Excavator/crane radio setup?

[SmallHaul]

Originally Posted by Lil Giants

Leimbach has this 2x 6ch device that'll allow you do that Scott. But then you can't "walk" up a steep hill using the arm with the tracks. Using a radio with proportional sliders between the sticks is ideal.

I could leave the right stick out of the harness and I would only have to flip the switch temporarily if I need to rotate the boom while driving. Where is the best place to buy this?


lft stk up/dwn = boom
across= swing
rht stk up/dwn = stick
across = bucket

This is how I have mine setup as well.

[SmallHaul]

Actually the more I think about it, I could just have a servo activated switch setup as a "Y" to just the servo ground wires and use my 5th channel to select which servos have power when I need them. That way I could run the boom, rotate, drive & steer all from the left stick. I am thinking I might need the bucket to help pull me up hills.

[Jared]

Originally Posted by SmallHaul

Actually the more I think about it, I could just have a servo activated switch setup as a "Y" to just the servo ground wires and use my 5th channel to select which servos have power when I need them. That way I could run the boom, rotate, drive & steer all from the left stick. I am thinking I might need the bucket to help pull me up hills.

Sounds like a good idea to me. I've been racking my brain on this one for a while, too. I was thinking the easiest/cheapest way might be to just get another 2 channel radio for the undercarriage but I like your idea much better. I think I'll rip it off if and when I build mine.

Most crane/draglines don't have independent swing and travel so you wouldn't be losing anything as far as realism goes. On the other hand, it would drive me nuts to have to run a 1:1 excavator without being able to travel and use all the other functions at the same time.

How are you planning to drive the tracks? My idea was to bury servos inside the carbody under the swing circle with sprockets on them sticking out either side and running chains back to the drive tumblers.

[SmallHaul]

Originally Posted by Jared

Sounds like a good idea to me. I've been racking my brain on this one for a while, too. I was thinking the easiest/cheapest way might be to just get another 2 channel radio for the undercarriage but I like your idea much better. I think I'll rip it off if and when I build mine.

Most crane/draglines don't have independent swing and travel so you wouldn't be losing anything as far as realism goes. On the other hand, it would drive me nuts to have to run a 1:1 excavator without being able to travel and use all the other functions at the same time.

How are you planning to drive the tracks? My idea was to bury servos inside the carbody under the swing circle with sprockets on them sticking out either side and running chains back to the drive tumblers.

When I get more parts in I'll decide on the drive source. I am thinking either small 200:1 (or more) all metal geared motors or a metal geared servo for each track.