LilGiantsConstrCo

[Lil Giants]

Pics taken last couple weeks...

Down on the 2nd cut the clay is much denser, wetter, rolls up like plaster sine & was clogging the cleaners on the B4206 bad! I could tell by the way it was moving around that the motors were straining pretty hard & the varying degrees of resistance from each packer wheel was also putting tremendous strain on the electric steering too... back to tires on 4206.

The Izzybilt dozer tracks were gumming up bad too... so no more mucking around with tracks in this stuff... flatten out the piles with Stahl wheel loader & pack with a loaded ADT or the 4206 with pan & 3 packer wheels in the box for weight works great too.

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My 1st try at tiging aluminum... Reg makes it look easy :thinking:

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2nd try welding a block to a plate... much like my mig welding, it aint pretty but it aint coming apart either! :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/002_zpsylyitkd2.jpg

And look here at this monster boulder!!! and I'm still digging deeper to find the bottom of it! :eek:

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That rock could be a couple hundred lbs :eek:... probably rig up a harness & use my engine crane & call the neighbor for a hand... I sure hope I don't find any more like it in the tunnel... I wonder if the 10th scale D9 would drag it out, best get busy working on bringing that back to life during these rainy days of late. ;)

[modelman]

Hi joe-it is amazing that all the people that are chosen to write stories on this type of work do not have a clue about what is really going on. I laugh each time I read an article about "the crazy Canadian". Oh well, their loss. It will be interesting to see what you find in the tunnel dig since that dirt probably has been there for many many years. I doubt if any type of R/C equipment can move that rock but it would be good to see the D9 back in action. I'm sure you will come up with something that will be interesting to watch.

[Cooper]

Might be time to drill and blast!! Lol!! I guess that would be hammer and chisel. I've move a few big 200+ pound rocks from the pit. I kept digging around them and made a gully or path to finally end up using a digging bar to hand push them into new location. Had to use the 1:1 backhoe to move some of them. At least you know that you aren't going to be hitting bedrock a few feet down. If it's like the basement dirt, it may be hard diggin but at least it's still able to to be dug up. Rocks are better than bones!! Lol!!!

[Lil Giants]

The other Joe told me he towed his riding lawnmower through the grass with the D9, the winch had originally plastic gears & they stripped, so he changed them to metal gears & now the dozer utilizes all its power... we'll see what happens Tom.

As moist as this clay is atm RW, I sink that 4" ripper tooth in 3 passes, it's pretty sweet digging... I hope I can maintain a steady enough dig travel that the dirt never gets as dry & hard as what I endeavored with the basement dig... probably use limited heat in this room during winter, enough to keep from freezing my fingers, just to avoid excessive evaporation. ;)

Dug down another 6" this morning, still no bottom. The JD850 might be able to dig another 3" down from it's perch before it's out of reach.

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[RCP57]

That's a strange looking rock Joe. You sure it's not a head stone?:eek:

[schmoking]

ugh.. thats what i thought.
this is creepy, it looks like a gravestone.. :jaw:

[spudd]

Hey Joe. I think I still have a stick of dynamite that can remove that problem real quick

[Supermario]

I can see the headlines now.... " Stonehenge found in Saskatchewan! " :lol:

Loving the dig so far Joe, hope the soil stays right for you and no crusher required on this project.:)

[rccrazy523]

Just in time for Halloween lol
That really does look like a headstone

[Lil Giants]

Head stone?! :eek: It's definitely just an ordinary rock, a big somewhat jagged edge flat rock... not hand chiseled, nor chunk of manmade cement. I don't know wtf you ppl watch on tv or troll for on the internet to satisfy your curiosity with or dream about when you close your eyes to sleep... sinister ideas... I'm being rhetorical, I don't want to know! :p :D

My grandfather came out here from Ontario in 1905, the mainline railway that goes coast to coast is 30miles north of me, took my grandpa a day to walk out here and find a quarter section to start a way of life on... there's was nothing but prairie for as far as the eye could see when he got here. His homestead is a mile east of me. Where I live, it was homesteaded in 1925 by the brother of the guy that married my grandfather's sister & this house was built in 1929. My father's farm is 1,5 mile NE from grandfather's, was homesteaded in 1909 and belonged to my grandfather's brother-in-law.

However, it just occurred to me the reason why that big rock is so vertical & so perfectly positioned due East-West is b/c I'm quite likely right on top of the trench for the waterline that goes from my well that's 20 feet away (back of 2nd photo) out to my barn where a hydrant & two cattle waterers are. Mystery solved ;) :D :p :lol:

Waterline should be another 6 or 7 feet below where this rock is... but why the f? would they throw a boulder like that back in the trench?! :thinking:

Calm down spuddy... this is a brand new building & I want to keep it for awhile. :eek: :rolleyes:

[ihbuilder]

Joe , you'd be surprised at how many old water line trenches I've come across where they threw the rocks back in on top . Even cast iron sewer lines that where leveled with blocks . What a mess those repairs where :mad:. TNT , didn't we discuss this before :rolleyes::p

[RCP57]

Well that explains the "headstone" thing.lol It just seemed strange that it would naturally come to rest on edge under a couple feet of dirt. Mystery solved! I can sleep easy now.:rolleyes::lol:

[TRUCKMAKER]

Hey Joe, you just had to tell the story and spoil it for the DQ's:lol::lol:, with Halloween around the corner you could have had some fun with that one!:D:D But I digress, keep the pictures coming it'll be interesting to see what it takes to get it out of there!

[spudd]

Calm down spuddy... this is a brand new building & I want to keep it for awhile.

you take all the fun out of life!!!!!!!!!

[TRUCKMAKER]

Calm down spuddy... this is a brand new building & I want to keep it for awhile.

you take all the fun out of life!!!!!!!!!

Yeah I was thinking the same thing! Besides you don't have to level the place just a few pops to crack it into smaller pieces, if it all goes wrong you have an excuse to build a bigger building:D:D

[Lil Giants]

About 7 or 8x now Steve. :eek:

Kent, you want some morbid & psychotic reading related to our hobby? just google "Canadian digs basement with rc", it'll bring up about 15 pages of links to articles, forums, blogs, ect of some of the world's worst sick twisted mofo's imaginations of what they thought of my hobby & what might be going on down there... there was one forum that started a petition to pass on to my local district attorney to investigate what I was really up to... you'll fully appreciate then why I don't want to touch this train of thought with a ten foot pole. ;) :)

I'm all for fun Scott & I'll even pay to watch, but not in my backyard! :D

[TRUCKMAKER]

About 7 or 8x now Steve. :eek:

Kent, you want some morbid & psychotic reading related to our hobby? just google "Canadian digs basement with rc", it'll bring up about 15 pages of links to articles, forums, blogs, ect of some of the world's worst sick twisted mofo's imaginations of what they thought of my hobby & what might be going on down there... there was one forum that started a petition to pass on to my local district attorney to investigate what I was really up to... you'll fully appreciate then why I don't want to touch this train of thought with a ten foot pole. ;) :)

I'm all for fun Scott & I'll even pay to watch, but not in my backyard! :D

I've kinda followed along since your 15 minutes of fame some years ago, wasn't really thinking about it from that aspect, it kinda sucks that we can't have a little fun due to the morons in this world. But I definitely understand your point.

The stick of dynamite you need to take care of that would have to be 1/14 scale anyway :lol::lol::D

[Lil Giants]

An M100 would be like the size of a 5ga pail in 14th, but I doubt it would even blow the dust off this big buzzard of a rock. :D :p

So last week the right track on the Izzybilt dozer quit, I thought maybe I had burnt a motor out, but after I got it tore apart I think the trouble is likely just a poorly soldered wire on a motor terminal... anyways, it's all apart now & I thought it was probably a good time to paint it too! Working in this small room with so much wet clay, the humidity is kinda high & the surface rust is really to show on the bare metal dozer.

I got this sandblaster about a decade ago, took it out of the box yesterday & just as I got it set up at noon, it started to drizzle again & carried on all day...

So today at noon the sun finally shines... hot dayum this thing works good, and fast!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/001_zpsmwotkdgd.jpg

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A couple minutes worth & it's like half a bobtail dispersed already. :eek:

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So I go to town to the welding shop I coffee at, they do bulk ordering from Princess Auto all the time, I'm thinking a blast cabinet is a necessity & the owner says he has one that he wants to get rid of, it's too small for much of what they do... $$cheap!!!

But the rubber gloves are rotted away, no light & site glass is pitted bad... how does this blaster work? Poor your sand in the bottom, shove the black tube into sand & just keep re using the same sand, contaminants & all? :thinking:

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[Cooper]

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/q750/cooperford/RC%20construction/F724289C-2EF4-4072-AD99-3ABC9543DBD8_zpsuq4o5z86.jpg (http://s1357.photobucket.com/user/cooperford/media/RC%20construction/F724289C-2EF4-4072-AD99-3ABC9543DBD8_zpsuq4o5z86.jpg.html)
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/q750/cooperford/RC%20construction/68EC8B0A-5785-497B-BCD4-07357C21ECA3_zpssrhrg38r.jpg (http://s1357.photobucket.com/user/cooperford/media/RC%20construction/68EC8B0A-5785-497B-BCD4-07357C21ECA3_zpssrhrg38r.jpg.html)

Air filter bolted on inside and the clear pieces in second pic are clear disposable tape on guards. I am a cheep a$$ and got a square of fine screen material to screen the blast media. But for the amount I use and cost of sand, when it gets too much junk I think I'll just toss it :)

[Cooper]

Oh and I would think 20-30$ would cover a new set of gloves and covers, new piece of plexiglass? Harbor freight is what I got, I think that is your princess auto?!? I wish I would have got one the size you have, I couldn't get the frame of the lowboy I built in mine and even the dozer blade was big to be working around in the little cabinet I got.

About time you paint something!! Lol!!! :)

[Lil Giants]

Thanx a bunch for the pics & script RW, I shopped around town this morning & didn't find a thing... no light, no filter, no plastic film, can't even get laminated glass... no surprise. :rolleyes: Just another few items to add to my city shopping list that I'll do before winter.

My last trip to the city in July, I bought a brand new hp laptop, they set it up for me, I pick it up a few hrs later & go straight home (2,5hr drive). Open up the laptap, it's asking me for a password :thinking:, phone the puter shop next day & they say they didn't set it up that way... so I have a brand new laptop sitting here that I can't get into. :rolleyes:

[Cooper]

I know and sympathize with ya joe!! Every time I turn mine on it has to instal something!! It's hard to get anything done when everything is at your fingertips but ha don't have any fingers , so to speak !! I think a consumer warning should be placed on technology, may cause extreme frustration resulting in severe financial loss!!! Still only two tools needed , vice grips and hammer- even for sensitive computer devices!! I would feel better by dumping diesel fuel in my eyes and boxing mike Tyson than working on computer!! Lol!!!

[Lil Giants]

I'm done the 2nd cut this afternoon & it's time to cut the ramp... and my dozer is in the paint shop... great planning Joe. :rolleyes:

But I did it like the last time, the 850 ripped & then used the Stahl WA500 loader to push, rip some more, then pushed till I got it knocked out...

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Now this freaking rock is in my way... f/k it! I'm just gonna pick it by hand. :mad: It was a bit of a grunt to stand up straight with it and set it at the hole's edge.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/002_zpsoorsudro.jpg

Went & got a hand trk to haul it outside.

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Then I went & got my scale to weigh it...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/008_zpskneyhg7p.jpg

The red numbers are lbs :eek: ... that big bytch is heavier than I am!!! :eek:

Ya know, Spring of '14 I was seriously considering quitting farming b/c my lower back pain was so intense that I couldn't barely bend over to tie my shoes without bringing a tear to my eye... it was pointed out to me by my massage therapist in June of '14 to get a better pair of workboots with special insoles & now 15 months later my back is like it was 10yrs ago! :)

...although, as I sit here last ten minutes typing this & loading pics, I can feel my back tightening up a bit... it's probably gonna be a struggle trying to get out of bed tomorrow morning?! Hmmm, go have a beer with the neighbor while sitting his hot tub for 30 minute. ;) :D :p

[jack van]

hi joe i saw one of your post of damp conditions have you thought of a humidifyer (bad spelling lol ) might be good for both moister and as a iv to keep ground moist for easy digging ?

[Lil Giants]

As wet as the dirt is, the equipment is not even moist, but a humidifier :thinking: I guess I'll see how dry it gets to be in the tunnel, that might be great idea for a deep soaking without creating a mudslide... thanx for the input Jack. ;)

Here's a vid to show the start at digging the face of the tunnel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmRU9R9mHDU&lc

I still have quite a few loads behind me yet to cut it in the steps & get the floor level before moving forward.

