metal bucket teeth, and the ripper kit. I wasn't sure I liked the ripper that much. The shanks look like plastic? Wasn't sure I would use the ripper a whole heck of a lot, but it would be neat as eye candy.

Instead of having a pump shut off control, I'm going to mix the loader and bucket controls, in my programmable radio, to throttle and shut off the ESC for the pump. Should work a lot nicer. Just like Ulrich suggested. I know a lot of guys are running their hydraulics like this.

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Good choice and congrats Nate. If I was going to do it again I'd probably get the Carson, it functions well and has great detail for the price as compared to the scale art. I love my loader for sure but the Carson allows for more "toys" and still looks great and performs. I looked forward to the updates and meticulous detail you will put forth into your machine.

Ben

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Received some of the components for the loader today, ie. Metal Tracks, SMT/M220, Drive Motors, Metal Shovel Teeth, and several other items. They sent the parts (as requested) ahead of the kit in order to lighten the load in transit. Sadly, the ever efficient U.S Customs group ripped the box apart, and everything was scattered and now needs an inventory.

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Hey Nathan, Yes move the lever left to curl, right to dump, forward for boom down, back for boom up.
Congrats on the new loader!
Cheer's, Neil.

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Thanks Ben. I do love the Scale Art track loader too. I just couldn't swing the price. For a first machine, I knew this one would be perfect for me. Agile, great hydraulic response, not to big, and not to small. :D

Mitch, sorry to hear that. Do you need to change sprockets in order to run the metal tracks? I think I will stick to the plastic tracks for now, but maybe in the future do an upgrade. Do the metal tracks re-use the pins and c-clips of the Carson model?

Neil, thanks. Just wanted to make sure I was correct in my thinking. I know on most skid steers and mini excavators, that's how the sticks are set up.

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

I think the tracks fit. If not, I am prepared to have new sprockets machined. I think you and I might start a "Friendly" competition build. Let me know what you think.;) Also, the metal tracks come with pins and sleeves.

Your friend in sport,

Mitch

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Hi Mitch, a friendly build competition? Against you? I'm afraid it'd be no competition! I've seen your builds, but okay. It's worth a shot. :D Just keep in mind I'm a really slow builder! :p

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Nathan, I have the feeling you are going to be working on this thing sooner and building quicker than you had planned.

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Maybe Craig! That's assuming I don't get bogged down with the details of the build! I already ordered a couple 'extras' for the track loader, and I am sure they are still a month out. I hate to build, then rebuild. I may end up waiting till I get the other goodies. Now you've got me looking at metal tracks too..... But I really should finish the Kenworth first!

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

"Git-Er-Done":D:D:D:D
Cheer's, Neil.

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

ahh come on you can't get any werse then me :eek: dive into it like Neil said ^^^

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Well that´s a competition where I would stand a chance :D:D:D

Stefan

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Congrats Man!!!! now enough with the talk and lets see some build pix :)

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Started metal tracks. They need "Dressing" and a little adjustment. Tracks are brittle (wish they would use better material) and therefore need a delicate hand.


http://i1240.photobucket.com/albums/...t/IMG_0109.jpg

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Looking really good Mitch, do you know yet if the sprockets that come with the loader will work with those tracks?

Re: My first piece of equipment - Carson Track Loader
 

Not sure, but I think they will. However, if not, I'll make a sprocket as I did for the Stahl Dozer.