Bucyrus Erie 40H Excavator 1:14

[Machfab]

Will have a build thread with design, machining, and assembly. It will be hydraulic for the boom, stick, and bucket. Gearmotors for the swing and tracks.
I will need plenty of help along the way. Glad you guys are here!

[sparkycuda]

I grew up with Bucyrus Erie products, so it nice to see one being built. The H-series excavators were very advanced for their day, and one of the first to use fiberglass cabs and body panels. Powerful machines using gear-type hydraulic pumps and a big engine - normal for then.

Looking forward to watching this come together.

Ken

[Machfab]

I am attempting to be as close to "true-scale" as possible. I used the factory spec sheet for a reference. Was the cab position (on the right side) a carry-over from their cranes?

[sparkycuda]

Well, seems my brain was a lot slower than my fingers on the keyboard! The 300 Series (300-H/350-H late 1970s) excavators had fiberglass cabs... The 30-H/40-H models were just before 300 Series. I've never heard why cabs were located but a discussion thread on Heavy Equipment Forums about 5 years ago gave information that no standard existed in the early years and manufacturers followed what they had done before on cranes. Seems the left-side standard may have started when the Japanese started leading the world in excavator engineering, and everyone followed after that. But still no actual reason why left verses right that I have found.

Ken

[sparkycuda]

I took a look this afternoon and I do have access to a 40-H Operator Manual. It has specs and several dimensioned drawings, along with b&w pics of various components and assemblies (mostly for maintenance purposes). If you have need of specific information, let me know and I'll see if can furnish copies of pages.

Ken

[Machfab]

Originally Posted by sparkycuda

I took a look this afternoon and I do have access to a 40-H Operator Manual. It has specs and several dimensioned drawings, along with b&w pics of various components and assemblies (mostly for maintenance purposes). If you have need of specific information, let me know and I'll see if can furnish copies of pages.

Ken

That would be very helpful!
I have been looking for a manual.

[Machfab]

Design finished for the most part. Added cylinders. Time to start machining!