[modelman]

Your making good progress joe-A hydraulic front shovel would work good against that wall but your hoe is doing a fine job. The water line that you mentioned. Will it interfere with the tunnel? Also, will you make steps going in and out of the tunnel for you and a ramp for the machines?

[Cooper]

Good start to a hopefully long and enjoyable project!! You made me remember my tree stump project, just haven't had the time but summer is coming to an end and I'm slowly catching up from work. Hopefully beginning of October I can move fence sections and have some quality RC seat time!!
So with all the equipment and nothing breaks down , how many yards ya shooting for removal over winter? I imagine you get 12-18" frost or more in that soil? What are ya planing on doing for roof support? Lumber framing as you go? Just remember it doesn't take very much dirt to collapse to crush and constrict!!! You know if you do get a collapse, it will take time to have us organize and ship more RC equipment up there, and the time to dig ya out too!!! I'm sure you'll keep it safe, just curious what plans ya got.

[Supermario]

It would be like those miners in Chile a few years ago.
If Joe got buried, I'd take the time off work, pack my gear and go help any way I could. :). It's the Canadian thing to do! :D

[Supermario]

Crazy thought Joe. Maybe a little RC buggy or something with a camera strapped on it to get an up close view of the face digging going on once you get down and dark. Speaking of which, do you have your lighting package ready for the deep dig? :)

[Lil Giants]

Wouldn't it though, eh Tom?! If only BareBones Excavators had that prototype Caterpillar front shovel, that's seen on their site, finished. ;) Judging by where the waterline exits through the wall in my well room, it's about 2ft below basement floor, which would put it atleast 9ft below ground. I'm going down 7ft at most, so I can walk through without ducking. ;) :D I'll install a metal staircase, and yes there'll be a dirt ramp too within that 5ft width, with approx. 10 - 12 degree grade.

RW, my contractor was fully aware of what I was up to with this "addition" to my workshop & all necessary precautions have been taken to keep the ceiling from coming down on top of me. ;)

The concrete pad above tunnel is a 1ft thick with 5/8 rebar & wire mesh. And that pad also anchors to the house's cement foundation with 1" rebar that was hammer drilled. When the tunnel is done I will then add a steel door frame at both ends for added support to take care of any shifting or settling in the yrs to come.

No targets set, work at it when I feel like it... and this Fall with so much idle time, when I should have been taking off a big crop & instead have next to no crop, well I have a lot done already with approx. 5 or 6 cubes dug... but that was the easy digging. :D

Frost?... don't know what effect there will be... if it snows a ft before it gets wicked cold, frost won't be much of an issue, as snow is very insulating. ;)

You don't have to wait for a collapse to visit Mario. ;) :)

I have no problem operating my equip with reasonable accuracy 20-30ft away. Where my JD850 sits in the video, that will be where my seat will be till I get clear through to the other side. ;) A 250watt work light should be sufficient lighting. :)

[jack van]

Thanx a bunch for the pics & script RW, I shopped around town this morning & didn't find a thing... no light, no filter, no plastic film, can't even get laminated glass... no surprise. :rolleyes: Just another few items to add to my city shopping list that I'll do before winter.

My last trip to the city in July, I bought a brand new hp laptop, they set it up for me, I pick it up a few hrs later & go straight home (2,5hr drive). Open up the laptap, it's asking me for a password :thinking:, phone the puter shop next day & they say they didn't set it up that way... so I have a brand new laptop sitting here that I can't get into. :rolleyes:
try to make a new user

[jack van]

;)i seen an add for an attachment that goes with a gopro and tripod that will follow a person from a distance like the beach and a surferon a wave and the person just has to have an arm band on. And you could put it in a dump truck and make some cool vids.

also from my last post you could use a humidifyer and dehumidifyer depem on moister in the air and result you want like less dust or mor dust lol;)

[Lil Giants]

A little teaser of what I've been tinkering with the last couple weeks... it's almost done, maybe trials on the wkend.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/001_zps9sgg0tkh.jpg

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[TRUCKMAKER]

Are you going mount that on the excavator and turn it in to a tunnel boring machine?

[JAMMER]

Looks real good so far Joe. How is the tunnel coming along? Weather is changing need to be indoors now. I finally got my cnc mill working and now am working on the cnc working for the lathe almost don with that. Now I fan focus on making some parts for the trucks. Ed

[Lil Giants]

You betcha Kent! :D Vertical ripping just wasn't going that well, so I set my mind a few weeks ago to get this done!

Are you gonna live long enough Ed to ever start producing parts with cnc? :D :p

The shortest movie I made to date! :D

https://youtu.be/2d5GuNDp7ZM

[TRUCKMAKER]

Nice! Now lets see some dirt flying!

[Cooper]

Awesome!! An underground miner!!! Next you'll have to set up a misting system, keep the dust down!!! I can see you having ripped apart a spray bottle nozzle hooked up to the garden hose!!! Cool idea joe!! Mine and grind!!!

[Supermario]

Super cool ! So does this mean your building the worlds first scale continuous miner? :bounce: definitely the best man for the task! Can't wait to see this in action.:cool:

http://youtu.be/nRCanZ1VVJc

[RCP57]

I'm glad to see you decided to take this on yourself Joe! It looks like it will work awesome in the soil you have there. Better put an extra layer of safety glass on the 850's windshield though:cool:.

[Lil Giants]

Hardest part of any job Reg is getting started ;)

Sure looked good running on the bench... didn't it?! :D :cool:

... then into the pit for trials :rolleyes:

This clay is sooooo sticky!!! it's ripping in chunks! and wants to walk up the wall.

I took out half the teeth (4 per row) & tried it, but it still wanted to grab too much & walk. Then I cut the remaining teeth in half (from 12mm to 6mm) that helped, but the clay just doesn't want to crumble or peel away... it's just too sticky.

I knew it from the start that that wide of cutting drum on each side would likely be too much cutting surface... I didn't want to hack up the original Blackwell axle incase it was a total bust of an idea... I'll check with RC4WD to see if I can get just the solid steel shafts that come out of the differential, so I can experiment with different widths of cutting drums... definitely needs to be half the width or less.

Motor got really hot too! need more reduction.

I'll have to ponder awhile, come up with a new plan... in the mean time just keep ripping & digging.

[TRUCKMAKER]

Pictures? Video? Something?

[calum_scania]

Is this going to be an attachment for the 850 Joe?

Calum

[Lil Giants]

Leading edge of the teeth is 4mm tall.

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Here's a quick vid showing the dismal result of my grinder idea :rolleyes: :(

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVqz9mOMUM0

Camera doesn't show depth very well... tunnel is about 3ft inward.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/011_zpspq2sn0wc.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/012_zpsripevdks.jpg

[RCP57]

I wonder if it would be better to operate them like a screw? Maybe two sphere shapes spinning opposing each other like a twin screw on a boat. One motor per sphere or a gearbox between the two? At least it would try to crawl up the wall.

[TRUCKMAKER]

Joe- before you give up on that idea have you experimented with RPM. I'm wondering whether doubling your cutting speed would change the out come. I know changing wheel speed in the trucks changes how they handle in some off road scenarios, just due to the electric motor output.

[Bo Wallen]

Can you try double the rpm and change rotation direction ?
Start grinding low and go up. it might work. just an idea.
Love your project .

[9W Monighan]

If you give up on the continuous miner idea, make a drill unit for the hoe then drill and blast the material.
I have been thinking about how to do this when using my dragline but safety around spectators would be a problem if a shot went wild.:thinking: In your basement there's nobody around to get hurt.

[9W Monighan]

Forgot to mention about the video, Looks like You need more weight and power to be able to grind through that material. Are the spider gears still in the truck rear you're using. Get a worm gear drive so power is to both sides equal and like the other have said; up the RPM

[Dieselchopper]

The way I think after watching your vid of this in action I wonder if much larger drums with a few more rows of teeth might work better. when you look at the continuous miner machines they always have several rows of teeth contacting the surface at the same time.
Just my thoughts.

Shawn

[doodlebug]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSsibsm0tTc Low speed high torque!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBqwhedqLXE
Cheers!

[Lil Giants]

The Blackwell axle is a worm drive, 3.75 ratio, no differential.

Definitely needs more torque, probably have to have a good size kv outrunner & big planetary gearhead... I haven't measured the motor rpm currently, double the speed would certainly help. At 4s (15-16v), at the start of vid motor running slower was about 12-13v... speeding it up later in vid to 14-15v makes the motor hot & the Sabertooth timeout inside a minute!

Biggest problem is this soil type is really dense brown clay & it's much too moist making it very sticky... with more teeth, I figured it would just ball up with mud... you see in the pics how it's building up on the tracks? the hoe don't move around much.

With the ripper tooth, one 5amp batt in 40 minutes will rip loose a volume approx. 5ga pail+, it's pretty sweet digging that way... but vertical ripping is kinda rough on the model when it looses contact & causes sudden drops on the boom.

Thanx for vid links Neil, if only it was possible to scale down the same power requirements to operate such tools without a monstrosity behind it! Eliminating the long stick on the JD850 would certainly take out a lot of the wobble.

An idea that came to me last night is to try cutting up a wire brush... how are those bristles held in the wood?

Thanx for the input guys... maybe deeper in the hole the soil will be dryer & will crumble easier.

Here's a vid ripping & digging last night... some of the rocks the size of a hardball or bigger, wouldn't be good for the grinder. :eek: :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6FoACSLPdo

[modelman]

I like your idea on the cutter joe, but my guess is that it will take a dedicated machine for this. Lots of weight, Lots of power and very precise control of the cutter head. I'm sure you could build this but in the time it would take you can get a lot of digging done. Your old system seems to work good. It may seem slow but that is a lot of dirt to move! I enjoy watching.

[doodlebug]

Joe, look at the knotted wire wheels, the ones that look like cable. https://www.google.com/search?q=knotted+wire+wheel&client=safari&hl=en-us&prmd=sivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAmoVChMIxuPk1fKGyQIVQ-NjCh28rgB2#imgrc=hRqAtAG6B4IClM%3A
You could make your own with cable.
Cheers.

[Lil Giants]

Definitely Tom, but a quite bit more involved project than I want to take on & rocks will always be a problem.

I cut up a wooden handled wire brush, the flexible wire bent in a U & stapled into the wood... just shoved the U profile in the hole of the drum, then a 3mm steel pin & locked in place with the set screw. Switched the drums left right so it drags the wire bristles... works muuuuch better! :) But the motor is still lacking in power... it'd be good if I could get a stronger brushed motor (more poles would that be?) that would fit this spur gearhead so I wouldn't have to completely rebuild the mount. I found on RC4WD the inner shafts, so shortening the drums is possible... try half the width & double up the holes/bristles for a smoother continuous contact.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/002_zps1i1ty1rz.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/004_zpsmhje4uth.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/005_zpspza5fwdg.jpg

Here's a vid, grinder cutting away at the sand layer below the cement...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iVrRdD9nMc

[RCTech9]

Joe, How does the brush wheel work? Do you have any plans to resurrect the rc4wd excavator?

[Lil Giants]

It works ok, but still short on power... I found on ebay a worm drive gearbox motor similar to Andy's grinder, gonna go that route... I'll try these wire bristle drums on it, as well as sprockets like Andy did, hopefully it'll do the job like I want it to.

Digging through the wkend I thought the tunnel was starting to get dry & hard, but it was just my ripper was wearing out & getting dull... welded on a new ardox spike & it's ripping like butter again. The JD850 is just about completely underground... about 4ft, a third the way already! :eek:

I sold the RC4WD hoe a few yrs ago.

[andyathome]

hey Joe are you putting in supports in the tunnel, to stop cave ins.

I think if you had a high speed motor on the wire brush drums it work really well, but not dig as such, more of a clean smaller dirt, almost dust.
also have you thought of putting an auger bit on it, or maybe a large hole saw.

cheers andy

[doodlebug]

Hey Joe, have you considered using an inline fuel filter, for a hydraulic tank breather?
Cheers!

[Lil Giants]

Andy, if you look at post #1280, I explained much of my preplanning for the tunnel. Although I see one thing I forgot to mention... the building & cement pad sits atop cement pilings 10 inch diameter - 10ft deep in the ground, so that will certainly help to anchor the dirt walls too. But I will add PWS sheet to the walls for added support, just like I did with the basement.

And the grinder, yes it's more for finishing vs continuous digging, get the sidewalls smooth & straight. And to clean the dirt off the cement ceiling.

