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Stupid simple engine/frame options

SHARPMACHINE

Web Wheeler
Joined
May 20, 2020
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646
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315
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Mitten
Guy on a local board has built a simple rig for utility use. Has my adhd kicking in. Thought I would see if anyone wanted to throw out ideas for something like this?


He took an old willys rolling frame and installed a side shaft engine. Kinda like an adult go cart. So, I was thinking, how about a similar frame build? I would prefer something that was built a little different (obviously personal preference etc.) and a larger engine from a motorcycle or something?.

What does irate think?

www.greatlakes4x4.com

1946 Willys Doodlebug

Here ya go Jim, I'll post up something I slapped together this year. I wanted a gator, but didn't want to pay for one. I had a 46 willys drivetrain and frame lying around that I picked up for $250. so queue the home depot theme song. Picked up a set of 35s on 15" rims for $50, one needed a...
www.greatlakes4x4.com www.greatlakes4x4.com

Thanks
 
Super duty part outs are happening constantly. The frame and axles can usually be had for between 800 and 1500...i have one waiting to go under a cab and LS sitting in my yard, i think i paid 1k for... not sure you want something that big, but it's a start.
 
Something like that makes sense if you have everything laying around and over a beer with your buddies decide it’s to easy. Slap it together and laugh your heads off at how fun it is for what was a useless pile of junk.

If you gotta source everything you need to build one i bet it costs more than it’s worth.
 
I was going to do something similar with a beat to shit ATV I've had laying around but I could never bring myself to actually spend money buying the rest of the materials needed. Like JR said, if you've got all/most the shit laying around and the only real investment is a few hours and some welding consumables it's one thing. If it's gonna cost a lot of money and time to create, used utility quad or Mule will do all the same work.
 
I have contemplated building something like this from parts I have around.

Using an old mower: Vertical shaft engine, to its transaxle, turned sideways to act as a transfer case. Driveshafts down to sami axles. Probly use leaf springs or 1 links to keep it cheap. Might even use the mower frame as the base, since it has the mounts, steering, and seat already.
 
I mean that’s not bad. Should have left the tube work on it and put 4 or 6 seats in it.
 
ParadisePWoffrd said:
I have contemplated building something like this from parts I have around.

Using an old mower: Vertical shaft engine, to its transaxle, turned sideways to act as a transfer case. Driveshafts down to sami axles. Probly use leaf springs or 1 links to keep it cheap. Might even use the mower frame as the base, since it has the mounts, steering, and seat already.
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I want to do that but using front axles out of a kubota or some other baby tractor.
 
SLOWPOKE693 said:
That would be cool. You could make it 4WS easy enough too. :smokin:
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That’s my thought. Sort of a mad max utility wagon. I have no idea what the gearing is in any of that so put it together and if it’s too slow put taller tires on. Mowers are cheap. Haven’t run across a good source for little matched tractor axles though.
 
Gbkeith said:
That’s my thought. Sort of a mad max utility wagon. I have no idea what the gearing is in any of that so put it together and if it’s too slow put taller tires on. Mowers are cheap. Haven’t run across a good source for little matched tractor axles though.
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I’ve been trying for years to find new Holland tractor front axles and always come up empty handed. I have a complete running tractor with portals on the front axle.

E1BD8C7A-2A13-4BCA-8633-A43B8D7677A1.jpeg
 
JR4X said:
I’ve been trying for years to find new Holland tractor front axles and always come up empty handed. I have a complete running tractor with portals on the front axle.

E1BD8C7A-2A13-4BCA-8633-A43B8D7677A1.jpeg
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I drive by these guys twice a day. Have been there many times.

Farm Tractor Parts Online | Used Tractor Parts for Sale

Farmland Tractor brings you a huge selection of new aftermarket, used, and remanufactured farm tractor parts for sale. This is a one stop shop for all your aftermarket tractor parts. Shop now!
www.farmlandtractor.com www.farmlandtractor.com
 
JR4X said:
I’ve been trying for years to find new Holland tractor front axles and always come up empty handed. I have a complete running tractor with portals on the front axle.

E1BD8C7A-2A13-4BCA-8633-A43B8D7677A1.jpeg
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It was an old blue Ford 1920 that gave me the idea. They made a ton of them, and now between kubota, Mahindra, Kioti, and everything else there should be a pile of axles someplace.
 
Gbkeith said:
It was an old blue Ford 1920 that gave me the idea. They made a ton of them, and now between kubota, Mahindra, Kioti, and everything else there should be a pile of axles someplace.
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Wengers of Meyerstown has them for a "mere" $2500 each:
www.wengers.com

FO FRT AXLE 4X4 COMP 1920 @

Front Axle 4x4 Comp. Part No. SBA322051450.A/S. Condition: Used. Get your tractor parts at Wengers!
www.wengers.com www.wengers.com


Aaron Z
 
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Muckin_Slusher said:
Inspiration (and for anyone who's never seen an M274).

Portals, 4 wheel steer, and a tilting steering wheel so you can drive while walking beside it.

