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Jeff Hahne
New member
Username: Quiethorse
Post Number: 6
Registered: 02-2005
Posted From: 72.160.69.72
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 18, 2006 - 10:33 pm: | 
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I am definitely not an engineer but I do spend a lot of time daydreaming about building stuff and lately I've been pretty interested in these AATV's. I have some ideas for building a machine that I wanted to run by you guys. I searched this forum to try and find my answers before posting but I couldn't seem to find them so if this information has already been covered please just direct me to those posts.
I've read several posts on hydraulic driven machines and it seems that the general consensus is that people don't like them. The main concern seems to be that the machine wouldn't be very fast. I'm not interested in going fast so that wouldn't be a deterrent for me.
What do you guys think about using hydrostatic transmission out of a garden tractor. I see them for sale on eBay all the time for just over $100. There are also garden tractor engines fairly cheap on eBay. For example I just looked at and 18.5 horsepower Kohler courage for $300. Garden tractors are set up with a vertical shaft engine. There is a pulley attached to the shaft and a V belt that runs back to a pulley that is on top of the hydrostatic transmission. The hydrostatic transmissions have a differential in them. Would it be possible to mount some individual disk brakes on each of the rear drive wheels to control steering?
What do you guys think about this idea? |
Kyle Barnett
New member
Username: 6x6beast
Post Number: 1
Registered: 06-2006
Posted From: 71.114.188.7
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 19, 2006 - 08:09 pm: |
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When designed correctly, hydraulics should be an 'upgrade' from your typical mechanical drives. In other words, make this system work for you with little or no compromise. With hydraulics, you need to think outside the box. The possibilities are endless. For example, hydraulics are known to be slower only because most of them are built for torque. But just like any gear or pulley, the size can be adjusted for speeds dependant on personal preference.
Is your concept's weight and intended capacities similar to the garden tractor? Think about tire size too. I'm not sure where you plan to operate and with what kind of loads, but I would assume that finding your setup's max won't prove to difficult. I don't mean to sound negative in any manner. I enjoy hydraulics and like to see systems able to give 100% giving 100%. Where you thinking of running chains to the other axles? |
Chuck McGhee
Intermediate Member
Username: Chuck_050382
Post Number: 74
Registered: 01-2006
Posted From: 12.170.193.98
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, October 20, 2006 - 08:28 am: |
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I think with the type of trans axle he is talking about using he would have to run chains.
It sounds like the setup he is talking about would be a lot like an Argo with the hydraulic transaxle in place of the Argo Geared transmision.
In my experiance with these hydraulic transaxles I don't believe that it would produce the torque needed to drive a 6x6, let alone skid steer correctly.
If I was going to build a hydraulic machine, I would build it like the Hydro Traxx, with independent hyraulic motors on each wheel. That would allow for full Zero Degree turning. |
John G. Herman
New member
Username: Johnnygeep
Post Number: 2
Registered: 10-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - 09:16 pm: |
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Hi Jeff,
I am new to all this but my thought was to use two of those hydrostatic transmissions, one for each side to drive the chains. No need for brakes and can get zero turn by reversing one side. No idea how this would work but...??? Was looking at the Triton website, seems like they do something like that but I can't get any response from them. Are they still in business? Finally, thinking about the Hydro Traxx Hydraulic drive....they have several hydraulicly driven options... wonder if they every considered a PTO to drive a propeller? |
Jeff bar
Member
Username: Argo8x8
Post Number: 43
Registered: 03-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 11, 2007 - 08:30 pm: |
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John You may want to check out the Hydrotrax for sale on the ad section of this site
Jeff Bar |
Homebuilt, Custom AATV's and Trailers