Neil, fuel filters generally have a one way check valve in the them, correct? ...wouldn't be very effective for equilibrium. :thinking:


It's been a long time since I had to split the JD850...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/003_zpsu8jynuc4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/001_zpsvkjcs3tp.jpg

I had this "bright idea" yrs ago to install studs in two of the holes to make re-attaching house to u/c much easier, down in the basement is rather dark & hard to see, but using a locknut it eventually pulled the threads out of the nut. And then ofourse I couldn't then get the locknut to unscrew either. :rolleyes:

So that was todays task... cleaned grime off with an electrical cleaner & then dripped crazy glue on the lock nuts to hopefully screw the studs out... but the studs were held in with blue locktite... one locknut actually screwed off the stud & the other one the stud twisted off flush... YAY more work to do. :rolleyes:

Cut a slot with a die grinder - cutoff wheel, heat the snott out of it with a small torch... couldn't get it to budge, broke a few small flat tip screwdriver bits. Then decided to drill it out - only to break the 2,5 bit off 5mm inside the hole! :mad: ..eventually got the broken bit out, used a smaller 2mm bit to finish the pilot hole, then the correct size bit & finally tapped it again... all in all just 4hrs :eek: but it's fixed :) Amazing how those four little 3mm bolts can take so much torque!!! :eek:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/002_zpsnrqsdvj3.jpg

Re-adjust the swing motor pinion for a tighter mesh to crown gear, give it an oil change, back to work for another winter. :)

[bigford]

wow your guts look just like the kats!! now i don't feel so bad
after seeing coopers 4200 all plumbed and routed neatly..LOL

[doodlebug]

Joe, the inline ones that are clear and small don't have check valves, Cat did that one my skid steer. Hydraulic fumes in an enclosed cab made me sick. Fixed that too!

[JAMMER]

Hi Joe you swing ring looks a little chewed up. Ed

[Lil Giants]

wow your guts look just like the kats!! now i don't feel so bad
after seeing coopers 4200 all plumbed and routed neatly..LOL

Better clean your glasses... bigger components, 400ml oil tank & 6 esc's don't leave much room for "routed neatly"... besides that, mine works & yours rides around on a trailer. :p

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%201%202012/019-2.jpg

Hi Joe you swing ring looks a little chewed up. Ed

It's a thick crown gear, the bottom of motor pinion is flush with bottom of crown gear, it's the set screws of motor pinion that mark up top of crown gear a wee bit, can't push it up any further & don't want to take any 'meat' off the pinion.


Still finding some big rocks along the way...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/001_zpsnmvymc1p.jpg

Put the tailgate on the pup, 5 scoops of the bucket to heap it up... surprising how much drag it is for the B50 climbing out of the hole, the tires are flexing a lot & a bit of slippage. :eek:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/002_zpszxu2qznk.jpg

Measured the deepest point, it's 63 inches... could be out of a job by Spring! :eek: :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/003_zpsdujrmaci.jpg

Outside view, where the tape measure sits is end of tunnel, approx. half way... the house cement foundation is about 20 inches thick.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/005_zps7mixmgmf.jpg

[Cooper]

Wow, you might need to layoff some workers!! Or are you looking to the bonus for early completion!!! Tunnel diggin going well!! Running into a few big goonies doesn't seem too bad. The underground miner,, andys sprockets look good for hard stuff, if you do go that way, what about multiple sprockets (2?) offset? Like a wood dado cutter. I've used some on furniture projects to cut wide slots. Just another idea & my $.02

[jack van]

so joe just some advice when you get to the foundation you want to protect yourself from the dust from concrete it is VERY VERY bad for you can cuase cancer from silica use a heppa mask with purple filters

[RCLogger]

Hey Joe
You are going to town with the latest project ! I am not up to speed, are you going to be able to walk between your basement and garage through the tunnel ?
Have you ever tried Blasting in that material ! ! Maybe a Rock Drill and fire crackers ? hahahh
greg

[Lil Giants]

wood dado cutter, so I googled that (while thinking it's likely another idiom similar to thingamajig :rolleyes:)... OH! there really is such a thing :D Andy's idea with an angle cut on the shaft collar would work the same way :thinking:

Jack, the house cement foundation sits atop the ground, I'm digging under it - not through it.

Yes Greg, a walkway to connect my house to my shop to avoid the outside elements while travelling between the two buildings.

[Lil Giants]

So today was changing the Jung pump in JD450 from a 0,45ml/rev (4003) to a 0,30 (4002). The only difference between the two pumps is the width of each gear, both gears same diameter. 0,45 has a gear width of 7.36mm & the 0,30 is 4.9mm. And luckily the gear slides off the shaft so I don't have to modify shaft length.

But the way the narrower gear fits shorter shaft, then fits into its respective pump body, the length sticking out is 3mm too short for the gear reduction! :( Fortunately I have another 0,30 pump with a short shaft & that entire pump assembly will fit properly into the JD450 gear reduction and the other 0,30 pump will still work on the direct drive.

The wide gear that's now on the long shaft, I intend to try out that pump on the JD850, as its currently using a 0,30ml/rev (4002) pump. A 30% increase of flow for the JD850 with its three 18mm (boom & bucket) & 22mm (stick) pistons vs all four 14mm pistons in the JD450.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/002_zpsymzxctvs.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/003_zpsol04lflo.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/004_zpsowynznak.jpg

Plus my gear reduction in the JD450 was getting noisy, kinda looks like the previous grease melted away. Got some hi-temp wheel bearing grease today, hope it does the trick.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/007_zpsd0rubr1z.jpg

[Cooper]

How often do ya think the gearboxes of the premacons need regreasing ? Or I guess I should ask how many hours ya think ya had on that gearbox? I guess it's better to ask hours vs once a year as everyone uses things differing amounts. And I'm pretty sure you are on the more use side. :).

[Lil Giants]

Well, you remember last Spring when you asked me how warm & how noisy my pump reduction was? Where I had it set to exactly half speed, it was whisper quiet & the reduction was barely warm after a 5amp batt... then I tried it at about 80% speed for 8-10 minutes & I think I burnt my finger when I touch it! :eek: It was still whisper quiet then, but the next day or two later it wasn't... and continued to get noisier with each later use. I probably don't have more than 2hrs on it since Spring b/c I just hated its erratic hydraulic movements b/c of too much flow & I like my JD850 so much more. :)

Hopefully this 30% reduction of flow will make it more fluent in motion.

[Lil Giants]

Back together, I like the hydraulic speed now! Using my speed sensing tool I have the motor rpm set at 5000 & with some added channel mixing to bring it up too 6000rpm with all 3 valves activated, very smooth!!! Got lots of dirt to move with it, get it fined tuned here in the next few days.

[Lil Giants]

I didn't make it through a entire batt this morning before the pump motor locked up! Just before that happened, the servos/valves were becoming twitchy - hyd movements erratic & even though the noise level ever increasing, the gear reduction unit was mildly warm.

Tear the reduction apart, gears look fine... although the wheel bearing grease I re-lubed with turned black in a hurry... what grease do you suppose I should use?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/003_zpsgpyr2tow.jpg

I then turned on brushless pump motor & discovered what the problem really is!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/005_zpsymjbidit.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/007_zps6ct1howc.jpg

[Cooper]

Is that the motor bearing let loose? This is what bane bots reccomends for planetary gearbox use, I imagine it would be same application.

GEARBOX MUST BE GREASED
Prior to use the gearbox must be greased, grease IS NOT INCLUDED and must be purchased separately. We recommend Mobil XHP 222 Special grease; however, most lithium based ball bearing grease can be used. We do not sell grease separately, it can be readily purchased from most local auto parts stores or online suppliers such as MSC, Grainger, and McMaster among others. Custom gearboxes can be supplied greased.

[Lil Giants]

Yes it is Coop... word this week is that Martin Kampshoff is readying another motor & reduction for me and perhaps I'll have it before xmas to get the 450 operational again.

Work on the tunnel this week has been digging the trench so I can sit closer to mouth of the tunnel... before I was 5ft further back & the shadows of the back lighting were making it difficult to see into the dimly lit tunnel... how my eye sight has changed so much in just a few yrs. :rolleyes:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/001_zpsgeoe5jaz.jpg

Getting the dirt built up level between the doorways in the back room... the dozer levels the dump piles to about half inch layer & the B50 with a load on does such a great job packing that I hardly leave a footprint walking on it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/003_zpsrzc6fxvy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/006_zpsw1x0uwiq.jpg

This here pile of dirt directly behind tunnel, I dumped the dirt here so I didn't have to personally climb out of hole with each B50 load, this is the dirt pile the 450 should be clearing away... but I'll make it disappear with the 850 tomorrow using the pan... the pan works really well to fill in all the low spots & level out a large area with precision. ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/008_zpslpveckwh.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/005_zpsboy5dxmz.jpg

Getting to be quite a pile of rocks already & some big ones too!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/007_zpsmm0b86sj.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/002_zpsjd1i2idy.jpg

All cleaned out, ready to do some more ripping & digging...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/009_zpsy4kofxof.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/010_zpsphrckeeu.jpg

I did some measuring & rough calculating... with the tunnel just over 6ft underground & the hole with ramp & cut-in steps behind it, I've excavated about 8.2 cubic yards...

[steamer]

Joe, your making great progress! How for are you from the basement wall where you are now? The other thing I would mention is that wheel bearing grease is a low rpm grease not made for high speeds due to the diameter of a car wheel. That's why at the rpm in the pump drive it's being whipped adding heat and causing pressure buildup that forces it out anywhere it can get through. At that rpm I'd recommend a good white grease or some turbine grease made for higher rpm.
Rob

[RCTech9]

Youre digging yourself out of work it looks like. Have you touched your stahl excavators in the last couple years?

[TRUCKMAKER]

Progress looks good Joe, I take it the room your moving the dirt into is going to remain a dirt floor?

[Cooper]

Joe not having a dirt floor?!?! That would be like a good fishing joke I remember,, two guys go fishing, both die in car accident. One goes to heaven other to hel. One in **** is drinking a big mug of beer and a hot blond on lap. One in heaven says that sure doesn't look like ****, God replies look closer, the beer mug has a hole in bottom and the blond doesn't!! :)

Couldn't resist, I accept banishment back to garage I go!!

[jack van]

looking so far joe :D

[Lil Giants]

About half way there Rob. ;) The wheel bearing grease I used is lithium based... no doubt I put too much in & it pressured up like you said... no worries though, a new motor & reduction will be here soon. ;)

T-9, the 09 Stahl I was using last winter to feed the jaw crusher in the basement, machine works at a perfect speed for that job; the 05 Stahl the boom broke can't remember when, I've stripped it down to use parts from it on other projects; the 01 Stahl still intact despite well over 1000hrs use, the 3rd set of cyls loose a tank's worth of oil per batt, but the pump & valves continued to work flawlessly, never changed a valve servo in it, it's probably 5yrs since I last turned it on.

Cooper :thinking: I'm at a loss for words... wonder what else might you be cooking in the garage besides tires? :D :p

Not much accomplished in the LGCC quarry this week... weather here is still like Fall, been helping my neighbor tear out an old mobile trl home from his lake front lot & clean up site for a RTM to arrive next May, just incredible weather to be sweating in T shirts in December! :eek: :)

Late today I tore into the JD850 again, going to swap Jung pumps, what came in the JD450 kit was too much flow for that lil hoe, I think the 4003 (0,45) will be ideal for the 850 with its much larger cyls. A fresh batt with its voltage over 16, the hyd speed is where I like it, I can get a lil shake out of the bucket to jiggle the sticky dirt out. :D Then in 10-15 mins it's likely less than 16v & flow slows down quite a bit.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/002_zpsbled1e4h.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/003_zpssuhsbame.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/004_zpsnb7wawdk.jpg

Brake Clean works like a steamer :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/006_zpslcit3des.jpg

Belt drive pulley starting to show some wear again, cogs still look good on the belt.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/008_zps3u2hcz1o.jpg

Clay is such a pain!!! Leaving the 850 sit in the hole the last few months, the dirt on the tracks stayed moist & the clay squeezed out between the pads. Bringing the 850 out of the hole a couple wks ago to do some wrenching on it for a day, it was just enough time for the clay to harden up some & ever since cause some binding. :rolleyes:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/001_zpsa27totlw.jpg

Gotta change a servo on the boom valve; just recently, when ripping - working the servos continually for long periods - the boom servo starts to twitch & time out; using hoe the last couple nights to clean up pile behind tunnel - short operating intervals, no problems with servo :thinking: must be getting weak. It'll be the 1st one I've changed since new.

