Tracked Wood Hauling ATV project...

[Lapeer20m]

My beloved honey badger suffered a catastrophic failure: The primary clutch broke. A replacement is between $250-300 on ebay.





I have been toying with the idea of converting the machine to hydraulic drive since i first purchased it. Now is the time.

I will document the progress below.

 

[Lapeer20m]

The plan is to completely remove the stock powertrain and put a kawasaki engine and hydraulic drive system from a commercial zero turn mower in it's place. I think the new hydro setup will be slower than the current system, but steering and maneuverability will be significantly improved.

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

That's a nice toy....

 

[HybridFyre]

haha woah that thing is ridiculous

 

[tcassavaugh]

I want one! reminds me of a snow cat. its so cool. 250-300 doesn't sound that bad....especially to get a part to repair such a unique item.

 

[Jags]

I would be concerned that the Zero turn running gear won't be robust enough for reliability. They really aren't designed as a traction engine drive train like what you are dealing with. I can imagine the machine alone is getting close to 1000#. Add another 1000 for hauling or pulling and my first knee jerk reaction would be - you are gonna barf parts in the long run.
But full disclosure - I over build everything I do.

 

[CenterTree]

I would be concerned that the Zero turn running gear won't be robust enough for reliability. They really aren't designed as a traction engine drive train like what you are dealing with....

But doesn't a Bobcat ( and similar) skid-steer machine use hydraulics? Those produce a lot of "traction" and have decent amount of weight.

Agree that a system from a Z mower may not be enough though.

 

[razerface]

But doesn't a Bobcat ( and similar) skid-steer machine use hydraulics? Those produce a lot of "traction" and have decent amount of weight.

Agree that a system from a Z mower may not be enough though.

Even the smallest hyd system in the smallest bobcat would whup on any mower system.

 

[shmodaddy]

sub'd for outcome

 

[CenterTree]

Even the smallest hyd system in the smallest bobcat would whup on any mower system.

Exactly what I mean.

 

[greg13]

But doesn't a Bobcat ( and similar) skid-steer machine use hydraulics? Those produce a lot of "traction" and have decent amount of weight.

Agree that a system from a Z mower may not be enough though.

Skidsteers run 2 hydraulic drive motors & 2 hydraulic pumps. you will need a motor in the area of 60hp to power everything. I would bet close to 1000 pounds of drive & power.

Greg

 

[wahoowad]

absolutely badass. Looks like something Vladimer Putin invented

 

[jrems]

That's pretty cool. I'll see if I can find the video, but a guy I knew put a diesel jet engine in a car that ran a large hydraulic pump. Removed the Original engine, but put an adapter plate to mount the hydraulic motor to the original transmission. It had so much torque you could start moving in 5th gear.

 

[D8Chumley]

That is badass! Also subscribing for the outcome. I'd love to have one of those... If I had too much money, which I don't. How much do they go for anyways?

 

[Firewood Bandit]

Sounds like the $300 for a replacement part would be far cheaper and easier than what you have planned. I too don't think the hydro motors you have in mind will have the correct torque for your application. It doesn't take a lot to make a mower move and zero turns are more made for speed.

 

[Flatbedford]

Interesting...

 

[Lapeer20m]

Only 537 hours on the machine according to the meter.



here she is with most of the primary removed...




Apparently to own a PPT you also need to purchase a front end loader......or in this case a backhoe....



A couple photos of the underside while it's up in the air....

 

[Lapeer20m]

It took almost no time to remove the engine......



Spent a few more hours and the stubborn drivetrane cradle just wouldn't budge.....



I hope to have the drivetrane out tomorrow, and perhaps mock up the new hydro's.

 

[Flatbedford]

You have too many big toys!

 

[Lapeer20m]

As far as the hydro setup, if i didn't think there was a reasonable chance for success i wouldn't put the effort into the conversion. I know that hydraulic drive works in this application, i just don't know if these particular hydraulic components are well suited to this particular setup.

The big reason for the swap is that the original drive setup has never functioned correctly since i've had the machine in spite of my constant fiddling and adjusting. Plus it consists of certian components that i likely could not purchase when/if they fail.

If the hydro swap does not work, I plan to restore the original drive setup with the parts i can find while it is out of the vehicle and accessible.

the hydro system consists of two sets of pump/motors. One variable flow pump (i don't know the technical term) connected to each hydraulic motor. The pump has a built in valve that controls the speed/direction of the motor.

This setup will allow the machine to go from forward to reverse without having to stop to change gears. it should also provide surgical precision when steering.

The honey badger final drive is chain driven. This means that i can simply change the drive sprocket in order to allow the hydraulic motor to give the drive sprocket the appropriate amount of torque. More torque = less speed.

One thing i am not sure of is the existence of a pressure relief in the system. If, for instance, the hydraulic motor was unable to turn because the resistance was too great, would a pressure relief valve open, would the housing of a pump/motor suffer a catastrophic failure, or would the motor simply stop turning and nothing would be damaged?

 

[BobUrban]

WOW -that is really cool. I work in Lapeer often and would love to see in action sometime.

 

[Lapeer20m]

WOW -that is really cool. I work in Lapeer often and would love to see in action sometime.

If it works you are welcome to come check it out (that's my ploy to have help processing firewood lol)

 

[Jags]

Do you have a specific system in mind? Make/model of drivetrain? If you did, you could probably pull up specs to see what kind of torque you are dealing with. If I remember correctly (and that is not guaranteed), I think the gas converted to hydraulic is accepted as a 20% loss.

 

[bigbarf48]

That thing is AWESOME! Did you build it or buy it?

 

[Lapeer20m]

Do you have a specific system in mind? Make/model of drivetrain? If you did, you could probably pull up specs to see what kind of torque you are dealing with. If I remember correctly (and that is not guaranteed), I think the gas converted to hydraulic is accepted as a 20% loss.

I appreciate your input and expertise. I should probably listen to you and save myself a lot of trouble......

Unfortunately i was not able to work on the project at all today......

The setup is from a bunton commercial walk behind mower I bought brand new almost 20 years ago. I do not have the specific make/model number of the hydros or even the specific size. Obviously lawn mower manufactures dont make their own hydraulics, they just bolt things together. It's engineered to pull a sulky with a person on it, plus the weight of the machine itself, combined nearly 750 pounds I would estimate.

Here is a similar pump, it's 10cc/revolution.

http://www.surpluscenter.com/Hydrau...-CU-IN-HYDROGEAR-PUMP-10CC-PG-1HCA-9-8052.axd

The motors are cast iron.



I've used it to pull trailers, skid logs, blow snow, and mow grass.

The mower drive tires are about 12" in diameter while the honey badger drive sprockets are 8" in diameter. Geared at a 1:1 ratio the hydros adapted to the honey badger would already produce significantly more torque at the final drive because of this smaller diameter, there would also be corresponding slower top end speed. Here is the final drive sprocket inside the honey badger with what looks like #25 roller chain? Wiki indicates that #25 has a tensile strength of about 750 pounds.



Top speed of the mower is an estimated 10mph (faster than I can run) but the controls were adjusted to only allow the machine to travel at a brisk walking speed.

Since honey badger is "down for maintenance" i had to use the backhoe to move firewood today.