82916dc6-348c-4f0d-9407-3b62d4d6ac22-01222018-cropped-M274A4.jpg
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That’s pretty close to what I had in mind. I was thinking leave the center swivel on the front axle and maybe leaves or rubber blocks on the back.
 
Gbkeith said:
I’m going to have to keep looking. I had more of an arse sideways sort of approach in mind.
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Hence the "mere" in my post. Probably cheaper to pickup a pair of tractors with bad motors/transmissions for cheap and part them out.
Or, if you could live without portals, perhaps a pair of Samurai front axles?

Aaron Z
 
aczlan said:
Hence the "mere" in my post. Probably cheaper to pickup a pair of tractors with bad motors/transmissions for cheap and part them out.
Or, if you could live without portals, perhaps a pair of Samurai front axles?

Aaron Z
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I’ve been living without one at all, so samurai axles would do. Portals would be so much cooler though.

Edit-I’m pretty sure I acquired a samurai in my aunt’s divorce because I don’t think anybody but me remembers where he parked it.
 
I had been toying with something similar, I ended up just buying/building a (fairly badass) golf cart as it fits my actual current needs better. Will likely revisit the utility vehicle thing when I actually find some land to buy.

I wanted something small but heavy and heavy duty enough to do some real work. Roughly 60” wide and 9’ long, with a front seat and a flat bed that a rear seat could go on. Was looking at a pair of Predator 13 hp engines, one to drive the thing via a torque converter and a manual transmission, and one to power a hydraulic pump.

An SM465 has a 6.55:1 granny gear with a 1:1 top end, plus a PTO I’d run a tractor style generator head off of.


I calculated with 4.10 gears and 30” tires just leaving it in 3rd gear would run 3-15 mph via the torque convertor, plus not needing to use a manual clutch.

The hydraulic pump could run a small mower for keeping trails maintained, a log splitter, 3pt hitch with a box blade or carry all lift platform, dump bed, etc. I’d want air bags on the rear so you could haul a load with it and not have a crazy rough ride.
 
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Gatorgrizz27 said:
I had been toying with something similar, I ended up just buying/building a (fairly badass) golf cart as it fits my actual current needs better. Will likely revisit the utility vehicle thing when I actually find some land to buy.

I wanted something small but heavy and heavy duty enough to do some real work. Roughly 60” wide and 9’ long, with a front seat and a flat bed that a rear seat could go on. Was looking at a pair of Predator 13 hp engines, one to drive the thing via a torque converter and a manual transmission, and one to power a hydraulic pump.

An SM465 has a 6.55:1 granny gear with a 1:1 top end, plus a PTO I’d run a tractor style generator head off of.


I calculated with 4.10 gears and 30” tires just leaving it in 3rd gear would run 3-15 mph via the torque convertor, plus not needing to use a manual clutch.

The hydraulic pump could run a small mower for keeping trails maintained, a log splitter, 3pt hitch with a box blade or carry all lift platform, dump bed, etc. I’d want air bags on the rear so you could haul a load with it and not have a crazy rough ride.
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Right now I’m thinking just do it all hydraulic. Engine turns a pump, pump turns motors mounted to the diffs, steers, and runs a tilt bed, winch, whatever.
 
Gbkeith said:
Right now I’m thinking just do it all hydraulic. Engine turns a pump, pump turns motors mounted to the diffs, steers, and runs a tilt bed, winch, whatever.
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I‘m not a hydraulics expert but from rough calculations you need a substantial sized engine to run a large enough pump to get a reasonable speed. Think hi flow skid steer. The thing doesn’t have to be a rocket but it you need to drive 1/2 mile to the neighbor’s place to pick something up or give them a hand I’d like it to be able to do 15mph or better, 25 mph on a smooth road would be ideal.

If you want suspension and 4wd it’s even less beneficial, I don’t want to mess with chains. I have considered articulated hydraulic steering, but that would require my 2 engine idea to run both of them all the time. I like the thought of one if you’re just driving around/hauling a load, and crank the other one up when you need to do actual work.

I don’t believe that’s going to happen with a 22 hp Predator engine, it’s the gearing that makes it possible.
 
Gatorgrizz27 said:
I‘m not a hydraulics expert but from rough calculations you need a substantial sized engine to run a large enough pump to get a reasonable speed. Think hi flow skid steer. The thing doesn’t have to be a rocket but it you need to drive 1/2 mile to the neighbor’s place to pick something up or give them a hand I’d like it to be able to do 15mph or better, 25 mph on a smooth road would be ideal.

If you want suspension and 4wd it’s even less beneficial, I don’t want to mess with chains. I have considered articulated hydraulic steering, but that would require my 2 engine idea to run both of them all the time. I like the thought of one if you’re just driving around/hauling a load, and crank the other one up when you need to do actual work.

I don’t believe that’s going to happen with a 22 hp Predator engine, it’s the gearing that makes it possible.
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I’m not saying this is happening anytime soon, but I’ve got an old boom lift with an air cooled Deutz that does nothing but turn a hydraulic pump. Boom, wiring, and controls are completely shot, but the engine and pump work.
 
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