And gotta split the house from u/c again, wasn't able to take out the backlash on the swing with motor plate adjustment as much as I'd like; set screws on pinion must need changing.

[tracksntreadslou]

Hey Joe the tunnel project is coming along nicely ..I can relate more now that i was treated to a personal tour ..seeing everything in real life gives that added advantage ..Thanks for for fine hospitality ..Wish I had more time to hang out with you ..Definitely plan to do another visit with you again soon.

[Lil Giants]

It was great having you visit Lou... too bad about the dreary weather & your time crunch schedule... you're welcome back anytime. Now that you know what my farm looks like you can point it out to Greg when you fly in for your next visit. ;)

[Lil Giants]

A few of you had asked a couple months ago if frost would be a problem?... digging dirt there's no issue with the ground freezing, but the frost build up on the exposed cement ceiling whenever the temps get down to -15 to -20C for a few days, frost gets about half inch thick, then when it warms up again right away, it makes it rain in the tunnel! :mad: ... a bright sunny day yesterday & near 0, a lot of water steadily drizzling all day :(,... used a small space heater overnight & the ceiling was thankfully dry this morning.

Shot this vid a couple days ago... 5mins afterward, the 2x12 Sabertooth, one motor output operates the swing, it suddenly QUIT! :thinking: It'd been in the JD850 close to 4yrs. Don't have any more 2x12's on hand, but did have a 2x25, it's overkill, but it's working again. :) The radio settings for the 2x12 don't transfer to the 2x25 :( Hope I can make the 2x25 function as smooth & precise as what the 2x12 did.

https://youtu.be/kNP10Y2_878

And here's a vid of the Izzybilt dozer leveling the dirt piles in the adjoining room.

https://youtu.be/NApC1-KCsGs

[Northern Farmer]

Some serious rc excavation right there! :eek: Love your setup :D

[Lil Giants]

About 12yrs in the making Brandon. ;)

My china gear motors finally showed up today, got one that is 55rpm & the other is 160rpm. Before taking apart the V1 tunnel grinder I checked the rpm with a 12v NiMH, it's 200rpm... starting with the 160 rpm g/m, a few more hrs fab work to do yet.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/004_zpsv6go1sts.jpg

Made another vid this morning placing the gopro on the cab of the B50... the 30% faster pump didn't make a dramatic difference in speed, but I do notice it's a bit faster. What's most interesting is my run time on a 5amp pack dropped about 20%, 45-50min down to 35-40min. And also, when the pump slows down to its idle speed there's this sorta chirping sound, kinda like how a muffled diesel sounds on fast idle, it doesn't make that sound when motor/pump is running full speed & the previous pump never did it at all. :thinking:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n3p95e-rFo

[Rimrock]

Quite an impressive open pit operation you got going there) I would think there are not many of these machines around seeing that number of hours on the meter ...Vario/Fumotec might should hire you as a test driver, if they don't already do;)
I notice that both Vario/Fumotec and Premacon chose pump motors running at 8000-9000 rpm no load, 600-900KV, relative high imo. I've not seen a Vario 850 running live, but seeing your videos I hear the pump motor kind of struggle when running against the PRV. Have you turned up the PRV setting, or is it the factory setting, and the chosen motor might be a bit under-powered?
I've never been such an fan of these 'high rev' pump setups, and working at putting together my own 12V setup with a Jung HR7/4003 and a 360KV, with motor running at around 4000 rpm no load, pump 3000 rpm, which will hopefully reduce the noise, wear of bearings and transmission parts (belt) a bit compared to the german setups. Time will show)

[Lil Giants]

There's no shortage of power from the bl motor in the JD850, when I turn on pump it's running at an idle of (I've never measured exactly) maybe 30%. One valve might bump speed to 60-70%, two valves push motor to full speed. The belt drive is 2,5:1 reduction & I think the bl motor tops at 10,000rpm. The prv is set to 34bar. With 18 & 22mm cyl bores, this JD850 needs a big fast turning pump.

The Fumotec - Premacon bl motor/pumps you're referring to is supplied by Martin Kampshoff, he uses a smaller (diameter wise) bl motor, about 700kv with I assume his design planetary reduction 4,5:1 on a Jung 4003 pump.

I started out with that 4003 pump in my Fumotec hoe, motor speed accurately metered to 4500rpm, I found the hyd flow to be way too fast for 14mm cyl bores. Last month I changed pumps to a 4002 (0,30ml/rev) & with the speed set too 5000rpm idle speed, plus radio mix - all 3 valves activated will make motor speed 5800rpm max (330-385ml/min). I didn't get half hour run time with that setup before motor locked up with blown bearings, but I was liking the slower flow for much smoother fluent motion. It's that same 4003 pump that is now in the JD850.

What I've learned from this Fumotec hoe, as well as the china hoe, running any brushless motor continually below 50% of its nominal speed, it's accuracy in maintaining speed while under load is erractic. I used a 30amp E-Flite esc in the Fumotec hoe. I think the JD850 uses a 30amp E-Flite as well.

I get great service from Frank Preisendoerfer, and lots of great insight too for other personal projects. I don't waste Frank's time dickering over pennies for cheapest price and Frank don't waste my time getting what I need! Badda Boom Badda Bing Done!!! ;) :)

[Azonic]

**** Joe, do you run your 850 at 34 bar? I think mine is set to 25 or less! :)

And Im with you, Frank is one helpful, service minded guy!

[Lil Giants]

Yep!!! When I changed pumps, the 1st thing I checked was pressure & the higher flow bumped the pressure beyond the 40bar mark. I turned the prv screw back nearly a full turn to get it down to 34Bar again. I set the pressure with a full charged 4s batt & pump running at max speed so for sure it doesn't ever exceed that.

The stick cyl weeps a wee little bit, barely detectable when working the stick hard at ripping, but other than that, no leaks, no blown hoses... luving it!!! :D :cool:

Such high pressure, the end of the boom where the stick pivots, it's wearing... I had the stick off this fall & debated whether to pull the boom off to machine the holes for brass bushes... my mill aint big enough for such a huge part & what really scares me is any sort chatter - vibration while milling the 5mm steel plates would shatter the resin encased boom!!! Then I be really SKREWED!!! :eek: cause I asked Frank beforehand if Vario had any booms in inventory, he didn't think so. :(

What I ended up doing was machining a new steel pivot pin, the left side bigger diameter to fit the slightly oblong hole snug; the right side is near perfect yet.

I don't think they have sold any Vario hoes for a couple yrs now, it's size & weight makes it unpopular... I asked Frank a couple yrs ago how many Varios in the world - he thought it was just over 50... I think I'm the only one in Canada, there's 6 in the USA that I know of... too bad, it's such an awesome perfectly balanced weight to power model. :cool:

[andyathome]

There may be one in NZ some time next year in Hitachi colours.

The wife said it would make a good Christmas present. ....
Sounds like an awesome Christmas present.

Can't wait for Xmas to be over so I can start the emailing,.

[Lil Giants]

Thanx for the heads up Andy, I'll put my order in for a new boom when you get your kit ordered up. ;)

And when you do pull the trigger on it, lmk & I'll give a short list of alternative parts to get with it that makes it work better. ;)

[andyathome]

Ive been doing a bit of googeling and , a quick hitch is a definite., aswell as a few detail bits are on the wish list.
what would you guys recomend for preformance up grades.
Also what sort of time from order to shipping is standard, I couldnt wait 8 or 9 months like some people who have orderded other excavators.

cheers andy

[Lil Giants]

Request 516:1 gearheads for track drives & a motor direct swing drive (which will require some machining by you to complete, nothing major, just fab a steel bushing to mate the smaller output shaft to the larger bore pinion).

A Dimension Engineering 2x25 Sabertooth works great for the tracks & another 2x12 Sabertooth for the swing (I've tried a lot of esc's for this particular large model & the Sabertooth has been far & away the smoothest & most precise, even better than the Servonaut).

Lead time to ship I would guess to be 4-8 weeks, depends on what's in inventory vs what they need to make or order out...

[calum_scania]

Very impressive progress on the tunnel Joe eagerly awaiting another update!

Calum

[Lil Giants]

Well here you go Calum... following Andy's lead, here V3 of the tunnel grinder...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/004_zpsv6go1sts.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/004_zpsufwo84wf.jpg

I tried it out this morning with the wire bristle heads, it worked ok, but rather slow. It took quite a bit of force to stall the worm drive gearhead motor, so at 160rpm it does have good power.

These #40 sprockets are 90mm diameter, I'll fab them up similar to how Andy did & give that a go... if the 160rpm g/h motor don't have the ponies, then I have another g/h motor just like it, but @55rpm to swap in.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/003_zpscmsrdbnk.jpg

A vid request from another forum had asked how I dug out the ceiling...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJOJD6g-CM8

[TRUCKMAKER]

Joe, the "ceiling" in the video is the bottom of the concrete pad between the house and workshop correct?

[Lil Giants]

You are correct Kent. ;)

[tracksntreadslou]

Great vid Joe ..Whats your estimate when you figure you will punch through ...Definatey will have to set up a camera on the other side for when that happens ..Dam I may have to make another trip to Saskatchewan soon for the ribbon cutting ceremony..I like it :D

[Lil Giants]

ribbon cutting ceremony... too funny!!! :lol: :D

The last couple months I've been working at it every 2nd or 3rd day Lou trying to make it last, it's amazing how soft digging it is so far... I'm sure I'll be poking through the other side before spring thaw. :eek: :(

[Dieselchopper]

Are ya up for a day or two of visit? Am stuck sorta at home until Feb and going nuts. Close enough I should go for the hike.

[Lil Giants]

Sure! We'll set something up in January. I would appreciate a few lessons on tig welding. ;)

[Lil Giants]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/015_zpsj9tetr1r.jpg

[RCP57]

I see the light!

[Cooper]

I thought this was going to take awhile!!!!!! Don't be digging yourself out of work!!!

[TRUCKMAKER]

Looks good Joe, I think your going to have to start planning a new dig before long. Maybe make a cement plant and trucks and start laying concrete.

[Lil Giants]

Well I tried to make it last only working at it a couple hrs a week, but alas I poked through yesterday morning...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/017_zpsqdcjf5jh.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/019_zps15fpq63m.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/001_zps1dwfjxu5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/005_zpsflnmeg5f.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/008_zpsqweogb7b.jpg

[Northern Farmer]

Man you moved a lot dirt that's a big hole! :jaw: congrats :D

[Bo Wallen]

Congratulation Joe !
The first tunnel excavated by a RC it does not get better tan this..Great job carry on Sir :)

[JAMMER]

Great work Joe I thought it would take a little longer. Now it 's time to give the Deere a bath and some maintenance it deserve it. Ed

[steamer]

Great work Joe!! When you do your second bench pass are you planing to be able to walk through?

[RCTech9]

That 850 sure is a workhorse.

[RobotArms24]

I hate to ask cuz I am sure it has been asked and answered somewhere in this thread, but in the dozen or so pages I have been through I cannot find the answer.... So, why are you digging so much in your basement?

[Lil Giants]

I hate to ask cuz I am sure it has been asked and answered somewhere in this thread, but in the dozen or so pages I have been through I cannot find the answer.... So, why are you digging so much in your basement?

One word pretty much sums it up ----> entertainment :)

Rob, it'll probably take at least 3 bench cuts before I'm walking through; plus cutting grade on one side for dirt ramp, not sure what degree yet. Back in the Garden forum days I remember one member gave me the formula that for every 1foot in height - it's approx 6foot distance to maintain 10° incline... it's gonna be a long ramp at that grade!

[steamer]

Joe the formula is rise divided by the length of run x 100 to give you the percentage. Don't know what your looking at but say your rise to the floor was six feet and the length of your of the tunnel was 20 feet from the basement wall it would still be a 30 degree rise in that distance starting the ramp in the house. I think your best bet would be to build a dumb waiter at the shop end with one of the cheap Princess auto hoists.

[Lil Giants]

Browsing through Cooper's D11 thread for that Clinometer App he mentioned, I downloaded it to my IPhone & then checked the current incline that I have, it varies between 17 & 20 degrees. The loaded B50 travels up without slippage (barely) with dirt rolling off the back. And for a brief period with pup in tow as well, the B50 had lots of wheel slippage, chewing up the incline... so 20° is too much.

