John Deere 744k Wheel loader

[mkerkovius]

This is my first build that I started working on a few months ago with basically zero experience working with metal. Sorry for the bad quality pics, they were taken from my phone. My idea is to have lots of weight for more traction. The front part of the main frame is built from a mix of 14 gauge steel and 12 gauge steel with everything being tacked together with a mig welder, and then finished off by brazing. The hood is made out of 14 gauge steel, and just soldered together as it does not require the same strength that the frame does, it still needs many more details and parts to be finished. The base plate for the cab is made from a solid piece of 1/2 inch steel, and still needs a door and windows to be made. The pieces for the boom have been cut out and need to be attached together, I'm not quite sure how to do this yet as aluminum seems to be very difficult to weld. The tubes for the hydraulic cylinders have been roughly cut, they still need to be finished to exact length, and I am waiting for some reamers to arrive so that the bores can be made. I hope you enjoy the pictures, and if you have any advice it would certainly be appreciated.
4380

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[mkerkovius]

4385

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[Acadieman]

Good work! Looking forward to seeing more progress pics.

[woodhog]

Looks like a good start:D.I started converting a precision 544j and gave up because of the size difference . I have owned a 1:1 544j and a 544k and have run 2 different 744h . I love deere machines and look for ward to your progress . ;)

[Blender]

That looks great! I was shocked to see the cylinders already started.

[doodlebug]

Great start! Have you considered Muggy Weld on the aluminum parts?
https://www.muggyweld.com/
Cheers, Neil.

[mkerkovius]

Ok, I'll check it out, thanks Neil!

[Espeefan]

Sweet. Something totally different in a sea of Caterpillar and Komatsu machines. Looking forward to seeing the progress you make with it.

[Ramon]

Nice work mate, keep the photos coming.

[mkerkovius]

When building the hydraulic cylinders, what do you guys use to solder/braze them together with? soft solder, or a good silver braze? They will be running at about 20-25 bar of pressure.

[mkerkovius]

So it's been a while since I've last checked in. I have been lurking maybe once a week on here for the last 3 years as I have been super busy with University during this time but recently I have been able to get a lot of work done on this thing! There have been some significant changes made to some of the early pieces such as the boom now being made from steel rather than aluminum, and all new hydraulic cylinders.
Boom made in steel
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b424/mikekerk/20160923_221129_zpstazxscmq.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/mikekerk/media/20160923_221129_zpstazxscmq.jpg.html)
top cap, it gets fitted with an o-ring for a seal and a dust wiper
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b424/mikekerk/20170212_220932_zps5nffelam.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/mikekerk/media/20170212_220932_zps5nffelam.jpg.html)
the top cap fits into a sleeve which is soldered to the brass cylinder tube. It gets bolted down with 8 m1.6 hex cap screws
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b424/mikekerk/20170212_220959_zpsfshcxs9p.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/mikekerk/media/20170212_220959_zpsfshcxs9p.jpg.html)
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b424/mikekerk/20170212_221012_zpsono09xnw.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/mikekerk/media/20170212_221012_zpsono09xnw.jpg.html)
Bottom cap/plug of cylinder, it gets soldered in
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b424/mikekerk/20170212_220919_zpsz94q8ape.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/mikekerk/media/20170212_220919_zpsz94q8ape.jpg.html)
This cylinder served as the tester for proof of concept. The rod used is 8mm hard chrome plated
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b424/mikekerk/20170212_221207_zpsrimea3u9.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/mikekerk/media/20170212_221207_zpsrimea3u9.jpg.html)
All cylinders completed and ready to be painted
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b424/mikekerk/20160923_221028_zpshqskrv1b.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/mikekerk/media/20160923_221028_zpshqskrv1b.jpg.html)
Next up the axles were machined. I chose to machine them from free machining aluminum purely due to the small amount of time to machine as compared to steel. I have used the "flexaxle" differential gears kit from AFVmodell for these along with their wheels and tires.
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b424/mikekerk/20160923_221039_zpsxyk5i8kp.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/mikekerk/media/20160923_221039_zpsxyk5i8kp.jpg.html)
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b424/mikekerk/20160923_221034_zps0w1ippm4.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/mikekerk/media/20160923_221034_zps0w1ippm4.jpg.html)
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b424/mikekerk/20160923_221006_zpscygczcpi.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/mikekerk/media/20160923_221006_zpscygczcpi.jpg.html)
I decided to put the pieces together to see how its going to look when assembled
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b424/mikekerk/20160912_203006_zpsyhpwxchu.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/mikekerk/media/20160912_203006_zpsyhpwxchu.jpg.html)
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b424/mikekerk/20160827_220723_zpsc0gtge9x.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/mikekerk/media/20160827_220723_zpsc0gtge9x.jpg.html)
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b424/mikekerk/20160827_210810_zpsudp6df15.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/mikekerk/media/20160827_210810_zpsudp6df15.jpg.html)
parts cleaned, bead blasted and ready for paint
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b424/mikekerk/20160923_221000_zps28mtsdp4.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/mikekerk/media/20160923_221000_zps28mtsdp4.jpg.html)
paint and plumbing done!!
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b424/mikekerk/20170212_220537_zpse8e7dvx9.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/mikekerk/media/20170212_220537_zpse8e7dvx9.jpg.html)
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b424/mikekerk/20170212_220407_zps9u47wtnq.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/mikekerk/media/20170212_220407_zps9u47wtnq.jpg.html)
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b424/mikekerk/20170212_220306_zpskgn61kec.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/mikekerk/media/20170212_220306_zpskgn61kec.jpg.html)
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b424/mikekerk/20170212_220559_zps7uorhphx.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/mikekerk/media/20170212_220559_zps7uorhphx.jpg.html)
plenty of articulation on the rear axle
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b424/mikekerk/20170212_220100_zpsrrxhttj6.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/mikekerk/media/20170212_220100_zpsrrxhttj6.jpg.html)
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b424/mikekerk/20170212_215752_zpsqa9thhgf.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/mikekerk/media/20170212_215752_zpsqa9thhgf.jpg.html)
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b424/mikekerk/20170212_215757_zps4rq0twsc.jpg (http://s1042.photobucket.com/user/mikekerk/media/20170212_215757_zps4rq0twsc.jpg.html)

I have since managed to wire everything up and have tested tested it, unfortunately no video yet :( . I have discovered a few issues, such as the steering cylinders being hooked up so that they both push/pull the same direction at the same time, haha oops!!. The drive also has only enough power to drive it on flat concrete and not much else. I have extracted a motor from an old drill that will be much more powerful and have yet to fit it in.
Thanks for looking!

Mike

[kerst]

Very nice!

Kerst

[RCLogger]

Nice job on the build. Looking forward to some video when you get the new motor in it. What hyd pump are you running ? You will have a lot of fun moving dirt with it when completed.

Greg

[trucker n]

Nice job on the build. Looking forward to some video when you get the new motor in it. What hyd pump are you running ? You will have a lot of fun moving dirt with it when completed.

Greg

greg that pump is from mangom hrc

[skeeter]

Any updates on this beautiful project?