Super Bendy 4x4 wheel horse

[meadowfield 2,570]

it's tight in there, but now the front cylinder is plumbed in

 

 

need to start the hitch next...

 

Edited May 1, 2018 by meadowfield

[meadowfield 2,570]

A bit more work...

[meadowfield 2,570]

and a video

 

 

[peter lena 8,580]

your bombproof chassis mounting points will make that tractor move without effort, good going, pete

[19richie66 17,500]

Nice beefy bit there. Waiting to see what you have in your head for the rest. Trying to picture it but a bit foggy. 

[Mudrig150 298]

Not to ressurect an old thread, but is the project finished or not? The build thread just... ended.

[Stormin 9,981]

Yes, it's finished.

 

[Stormin 9,981]

[Mudrig150 298]

Looks pretty sweet!

[meadowfield 2,570]

theres more...  quite a few changes - plus I broke it the other night!  watch this space.

[meadowfield 2,570]

here's a few pics from the last year. Bendy gets used pretty exclusively with a half ton dump trailer. 

 

It's been worked hard and been pretty reliable apart from the other night....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 24, 2020 by meadowfield

[Pullstart 62,784]

So..... what broke?  Awesome pics!

[peter lena 8,580]

terrific job on that !  what ever broke, is the result of you being  able  to overuse what ever you designed in to it. without a doubt you will see / find the failure point and make it  much better . your mechanical views are very interesting , and very functional . you will correct and detail the problem away ,  making that failure point , one of  the best features of the tractor,  you can quote me on that . your work reflects your intent, pete

[meadowfield 2,570]

Just realised I never continued.... things went awry here as work stopped and life changed...

 

 

the connecting link on the chain for the rear drive snapped! 
 

on a hard climb uphill but fortunately I was empty. Front wheel drive is useless on this thing so I had a mile and a half drive back on a surface road home. 
 

easy fix and bendy was soon back out on duty

 

however a few weeks later the handbrake failed to hold with 1/2 ton in the dump trailer

 

 

Fortunately I was at the side and could only watch it slide into the stream. 

 

the rear frame is twisted, and the centre coupling took the brunt of the jack knife. The dump trailer and rear hitch were the life saver as otherwise it could have been worse!
 

 

[Pullstart 62,784]

I’m sure it’ll be working better than ever when you’re back up and running Mark!

[meadowfield 2,570]

After pushing my luck and working it behind its means, it’s time to sort the niggles. As ingenious as the connection between front and rear is, there are a few issues. 
1. The belts get wet and slip.

2. They get grass trapped in them

3. The axle tilt puts strain on the crossshaft.

 

so time for a strip down and rethink... its been running for over five years, so not too bad. I think running with 1/2 ton in a trailer has taken it beyond its limit.

 

fender off

 

 

pulley full of grass

 

 

  3 point removed.

 

tomorrow I’ll split the two halves and work on a plan....

 

[kasey54 305]

Alright I'll be following.!

[Stormin 9,981]

Ever thought of hydraulic drive, Mark?

[953 nut 55,065]

Here is a blast from the past.      

Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to make the world's first bionic man. Steve Austin will be that man. Better than he was before. Better... stronger... faster

 

[meadowfield 2,570]

4 hours ago, Stormin said:

Ever thought of hydraulic drive, Mark?

 

yes, but too easy - I  like a challenge. Using the original transmission is more authentic too.

[meadowfield 2,570]

Centre coupling still as smooth as when it was made.

 

 

 

 

rear end dropped

 

 

remaining bit very well balanced

[meadowfield 2,570]

Today’s update, the centre coupling gets a makeover.
 

firstly the design is changing which means it needs 1” spherical bearings in the middle. No 1-3/8” hole saw so had to improvise.

 

 

rear end now floats in a different way, the fall had damaged it and it wasn’t easily repairable.

 

 

so now the floating rear end is welded up.

 

 

and the task of changing the driveline to longitudinal starts...

 

 

35 mins with a hole saw.

 

 

mock up of rear end as I plan it to be...

 

 

still a way to go!

 

 

[meadowfield 2,570]

latest...

 

I can't get hold of small mower deck shafts or the like, so had to make one from a car steering column.

 

 

Gearbox in place now, just chain to add and tension.

 

 

 

[oilwell1415 563]

It looks like you may even be lucky enough to use a preexisting tab on the side of the case for a chain tensioner.

[meadowfield 2,570]

6 hours ago, oilwell1415 said:

It looks like you may even be lucky enough to use a preexisting tab on the side of the case for a chain tensioner.

The rear 90deg box slides to adjust so no plan to chain tension. Plus the tab has had to go to fit the chain...