I have about 20 cu yd or more to come out of the basement yet & using this exit into the shop is more appealing than the narrow spiral ramp that exited south side of house. ;) Plus the challenge of carving that road out of the basement would be fun too. :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/002_zpsjd1i2idy.jpg

[footprint]

Plus the challenge of carving that road out of the basement would be fun too. :)
Im liking the sound of this, orders metric ton of popcorn.
Perhaps small sections of conveyor
As usual thanks for the updates we're all enjoying the progress, all the best for 2016

[modelman]

Hi joe-the tunnel dig is coming along more quickly than I thought it would. It must be so satisfying knowing you have this project to work on anytime you feel like it and to have all the equipment you need to do the job. Also, I would think it takes a lot of discipline to get your farm work done instead of using all your time digging with the models.

[Lil Giants]

Mt night last you footprint, though there still a lot of digging to go yet. Thanx for your interest. :)

Farm work is pretty scarce this time of yr Tom, though I spent a few hrs earlier in the week loading trks - vacc'ing bin bottoms... what's really satisfying is having rc equipment that not only works, but can do what I want it to. ;) :)

Quick vid showing the exit into basement & continuing to cut a straight wall, dirt is quite a bit dryer, harder to dig, but the 850 is getting 'er done! :D

https://youtu.be/mn5T2uG4Xsw

[Cooper]

So you are completely open on both ends? How much deeper will you go? A walk through? Could made a shelf as to be less of an incline for equipment and a deeper step trench for you to walk?!?

[Lil Giants]

Yes, both ends are now open. Dig down close to 5FT so I can walk through. And the dirt ramp exit is for both convenience of use and the rc dirt work challenge to build it. :)

[JAMMER]

Hi Joe now you will have to build a cement mixer to pore the concrete for the:bounce forms for walls and floor. That is what happens when you start a project one thing leads to another. Ed:bounce:

[Steve1503]

So what is on top of the top of the tunnel? What is planned to shore up the roof?

[jack van]

personaly i would use shockcrete concrete

[Lil Giants]

This is what's on top of the tunnel Steve.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2015/005_zps7mixmgmf.jpg

Much slower digging across, dirt much drier harder, but the 850 is getting 'er done. :cool: This was about 10days or so ago.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/002_zpsb0ezcify.jpg

And today... now I need to go below & haul the dirt away.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/007_zpsi4jviuwv.jpg

[Steve1503]

ahh, that makes sense. Thanks.
Keep up the good work.

[Stuff]

ya no chance of a tunnel collapse there!

[Dieselchopper]

I will Agree with Dean (Stuff). After we visited Joe for a day and getting a first hand look. No safety concerns on this job. Was real good to visit and see this first hand. Thanks Joe!

[Lil Giants]

5 mins after you guys left... Dayum I forgot to take a picture! :D

Cya in Oct... MotherNature willing. ;)

[Lil Giants]

TIG'ing is fun! After a couple of pointers from Dieselchopper during his visit with Stuff last week, melting steel is much easier now, and cleaner too, no more grinding down welds. :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/006_zpsvfzjimiz.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/007_zps0dfdnucz.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/008_zpskklyiodc.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/009_zpsxqaddyr7.jpg

Working on a new project

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/001_zpsxc5aahqp.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/005_zpse20diyuu.jpg

[Azonic]

Nice welds Joe!

What kind of project you have going on? :)

[JAMMER]

Those welds look real good Joe your becoming a real professional. Ed :cop:

[Dieselchopper]

Those welds look good. Amazing what a few tips can do to help. Hoping this build works well.

[Rvjimd]

Welding?

Joe, those look nice! What were you using before you got tig? How much of the other welding experience did you have?

I just got a mig machine and don't even have the gas for it yet. Tig looks a bit more complicated than mig? I plan to develop some skill with the mig and then get the gas bottle and try that, then maybe a tig, but I don't have any big project in mind so I hope I can get by with the mig machine.

Jim

[Lil Giants]

TBC Kalle :D Thanx Ed :) 10-4 Shawn, thanx ;)

Jim, I had a mig before tig & AC-DC stick before that. Learnt stick & brazing in HS shop class, but didn't do much welding till I was 30 something, a few stick weld projects building hay wagons & skids for hopper bottom bins, then got a Miller 200amp gas mig in 04 & did a lot of welding for several yrs on the farm. I have a smaller 70amp Demag gas mig I picked up a couple yrs ago that I use with smaller wire (023) so I could use it for my hobby welding light gauge steel. The tig pics on prev page, I turned up the amperage to 100 & melted the steel together without using filler rod, slick!!!

Your mig, you using flux core wire? If not, you can't weld without gas. If you do go with gas, get COP tanks (customer owned product); tank rental contracts are needless & expensive.

Here's a vid of latest progress on the tunnel, still digging down in the basement end of it, it's much warmer on this side. :D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka7zqq5t9dQ&feature=youtu.be

[Rvjimd]

Joe,

Thanks for te background.

I am still using flux core. I did buy some solid wire bu don't have the gas bottle yet.

Jim

[Lil Giants]

Something else Jim, I pretty sure you will have to change the liner from the gun to the machine to use solid wire. :thinking:

Here's a vid at 2x speed, I kinda like watching video run at faster frame rates, what do you think? :D

https://youtu.be/njHPKEl0gYY

[Rvjimd]

Ah, I didn't get that from my instruction manual but I shall check that when I finally get to that point.

The 2X video sort of makes part of the motions look more full scale.

Thanks,

Jim

[Lil Giants]

So I finally got a box full of goodies from Frank, the Roxxy esc's from Multiplex to finish other models & the replacement motor & reduction to fix my JD450. Made a video of it loading the B50 this morning.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcnqQYmsh68

And afterward kept loading the B50 to use up the 5amp batt in the 450, but before the batt showed any signs of running out of juice, this happens...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/002_zps4ruxyjoc.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/003_zps069efgub.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/004_zpsbzgymde5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/005_zpsybxgdbm5.jpg

didn't last an hour...beyond words :rolleyes: :mad:

[Northern Farmer]

Trying to figure it out, what happened ?

[Lil Giants]

SNAPPED the motor shaft, it's stuck there in the pinion

two brushless motors back to back, 1st one blows motor bearings inside of 5hrs use & the 2nd one snaps a motor shaft in less than an hour

there are literally 100's of these motor/reduction/jung pumps out there, Premacon uses the exact same combo in their models, Cooper has this exact same motor - pump in his china hoe... I'm just livid... another 2 month delay...

Thank God for my JD850. :)

[Northern Farmer]

Outch that's crummy luck. Like you said atleast you still have your Vario to play with :)

[Cooper]

Only good I can see is knowing it wasn't something you did wrong!! That's definately a fluke but dahmm!!

[Supermario]

SNAPPED the motor shaft, it's stuck there in the pinion

two brushless motors back to back, 1st one blows motor bearings inside of 5hrs use & the 2nd one snaps a motor shaft in less than an hour

there are literally 100's of these motor/reduction/jung pumps out there, Premacon uses the exact same combo in their models, Cooper has this exact same motor - pump in his china hoe... I'm just livid... another 2 month delay...

Thank God for my JD850. :)

One is a fluke, 2 failures of common system is a red flag for sure. I don't have good enough pic quality to say for sure, looks like clean break? Or do I see beach marks and signs of a flaw ?
Failed bearing , now shaft? Something ain't straight. :confused:

[Cooper]

Was it on the same motor/pump? I was assuming this was two different pump motor systems. After reading over again joes post , yes I agree Mario, something must be misaligned if it's the same pump. Yeah I'd be rather "livid" also joe!!!

[Lil Giants]

Different pump, I went to the next lower volume. What was sent to me was a brand new motor with gear reduction attached... apparently special tools needed to perfectly center gear reduction on motor. All I had to do was two 6mm bolts to secure pump to gear reduction, then the grub screw on pump shaft.

Frank tells me from watching the video that the motor didn't sound right, motor ran maybe 5-10 minutes total before the vid... another 20 minutes maybe after the vid before the shaft snapped...

It's a yr now since I completed this model, the 1st motor started getting noisy almost immediately... it's been so long ago I can't remember what it's suppose to sound like. :confused:

Frank's on it!

I'm half asst tempted to trade this lil 450 off & get another 850... cause like the women say, "size matters!" ... so much run time on the 850, - twice the power - twice the reach, the 450 is kinda dull to run in comparison.

[Lil Giants]

One is a fluke, 2 failures of common system is a red flag for sure. I don't have good enough pic quality to say for sure, looks like clean break? Or do I see beach marks and signs of a flaw ?
Failed bearing , now shaft? Something ain't straight. :confused:

Right where it snapped, there's an E clip flush with the face of the motor, a wee bit of material gone.

I've snapped 6mm shafts before & it's always where an E clip is placed... pinions on trk axles, output shaft of swing motor on 850, ect... but those times the shafts had seen a lot of torture as well.

[Stuff]

ya that is in there good! guess drilling time?

[Lil Giants]

Nope, brand new everything time... I boxed up the junk motors with their respective gear reductions & a Jung pump to return to Frank to pass on to Kampshoff for his inspection & Kampshoff is sending me motor/reduction/4002 pump.


This is why I luv me JD850 so much!!! (...never thought to take a before pic, this is about twenty some loads later)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/002_zpshpj8uqfi.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/003_zpsqjgl7jki.jpg

... no other model in the market today has the reach this one does!

And the power! That rock is about the size of a coconut!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/004_zpsawj60ldn.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/005_zpsggmvyk6s.jpg

Remember the size of the hole that use to be here? I'll keep hauling in from the south exit till it's probably a layer or two above that plywood back board... then screen it, crush the lumps, screen it again, crush again, fine it up good! Then haul it outside for rainwater to soak it up, then haul it into back room in shop to layer it up & pack the snott out of it... I can drag this dirt work project out for yrs with regular rc activity. :D :p

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/006_zpsjpum554u.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/007_zpsxxof3w2m.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/008_zpsyphwgffs.jpg

[Northern Farmer]

Your project is sick Joe! :D The Vario excavator is a beast it's a real work horse :eek:

[RCLogger]

Hey Joe
There is no question that the Vario is built well, not sure how many hours you have on that machine but there seems to be nothing like it..

Do you ever put the track loader to work ?

greg

[Lil Giants]

Thanx Brandon.

5yrs old Greg, must have surpassed the 1000hr mark by now. Don't use the track loader in this wet crap, big enough headache with the Izzy dozer & JD850 taking tracks off for cleaning.

[Bsqrd]

Posing as a 'Safety Inspector' I dropped in on Joe with only an hours notice to have a look at his operation. Wow, words are inadequate for what he has accomplished! I managed to supervise as he loaded a couple loads of dirt with his large excavator and hauled them away. He answered all my questions and showed me his work shop. I think I learned that I do not have the skills or tools to be a scratch builder and I think I am lucky Izzy no longer makes Dozer kits, as I did like the ones Joe had lol. Thanks for a great afternoon Joe and keep up the good work.
Barry

[Stuff]

Joe's had a few visitors this year lol!

I am also still in awe of his operation :D

[Lil Giants]

It was great having you visit Barry, a real pleasure meeting you. ...wasted most of the time showing you what I have, now the next time you visit we'll do some earth moving. ;)

4 within the last 6 months Dean, including yourself... now if IHSteve makes his summer family trip this yr out west...?

[frizzen]

Would it be possible to get a few videos that show a time lapse of the enormous project you're running? It'd gives some perspective about how impressive of a dig it is over showing someone a reasonable length video that just shows how well the machines run.

Maybe start with some of the excavator driving up on top of wall, start digging, and dig a bit, jump video to it part way down the wall, then again further down, further still... until you drive off at the bottom.

Or like some of leveling out the shed floor. Few piles, more piles, bunch of piles, ton of piles, compactor, few piles, bunch, grader...

[egronvold]

It was great having you visit Barry, a real pleasure meeting you. ...wasted most of the time showing you what I have, now the next time you visit we'll do some earth moving. ;)

4 within the last 6 months Dean, including yourself... now if IHSteve makes his summer family trip this yr out west...?

Still waiting for a Canadian contract. Visiting Warner Robins, GA for a week right now :)

[Lil Giants]

Would it be possible to get a few videos that show a time lapse of the enormous project you're running? It'd gives some perspective about how impressive of a dig it is over showing someone a reasonable length video that just shows how well the machines run.

Maybe start with some of the excavator driving up on top of wall, start digging, and dig a bit, jump video to it part way down the wall, then again further down, further still... until you drive off at the bottom.

Or like some of leveling out the shed floor. Few piles, more piles, bunch of piles, ton of piles, compactor, few piles, bunch, grader...

Idk :thinking:.... sounds like a 100hr project to make a 10 minute video? It's beyond my interest & ability to undertake such an involved computer project... and not having a broadband internet connection, the video might end up being too big for me to upload in hi-def... which is all anyone seems to want to watch anymore.

Take your pick of over 200 vids in 8yrs, every one shows how durable & capable the models are at moving earth. ;)

The last vid was 2x & the one before it was 4x sped up, both involved ripping & digging dense clay... the faster rate made them easier to watch, I thought.


Still waiting for a Canadian contract. Visiting Warner Robins, GA for a week right now :)

I bet it's gorgeous weather done there right now, better than home eh Emil?! :D

You ever find yourself driving through Billings, Montana; I'm just 4hrs straight north, not far from the USA border. ;)

[Lil Giants]

Made some progress on the tunnel dig the last month, getting to within 24 inches to reach the floor on the south exit.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/003_zpsgif1wud9.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/004_zpswb1stmjh.jpg

Without natural light, the flash of the camera sorta disguises the two bench cuts stopping back in the tunnel.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/005_zps6dodply5.jpg

This probably shows it better.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/006_zpsat0ttriw.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/007_zpskul4g4hz.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/008_zpsxur4dbfw.jpg

Quite a bit of dirt hauled back into the basement from the south exit... lots of rc activity with screening & crushing to do at a later date. ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/002_zpsf9x2t7bs.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/001_zpskxnlbwig.jpg

[Lil Giants]

I walked the JD850 out of the hole last weekend to fix the rc quick coupler, installing a new esc that has a built-in adjustable current limiter, motor draws too many amps (when the locking pins reach the end of travel) and it shuts off. Got from HeyOK Performance out in BC... thank you Kalle for putting me onto this guy. :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/coupler%20esc_zpscyfsgp9i.jpg

Al Jackson of HeyOK Performance website. His products were designed moreso for the rock crawler world of rc, but some of his products will cross over into our realm as well. ;)

https://www.freewebstore.org/HeyOK-Performance

And here today again, the JD850 coming out of the hole to travel back to workshop... it's a 15minute drive :rolleyes:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/001_zpsl9qn4egw.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/003_zpsuy1grcwh.jpg

Having just gone through the experience of the brushless pump motor bearings going out on the JD450, the JD850 was making a similar noise... with the motor removed, I can see the bearings are still intact, but feel dry & rough. This motor is 5yo - no doubt greater than 1000hrs use.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/004_zpsrpak0ngs.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/005_zpsma05qium.jpg

I have a Fumotec WA500 wheel loader that I got spring of '14 & have yet to put together... I just got some replacement parts for it in January b/c I robbed from it last summer to fix the B50 adt... now I'll steal the brushless motor from it & have the JD850 on it's way back to work in a couple hrs... it's good to have spare parts, especially when the parts store is on the other side of the globe! :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/007_zps301vyxv4.jpg

[frizzen]

I didn't mean do that much new work to make the videos, i was just thinking splice together some of the old videos. 'No' is a good answer, thank you.

[Lil Giants]

Yes I understood you meant splice old vids... it's a great idea of yours, but not for me to undertake. :)

Here's a vid digging inside the tunnel, frame rate 2x, 1.85gig took all night to upload.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK7AQ3B18OQ

And a quick 39 sec vid showing the view from the lean-to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOPV04oBrXc

[Lil Giants]

Getting to within 6 inches of basement floor level, finding a lot of big rocks at the 5 foot below ground. This one about the size of a basketball, after I got dug around it, then tried to pry it up with dig bucket, crumbles into a half dozen pieces. :confused:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/001_zpsaaw7s5kz.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/002_zpsaogllv0a.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/003_zpsbpvudch0.jpg

Here's a vid I made last night showing where I'm at... at the 3:13 mark you can hear my knees crack as I sit down, knees have been aching for a couple months now crawling all over that trk & pup putting those augers on... body is going to hells in a hand basket! :eek: :(

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c92xMV4smfg

[Cooper]

That power of the jd just crumbled the rock :) imagine what a cat would have done ;) haha!! So those piles are gettin screened then? That should keep ya busy for a bit. I would say it will take you years to dig a tunnel with Rc but you've done it in a few months!! Pretty big job you did and now on tail end of it. Pretty impressive Joe!! I hear ya about the knees, we arnt getting old, just starting to show signs of use!! Wearing the paint off:). I showed the wife your tunnel project, our new house basement is about 50' from future garage. How nice it would be to undertake that!! You are a bad man for planting that seed!!! Now Im thinking of a nice 6' wide, thick reinforced walkway out to garage, possible future tunnel ceiling��!! Hope ya start getting some warm weather. Anything seeded yet?

[Lil Giants]

I never would've bet money that it would have been this quick & easy... maybe 10hrs a week digging & hauling since Aug 1st - minus all of Oct for harvest. Yes, dirt piles for additional rc activity when tunnel is completed, perhaps before xmas. :eek: Then it'll be back to digging out the basement floor 1,5ft deeper... then in 4-5yrs get an RTM with a bigger floor plan -> then I'll need a bigger basement too. :D

Cooper's tunnel: drill parallel piles spaced 5' apart with cement slab on top, sounds like a perfect plan indeed! I would even make the drive to your house & bring the JD850 & B50 to give you hand with it for a couple months one winter. take the top 24" out & then you could punch the rest out with your D11 ;) What's the soil type in your area?

It was 15C today & maybe 20's tomorrow, but that wind the last couple weeks, that can take a hike! Rule of thumb, never start seeding before April 20th... 3 weeks away yet. ;)


imagine what a cat would have done ;)

Shyt the bed & shower me in oil :( :p :D :lol:

[Lil Giants]

Yesterday here was another whiteout with high winds, a good day to spend inside! :) I cut out all the bench tops within the tunnel's length & practiced cutting a flat angular grade, this slope is 20 degrees (thanx Cooper for the clinometer app, sure comes in handy :D).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/001_zpsuwovw5di.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/003_zpsdbmes8vm.jpg

From where the hoe sits now, digging down 10 inches will give me 62 inches from ground level to cement header and angle up 12 degrees from there... I have a few doorways in my house at this height, I'm use to ducking anyway. Plus to go down another 12 inches would add another 5 foot or more to the ramp length... more digging yes, but there'll be a big enough hole in that room as it is. :eek:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/004_zpsu0xdrkp6.jpg

A quick vid of the process... swinging 90 at this slope, the sump ran dry & lost some oil out the vent hole.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofVNb8XazKU

[Bo Wallen]

I sure enjoy watching the progress :cool: Very orderly work site....good planning.
Got 6 inches of that white stuff Monday night here, so Basement time here too.
Making Beams. And Crunch Crunch watching DeepDigVideo :D
Keep it going strong Joe.

[Lil Giants]

Thanx Bo, it's been going better than planned :) ...all that rainfall summers of 10, 11, 12, 13 before pouring the cement pad in fall of 13, really nice digging throughout :cool:

[Cooper]

What ya think I got ? And extended stay holiday inn?? Lol!! ;). I may need all of two months plus with you working long hours in underground conditions, poor lighting, no ventilation , possible dangerous creature attacking equipment,,,, but food and living quarters will be provided :). Bbj and dirt floor!!! Lol!!! Well this year is probably mostly working on new shop but I do have a smaller basement under part of house that needs backfilling and moving a good bit of dirt. ( years ago had basement dug to 7' perimeter drainage and block knee wall built. ) 2017 project, just in time for retirement of the 450, replacing with a new one. Good first job!! Always welcome down here, just about an hour closer for you from time you were at cabin fever.

[Lil Giants]

Finished up spring planting Thursday, just in time for another slow soaker of a weekend :) ...I slept most of the weekend, but I did do a little digging here & there, still working on the lower entrance level.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/012_zpsmraqfvhc.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/016_zpsshqajayd.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/017_zpscvgzmcb6.jpg

Getting to be quite the pile of earth back in the basement again :eek: :d

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/014_zpshtulnmjv.jpg

This morning the right track went dead, I could hear the drive motor running, but no power to the track... I did get it back to the shop under its own power though from the bottom of the tunnel. It was more than just a lil hairy getting up the narrow +20° muddy slope with only one powered track & using the arm, there was a couple of "pucker moments" with slides towards the cliff's edge :eek: :o :D I did film it but after downloading it to my puter I was surprised to see it was 32 minutes long - 6gigs in dim lighting ~delete~ :rolleyes:

A 5 minute fix, two set screws on one drive sprocket worked loose...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/018_zpshby8r2nb.jpg

[Lil Giants]

Now warmer weather, been hauling out the north side the last week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPil1RGQ8WA

Did some measuring yesterday, where the 850 sits - a lil more dirt to be excavated, but where the B50 sits - might have to build up 2 - 3 inches. That'd be using a 14 degree incline with a total ramp length of 23 feet... the grade the B50 is climbing in the video is 20 - 21 degree. The very top of the ramp needs to go back 2 feet. Using the clinometer on my phone with two pieces of steel rod, visegrips on vertical rod @12", slid other rod back & forth to determine what distance per foot = what degree incline... 14 degree = 46 inches length... not too bad of a grade for the trks to pull, but I'll probably need to lay down asphalt shingles to keep the haul trks from wearing down the roadway too quickly.

[modelman]

Good job joe-you have moved a lot of dirt in a short period of time. Your equipment must be working great. When you started this I thought it was a multi-year project but maybe not. I am enjoying the videos!!

[Lil Giants]

Thanx Tom. The equipment has worked exceptionally well with only a few minor repairs that were fixed same day. Initially the dig has been quick, but lately has slowed down greatly with precision digging.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/005_zpscp51fuj3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/006_zps8deuhcii.jpg

It took many lipos to cut this section of the wall straight.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/007_zpsetq2xqo2.jpg

Decided to go back another 4 foot, this should make the dirt ramp something less than 14 degree.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/008_zpsvoedu9hd.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/009_zpsyploy243.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/010_zpssconua4k.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/011_zpsncyqirwx.jpg

The 1st step has a depth of 8 inch & LxW 36x12... onto the next step with same dimensions.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/012_zpscn3l8tj9.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/013_zpsdid3rar3.jpg

I'll get a couple of sheets of 1/2" pws on Monday to cap the dirt stairs with. I still have a small pile of pea gravel left over from last summer's cement work, a short haul to the east of shop to use for base under the wood steps. ;)

[jack van]

joe are your stair standard measurement of 7.5 inch rise and 10.5 inch tread ?

[Lil Giants]

I gave the measurement above, so... no, but close enough. I got the measurement from 3 different sets of stairs in my house.

[egronvold]

I gave the measurement above, so... no, but close enough. I got the measurement from 3 different sets of stairs in my house.

Good thing you didn't mess up and built it in scale 1:14 :D

[Lil Giants]

Not too much accomplished in the last month... weather is too nice outside to spend much time inside. :)

Quite a bit of rain in June & just not having any luck getting a hold of eave trough guy, the excess rain was starting to wash the dirt away from the tunnel wall :eek: laid down this sheet of plastic June 27th & no more water problems since.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/003_zpsexybwc1h.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/004_zpslb2rkwxc.jpg

[Lil Giants]

You can see the eroded the cement pillar, 2nd from the end wall, better view of it in the vid. Month ago I propped a sheet of pws against pillar & shovel a lot of dirt in behind, not all of it stuck though. Those cement pillars go down 12 feet, so no worries of it moving. :)

The orange string you see (baler twine), once I get the bottom dug out, set the string in place so I have something to eyeball as I cut the ramp to a more favorable grade, about 12 degrees.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/005_zpsxbztzpat.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/006_zpsizogytxy.jpg

Starting the 3rd row on the pile

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/009_zps7jqpqdyn.jpg

quick vid from today's activities

https://youtu.be/ejYH_3f4dgg

[Lil Giants]

I cut that hump out at the top of the ramp which made for a much more favorable grade @17 degree, not sure yet if it's the final grade till I get the very bottom dug out, much easier pulling loads out now with next to nothing rolling off back of adt.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/003_zpsjxj6fros.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/016_zpsvewqfvgb.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/017_zpsutfowem3.jpg

[TheBennyB]

Too awesome. Need to get yourself a swiveling captains chair in there. Too much serious work going to be squatting on a 5 gal with a throw pillow!

[Lil Giants]

HAH! I'm easy to please & it's easy to move around. :)

[TRUCKMAKER]

Looks good Joe, So what are you going to do all winter? Found the picture of the snow, figured with the way the radar looked you were getting a little white up there.

[Lil Giants]

Oh there's lots of digging to do yet Kent & with digging on two different grades it's really tricky & slow for the 850 to maneuver in the confined space. Plus I got a shyt ton of building to do this winter for what comes next after the tunnel is completed.

Kinda looking forward to getting out of this wet sticky clay too, it's really hard on tracked equip with the tracks gummed up all the time... I've lost count of the number of times I've taken the 850 tracks off to soak in water to dissolve the packed clay from them.

[Stuff]

wow its looking great Joe!!

[Lil Giants]

3 or 4 more stairs to cut in yet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEdS9RhAfUk

[Lil Giants]

Doing a lil dozer work today flattening out the piles so the B50 can climb & start piling on the next layer.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/001_zpsipxe5wli.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/002_zpswhcqzsyh.jpg

Did a bit measuring in the tunnel today too, I think it's + - 2cyd to the finish line, could be done by xmas. :D

[Hofabooz]

Hi Joe

Look forward to more progress on your work as time allows.
Great work as ever and you will have to come up with a tunnel break through completion ceremony.
Thanks for posting

[TRUCKMAKER]

Joe, What are you going to do with all the dirt piled that high?

[mog]

your sure are making a nice head way. next year we are going to have some dirt at the show again.

[Lil Giants]

I suppose that'll be the 1st load hauling out of basement video Mark via the new "think of name" tunnel... got any ideas? :D

Screen & crush Kent to keep the rc activities going... plus there's still 30 some cubes to come out of the basement floor yet so I'm not dinging my melon on the ceiling anymore. ;)

Thanx Martin... these late late fall harvests need to come to an end soon so I can get out to the show again.

Started today cutting final grade on the ramp, 1" in spots to 1' in others... it sure would've been nice if that grinder idea I had last yr would've worked better. :rolleyes: Hopefully I don't create too many potholes with the ripper.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/001_zps9s5lvpko.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/002_zpsmw0eiynv.jpg

[Hofabooz]

Hi Joe

names for the video

We could have escape to next door
Canadian digs for victory
Fianl break through or Break out
Grass is green on the other side so we dug this tunnel

Hey Joe i dont know i just know that it will be great to watch.

Regards

mark


I suppose that'll be the 1st load hauling out of basement video Mark via the new "think of name" tunnel... got any ideas? :D

Screen & crush Kent to keep the rc activities going... plus there's still 30 some cubes to come out of the basement floor yet so I'm not dinging my melon on the ceiling anymore. ;)

Thanx Martin... these late late fall harvests need to come to an end soon so I can get out to the show again.

Started today cutting final grade on the ramp, 1" in spots to 1' in others... it sure would've been nice if that grinder idea I had last yr would've worked better. :rolleyes: Hopefully I don't create too many potholes with the ripper.

[Lil Giants]

I was thinking moreso a name for the tunnel... I'm still drawing a blank :thinking:

What I've been working at lately, getting the walkway dug out. I can walk through on the ramp without bending over much, which is handy that the weather is now -20's :eek:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/011_zps48tkxtul.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/012_zpssesnvonz.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/013_zpswifbhsbw.jpg

The camera doesn't show depth perception very well, it may look rather flat, but it's a 35 degree decline leading into the tunnel entrance. :eek:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/014_zpsurx3kdov.jpg

[Bo Wallen]

Great Progress Of your "FunNel' yeah you got my drift ehe :lol:

[Lil Giants]

You're onto something there Bo ;) :D

[Bo Wallen]

You're onto something there Bo ;) :D

Thanks Joe.
I vas figuring.........it's a fun hobby and you're project is fun and of many thing you do.....you do Funnel.......(verb) a funnel by widening or narrowing at the end. I see no end :D
Joe's FunNEL Cary on Please i go back to my basement :lol:

[tracksntreadslou]

The Ramp looks really good Joe ... nice cut ..pretty even grade ..Any plans to use the pup or the B4206 with that train you were thinking about ?..Be a good pull for sure ..just not alot of room

[Lil Giants]

Yes, I need to get busy building stuff...

[hvy 1ton]

Great Progress Of your "FunNel' yeah you got my drift ehe :lol:

Even Drift is a pun at this point. Can't wait too see something making the pull up out of the basement.

[Cooper]

The more I look at this the more impressive it is!! You have moved a lot of material with the lil' Giants!! Looks nice that you can dig that deep and not encounter rock. A few here and there but not solid rocks!! Keep up on the progress pics!!

[headers]

Cooper it would be sweet to see your truck down in there hauling loads out what do you think Joe?

[Lil Giants]

I think the "haul road" might be too narrow for Cooper's 785 & presently it's much too steep, if the drivetrain didn't explode 1st then it'd likely flip over backwards in a couple spots. With a heaping load, the B50's front end lifts the tires a bit as the tandem axles start to crest some hills. :eek: :D

"Bush fix" - sitting in a dark hole to make a fine wire repair on the quick coupler. The bucket cyl still weeps ever so little occasionally when it's working hard, wires get hard & brittle... is it possible to get 24? gauge petroleum resistant wire?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/003_zpsmsqbpmbm.jpg

[Lil Giants]

Brought the ol' Stahl adt into service again as I dig out the walkway.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/004_zpsgwwi0x8f.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/005_zpsutts9gqt.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/007_zpsjvajgt2q.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/008_zpsr1pvxqem.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/011_zpsthf5o8m4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/012_zpsjq4gz2be.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/013_zpskbsrkisz.jpg

Now to haul this dirt pile into the basement with the B50

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/014_zpsyowzf0xl.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/004_zpsijgm9req.jpg

Great to have an X4 charger again, this is just a couple hrs run time on 3 machines

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/016_zpsuxlwa8xn.jpg

[Lil Giants]

Even Drift is a pun at this point. Can't wait too see something making the pull up out of the basement.

Couple weeks ago I thought maybe be close to done by xmas... today's assessment, not likely... :thinking:

DAYUM!!! it's cold in that tunnel!! Outside is -20's for better than a week. The lean-to is about 5c & the basement bout 12c... I think it could be zero in the tunnel, there's a quarter inch of frost on the cement ceiling. To stay there an hour or longer comfortably I'm wearing a bunny hug with insulated coveralls & winter boots, and I have small space heater blowing warm air directly on my hands as I operate the radio gear. The cold temps have cut the 4s lipo run time close to 10mins, maybe 35-37 minutes.

[jack van]

might try some 2 inch rigid foam 2 layers on lid use 2by 4 on each side just temp till u get permanent could glue to concrete to lid with pl 400 :)

[steamer]

Silicone coated is what you want Joe. Good for oil or any greasy spot you can find.
Sized from 12 right up to 30 awg.

[Cooper]

https://hobbyking.com/en_us/catalog/category/view/s/14awg/id/6829

One thing they are good for:). Don't know what shipping is like for you but for the $ they have good silicone jacketed wire, shrink wrap ect.

Yeah the road might be a lil' narrow for me to ship up the haul truck. But I'm pretty confident the driveshaft will pull up to a 25% grade loaded. She has the power but ideally designed for about 10-15%. But no emergency brakes:) never know till something lets loose :). Then back to the drawling board!!

You might be frozen but at least the ground isn't!!! Lol!!

[Lil Giants]

Servo wire would be bout 24awg, right? Thanx for the tip Rob, and thanx for the link RW, RobotShop has a cdn outlet, looks to be cheaper & in cdn$ too... my HiTec charger came from here with free shipping. :)

http://www.robotshop.com/ca/en/catalogsearch/result/?q=24awg+silicone+wire&order=stats_sales_order_count&dir=desc

Styro board would be a good option for sure Jack, but I won't be there long.

Still a couple spots over 35 degree. And the B50 has no brakes either, it'll roll easily at just a few degrees, kind of a nuisance to park anywhere to load that isn't flat and/or soft.

The 1st time it happened with pulling 30+ then changing to probably low 20's, I was going maybe half throttle, the front end lifted almost high enough to flip the cab at the edge of a 3 foot cliff. I was right there to catch it, but to juggle radio & heavy model with no brakes :eek: :eek: :eek: Not a big deal to navigate now, just very low steady throttle & gotta be straight as possible, slightest bit of cab turn exaggerates the problem quickly.

Back when this thread started in 2005, I was hauling out of my basement with a Tamiya Mammoth climbing a narrow 16" wooden ramp @17 degrees. Trk half full, loaded front heavy would lift front left tire 1/4 inch, from the bottom all the way to top every time! Moved out 2,5 cu yd that summer... the next summer I put in a conveyer. ;)

[oldguy70]

Joe

What did your HiTec charger cost you, and will it also discharge the batteries also what type of battery will it charge
Earl

[Lil Giants]

Joe

What did your HiTec charger cost you, and will it also discharge the batteries also what type of battery will it charge
Earl

All questions answered in the link ;)

http://www.robotshop.com/ca/en/x4-ac-plus-4-port-ac-dc-plus-multi-charger.html?gclid=CjwKEAiAjcDBBRCJxouz9fWHynwSJAD aJg9Bhmv9V2SMewFXwYm8awojUnCeHznkQrlEp-vaGrMXeRoCB6vw_wcB

[Lil Giants]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/001_zpskzi0wka6.jpg

[Lil Giants]

Decided my final grade for the dirt ramp, string is 14 degrees... some spots another inch or two to take out, right at the bottom 20 inches.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/005_zps5h4ywlwy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/006_zpsxxbh76ry.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/009_zpsuf7ccsrc.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/011_zpsrp4k1lyl.jpg

Usually one of the coupler wires breaks when the ripper is on, but this last time was with the bucket, not so critical to fix it right away in dim light... hoping my 30awg silicone wire shows up before the weekend to make a final repair! Got some other replacement parts from Germany last week to tune up the 850's swing drive, getting to be too much free play that is beyond adjustment & a nuisance to operate that way.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/012_zpsbicoagan.jpg

[Hofabooz]

Hi joe

Looking good glad the surveyor has finished his work and the digging can continue not withstanding any mechanical issues hope your parts turn up soon

Thanks for posting.

[modelman]

Hey Joe-I would find it very hard to work in those cold conditions but you are getting it done. You have moved an amazing amount of dirt on this project. To me, the picture on post #1460 shows the best view of the scope of this project. Doing this with R/C equipment is simply amazing. Great job!!

[Lil Giants]

"Surveyer", hadn't considered that aspect of it Mark, funny :D :lol:

I figured that too Tom, how tiny the 850 looked in that pic... where the hoe sat in that pic, I need to dig down another foot or so yet so I walk through without ducking... and the weather the last week has been just single digits in the negative, which is notably warmer now in the tunnel too. :)

Ahhh, it's great to have found a cdn source, RobotShop, for my hobby supplies. Placed an order Thursday night, order arrives to my mailbox inside of a week :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/019_zpsmsbehoy7.jpg

October I had tried to tighten up the backlash in the swing, one of the reasons for the slop was these four bolts came loose, but tightening them up again didn't show that much improvement.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/013_zpsv4r81bil.jpg

Currently, with the stick perpendicular to the boom, side to side free play is about 2 inches at the bucket. A couple yrs ago when I snapped the output shaft, I had another planetary but it was the wrong ratio, so I just swapped out the output shaft. And now there's lots of side play in the output shaft that's contributing to the excessive free play. New motor & planetary. ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/002_zpsarwk3ivp.jpg

Also wondered how much the crown gear has worn in 5yrs? Hardly noticeable, but there is a little.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/003_zpsqaqlixct.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/010_zps87ye50fe.jpg

While trying to pry up the crown gear I discovered a bit of freeplay in the round housing's connection to the bridge, the bolts came loose & now the holes oblong a bit... drill & tapped for 4mm thread now. ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/006_zpsomh6lgwb.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/007_zpsxji6ypin.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/009_zpsbcvtnisu.jpg

A handy magnetic light to help with mating the house to the u/c again ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/016_zpsk2jqzotm.jpg

Keeping the swing motor pinion tight on the crown while I tighten the 3 bolts on the plate

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/017_zpsd5ioz3ey.jpg

Done! No more side play :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2016/018_zps1ehctj4n.jpg

Next is rewire the quick coupler.

[Azonic]

Did exactly the same to my 470 the other day, the output shaft bushing was worn out, replaced the "lid" on the gearbox and its all good now. :)

[DADSGARAGE]

Always like seeing the progress you are making on the fun/tunnel, I see the JD needed a bit of attention.....with the amount of work you have done with it I'm amazed at how well it is holding together....how many hour do you think it has on it??
KP

[Lil Giants]

Kalle, did you measure how much freeplay you had? ...just curious

KP, u/c & boom is made from 5mm steel, it was built to take a licking! :D Hours? no clue, I'm certain it's past the 1000. I've worn out a couple a different things: 2 belt drives & 1 brushless motor on the pump, 2 swing drive motors, a 2x12 Sabertooth on the swing, pivot holes in the top of boom getting pounded out... minor stuff.

[Azonic]

I think I had about 2cm play or more at the bucket when swinging it side to side by hand.

[RCLogger]

Hello Joe
How is Mr. Winter treating you, sounds like you had a touch of spring last week. You building / fixing machines or still moving dirt ?

greg

[oldguy70]

Thanks Joe on the charger info looks like what I have to switch to, as my present battery source still coming from a NiCad pile that's depleted. Need to switch to Li-ion, also thanks for the RobotShop lead.

Earl

[Lil Giants]

Winter was quite brutal 1st couple wks of new yr with -30 temps, but the last couple wks have been pretty sweet Greg. :) It sure does make a huge difference in the tunnel for comfort level. :)

Cheers Earl, it's a great multi-use charger, I use mine to charge 1 - 4 lipos nearly every day. I've had 3 orders from Robotshop to date, and every order has shown up inside the week, it's a great to have a cdn source for cheap to free shipping & no currency exchange rate added costs to deal with either. ;)

[Lil Giants]

Finished the dirt ramp a few wks ago, this all I have left to dig out for the walkway, 3 x 3 x 2.... less than a cy. Where you see the trench line leaves 24" for the last two stairs that I'll hand dig to the correct dimensions. Then stick my diesel blast heater down there for a week or two to dry out the tunnel walls & stairs cement hard. ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/018_zpsjnebpjtz.jpg

These couple pics was last weekend.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/001_zps1axzmwif.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/002_zpsexrvxek2.jpg

And then this morning's 3 lipos worth of rip - dig & pull it back to where the 850 is able to swing 180.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/007_zpsfhxyeewh.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/009_zpsel7giybd.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/014_zpsbwxcuetr.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/015_zpsionliblc.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/016_zpsdcxxz22g.jpg

Another 20 trk loads ready to haul out

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/017_zpsjvxdjd5s.jpg

The last of the tunnel dig will be to cut the hump out of the entry to make it about a 14 degree decent, I'll still have to duck myself to walk through.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/006_zpsofka2dag.jpg

[Lil Giants]

Another cold snap this week with temps close to -30 makes the tunnel a deep freeze! :eek: Moving operations to ground level where my diesel heater is at :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/001_zpsebo0oy2p.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/002_zpsun5y7bp9.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/004_zpsxe0prm8l.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/006_zpstneb3xtk.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/007_zps5wsl47ny.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/008_zpsbu33tvc0.jpg

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Another chinook coming in on the wkend, head back to the tunnel dig then. ;)

[Efroeh]

Looks awsome Joe, can't wait for the weather to turn nice here again this cold weather is getting old real fast. Looks like the weekend and maybe a week or two of some nice weather.

[Lil Giants]

Thanx Evan. I do like warmer weather. :)

[modelman]

Wow Joe- -30, I can't handle +30. I still am amazed every time I see how much dirt you have moved with your models. I like the 4th picture down in your last post. It really shows the amount of work you have done but all the pics are good. Also like the track loader filling the screen. Massive piles of dirt. Great job!!!

[RCLogger]

I sure like the looks of that scale art track loader Joe

Greg

[Lil Giants]

Funny thing is Tom, today's high was +5... what a change in temperature in just a couple days... 14 day forecast is just above or below freezing, my kind of winter. :) Using the track loader atop the pile was short lived, the dirt is a bit too damp yet plugging up the tracks. Sit & spin with the JD450 loading the screen, then use JD850 to pile more dirt infront of JD450.

Yes Greg, I like it too. Great performer. 1st I've used it in nearly 2yrs.

[Cooper]

Nice set up with the material and screen!! Looks like some good relaxing enjoyment!! Reminds me that I need to find some unfrozen material and deplete a few lipos !!

[RCTech9]

Hi Joe, Im glad to see some of the retired equipment was getting some use. How has your guy's winter been for snowfall? a few bis storms here in Western Nebraska, but i wished for more than that.

[Lil Giants]

Yes, good to get out of the mud!

Avg winter... couple wks of -20's with a couple feet of snow, followed by couple wks just above freezing to nearly melt it all away... 10day ago it snowed 3day straight a couple feet, then the wind blew it around a couple days to make some deep drifts... I didn't go outside for a week, travel through the tunnel out to the shop :D ...now it's been above freezing the last week & not much snow left.

[Hofabooz]

Hi Joe

Its all looking good on your construction site.
Glad your not snowed in anymore cannot be fun, well apart from focusing on your construction projects.:)

Thanks for posting updates

[Lil Giants]

Being storm stayed a week or more doesn't bother me at all, just keep track of the forecast & prepare in advance. ;)

This week's shop project was making a welding table...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/001_zpsjznnaqmh.jpg

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The table is 4 x 6 feet, top sheet is 3/16 thickness, I built it for building models. Sitting down to weld I'm steadier now with the tig, welding steel or aluminum is much easier. :)

Time to start making trls for the 4206. :)

[Lil Giants]

Made a new cage in aluminum for my JD850's rotary screener... the welds aint pretty, but it's not coming apart either :D What a difference in agility a few less lbs makes hanging out on the end of an out stretched boom :cool:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/002_zpsrs48mcsg.jpg

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Got a quick-tach coupler for my SA 963 & STahl WA500, plus 4 buckets & the U blade, plus an adapter for the Braeker lock for oem Stahl bucket. Mr Braeker sends out the necessary glue for the stainless steel, but I need to provide my degreaser as that's a hazardous goods that can't be sent in the mail.

In the shipment Mr Braeker sends a note that the instructions are provided in PDF on his website & gives a username & password to the buyer to access them. ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/009_zpsxwhzfmgr.jpg

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Mr Braeker's suggestion to use 120 grit to buff the stainless steel with before gluing & painting. ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/011_zps4fqgojjo.jpg

[Efroeh]

Those attachments look good. Which buckets did you go with? Also how was dealing with him and what kind of price was it to ship to Canada?

[avel]

I've been looking at those Braeker kits for awhile for the LR634. Primarily the aluminum bucket with the short "lip/bottom edge?" for more breakout force and having a lighter bucket.
Looking forward to hearing about your experience putting things together, and your tunneling operation.

[Lil Giants]

quick coupler for Stahl WA500
quick coupler for Scale Art 963
adapter plate for OEM Stahl bucket
leveling bucket L
loading bucket
XHD Rock Bucket L
HD Rock Bucket S
HD Abrasion U-Dozer Blade
Block Handling Fork Stainless Steel

Just sent him an email, he communicates well in english, shipping is cheap! 52,94 euro for 10kg box... shipping out of Europe is dirt cheap compared to anything from the USA... NAFTA is such a farce!

[Lil Giants]

I've been looking at those Braeker kits for awhile for the LR634. Primarily the aluminum bucket with the short "lip/bottom edge?" for more breakout force and having a lighter bucket.
Looking forward to hearing about your experience putting things together, and your tunneling operation.

Mr Braeker suggested the HD Rock Bucket S for the 963.

The tunnel is about done! ...what little is left I'll do in the summer when it's not so bitter cold... just finally feeling better as of today from a two week cold.

[Efroeh]

quick coupler for Stahl WA500
quick coupler for Scale Art 963
adapter plate for OEM Stahl bucket
leveling bucket L
loading bucket
XHD Rock Bucket L
HD Rock Bucket S
HD Abrasion U-Dozer Blade
Block Handling Fork Stainless Steel

Just sent him an email, he communicates well in english, shipping is cheap! 52,94 euro for 10kg box... shipping out of Europe is dirt cheap compared to anything from the USA... NAFTA is such a farce!

That's a nice list of goodies. Ya the NAFTA trade deal is bull. That's not too bad for shipping. How does the vat work for us Canadians?

[Lil Giants]

We don't pay any VAT, that's a european tax, but sometimes (depending on amount) you & I will pay our own pst & gst, although I wasn't charged anything on this parcel from Mr Braeker.

Built the two quick-tach couplers

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/001_zps3qsyu6tr.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/002_zpsdre7wozy.jpg

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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/007_zps6gqsrpyf.jpg

Then made the fork

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/008_zpsv2tlsvdo.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/009_zpslm45rduc.jpg

Then tried each quick-tach coupler with the fork to be sure everything works as it should. ;)

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It says in the instructions to not glue anything until all pieces are fitted together... well my clumsy fingers were having quite a time making that happen without pieces falling out of place, so I glued a few pieces in early steps... then discovered at the end why that was a bad idea. :eek: :rolleyes: ...a bit of trouble fitting the last piece of the puzzle, but I got er done with a bit of careful filing. ;)

The next quick-tach coupler went together much easier & I didn't glue nothing till every piece was in its place. ;)

A top quality product, buy with confidence. :cool:

Got some farming to do next couple days, build the buckets on the wkend.

[Efroeh]

Those look great. I wonder if the servo will interfere with anything as it seems to stick out a bit. I went on his website he must be using a small ram to lock it in. Looks good either way. Are you gonna be painting or getting them powdercoated?

[Lil Giants]

I'm sure he's got servo location figured out, these quick-tach couplers have been available for yrs, I've seen many of them in videos from all over the world. The hyd cyl is another option, if you wanna go to the added expense of adding an aux valve. No powder coater nearby. The quick-tack coupler I think I will leave stainless unpainted so the moving parts always move freely, won't paint the fork either. The buckets will be yellow, tape off the quick-tach area so the paint don't cause any problems with coupling.

[RCLogger]

Very impressive, gluing metal together, TO COOL ! Thanks for the information Joe..

Greg

[Lil Giants]

XHD Rock Bucket L.... about 2 hrs sanding, deburring, cleaning.... then 3hrs so far gluing, just a couple pieces left to fit & glue.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/001_zps1nfcxirt.jpg

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[tracksntreadslou]

Wow Joe looks good .curious to see how well the glue stands up..I wonder if there is a way of cleaning the adhesive off if needed ..sure if you wanted you could tig weld some spots .good to see you in the shop making stuff ..Like the new welding table ..will help to keep a good steady hand .
Hows is the weather co-operating .I may have to make another road tip there soon ..I will keep you posted

[doodlebug]

Wow Joe looks good .curious to see how well the glue stands up..I wonder if there is a way of cleaning the adhesive off if needed ..sure if you wanted you could tig weld some spots .good to see you in the shop making stuff ..Like the new welding table ..will help to keep a good steady hand .
Hows is the weather co-operating .I may have to make another road tip there soon ..I will keep you posted

Methel ethel keytone, should cut the glue, or heat it.
Cheers!

[Efroeh]

That bucket looks mean. I'm sure the glue will hold up well.

[Bo Wallen]

Great project going there. looking forward to see it in action.......crunch crunch video time maybe .........:D

[rc13]

Nice Job. It looks like you are on a mission to get those attachments built. Tobias has refined his laser cutting to reduce those burs. That helps a lot with time. Makes it much easier.
As for the questions about the glue holding, I have the same HD Bucket that I use on my 966 sometimes. It is as solid as can be. Loctite 435 is amazing.

[Lil Giants]

That's right Neil, in the instructions it says acetone will dissolve the glue, and if the metal glue nozzle blocks up, a quick bit of heat from a lighter will solve that. ;)

The sheets are 1 to 2mm thick, my tig skills need a lot of refining yet before I'd try tig'ing something as polished as these buckets Lou. :D The weather warmed up Tuesday to hi's of +5 or more, looks like it's sticking around awhile, hopefully for good... got a lot of work to do prior to seeding that's about 6wks away. :eek: Oh man, did I dogf/k the winter & didn't get much accomplished. :(

Bo, the way youtube has changed it's resolution settings, my old gopro looks blurry even with it's hidef setting @ 200mb/minute, my video posting days are pretty well done with just a wireless connection, too slow & too costly!

rc13 (forgot your name or maybe you haven't told me, can't remember :D) Yep! only couple wks left of winter hobby time, hopefully get all these buckets done by the wkend... grain hauling this week got postponed b/c of the sudden warm up to next week, hopefully my yards are dry then.

Finished up the XHD rock bucket L this morning

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/001_zpsorhj7jpu.jpg

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The brass bolt detail is glued in

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/002_zpsczwa79ml.jpg

Moving onto the XHD rock bucket S (this is for the Scale Art 963), the smaller sheet had a lot of splatter from the lazer cutting on one side, chewed up the orbiter sand pad a bit to get it buffed out. Wipe clean/degrease with acetone... twist the parts out... file where needed... start fitting pieces together... maybe by 5pm have another one done :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v150/protrker/Jan%2017/IMG_03571_zpshfyheqxm.jpg