Self propelled front loader
#1
I know I'm all over the place with different projects but I've been thinking of the idea for quite a while. Seeing how king's material (and many other businesses) will use a front end loader to push/pull cars into certain spots for loading and unloading I'd like to attempt to use this same operation. I'm thinking of using a promotex front loader...
[Image: image_zps2ce9f39d.jpg]


And mounting it to a bachmann hi-rail frame...
[Image: image_zps654f6057.jpg]

The wheel base I think is pretty similar and the hi-rail seems relatively flat plus it has head/tail lights which would look pretty cool. Im just not sure of which wheels are the electrical pick ups, I'm assuming the black truck wheels are and the hi rail wheels are for detail? Am I crazy or could this work??
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#2
AFAIK the black wheels are pick-up and the hi-rail wheels are decorative - BUT your main problem will be the different size of the truck wheels compared to the Loader which will (should?) be much bigger - so unless you mount the truckweels lower and off-center to the loader ones it won't work - and if you do that will it look OK?
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#3
I was thinking the same thing, if the truck wheels stayed on the inside of the loader wheels I was thinking of some sort of belt system that would turn the loader wheels as the truck wheels turn making it look like they were on the ground moving the loader but I also don't know where the loader wheels will end up if it's centered on the tracks. I think it might be something I need to see to figure out, if it doesn't work well then I now have a front loader and a hi rail Icon_lol
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#4
If the loader tires actually sit on top of the rails which I kind of think is what will happen, I'm thinking I can split the tire where it lays on the rail and create and inner metal wheel with a flange for electrical pick up then put the two halves of the tire back together. Does anyone have some insight on what type of metal I should use that is thin and can be bent and probably soldered and where can I buy some?

I found a video of the type of front loader operation I'm talking about.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XAN9axwwFBQ">http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XAN9axwwFBQ</a><!-- m -->
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#5
My thought would be to find a set of locomotive drive wheels....or a set of large diameter, steam loco, trailing wheels....and reconstruct the front loader tires around them.
If the front loader is "riding on concrete ( rails recessed )", perhaps small, "retractable", "leading and trailing wheels" could be used as "electrical pick-up /guide" wheels.
(( a vehicle, like that Bachmann truck, would have normal tires, and guide wheels to keep it on the rails. ))
If your front loader wheels are wide set enough to run outside the rails, you could hide the "pick-up wheels", or "contacts" just inside the rubber tires, where they couldn't be that well seen.
We always learn far more from our own mistakes, than we will ever learn from another's advice.
The greatest place to live life, is on the sharp leading edge of a learning curve.
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#6
Sumpter thats a good idea with the steam wheels I didnt think of that, I was actually thinking O scale wheels that I could modify but HO steam wheels makes more sense. I ordered the loader so when I get it ill take a look at it and see where it ends up on the tracks. It will be used on recessed tracks but I dont want it to look like MOW/hi-rail equipment, if i need to do it that way well then I guess I have no choice but I want to try to keep the illusion of the tires on the ground actually doing the work. I hope the loader wheels are wider then the rails and could hide the bachmann truck wheels or replace them with steam wheels, right behind the loader tires.
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#7
Don't forget that increasing the size of the truck wheels will also increase the speed and will make it less slow-speed control-able
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#8
I just paid a visit to the Bachmann website and I found something that maybe of interest to those contemplating such a kitbashing project.

If you look up the Parts, Information and Service icon you will find a listing of most of the current offerings from bachmann including the above Hi-rail service truck listed as ■HO HI-RAILER DCC EQUIPPED. Clicking on the icon down loads an exploded iso-metric drawing of the model along with the part numbers of the individual components.

I think that this feature will help modellers contemplating buying certain models with a view to chopping them about. By checking out the drawing first you can have some idea if your prospective donor vehicle has the right sized motor or wheels or other items for your project.

I did also consider the possibility of using a gandy dancer unit to make a powered covered hopper to solve the problem of motion, but now I am re-considering the practicality of this idea given the small size of the motor in the Hi-rail truck.

Mark
Fake It till you Make It, then Fake It some More
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#9
I looked up the specs of a New Holland w190b which is the promotex model I ordered and I think the wheels will be wider than the rails I just hope not too wide <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ritchiespecs.com/specification?type=construction+equipment&category=Wheel+Loader&make=New+Holland&model=W190B&modelid=91226">http://www.ritchiespecs.com/specificati ... elid=91226</a><!-- m -->
According to this photo the width of the tires from center to center is around 85 inches <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.werktuigen.com/afbeeldingen/models/21299/2/new-holland-w190b.jpg">http://www.werktuigen.com/afbeeldingen/ ... -w190b.jpg</a><!-- m -->
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#10
One thing I did consider while viewing the Bachmann drawing was that it may be possible to at least turn the front end loader into a two wheel drive unit.
By cutting down the donor mechanism just at the back of the motor housing and then machining the rear end on the loader unit to make it fit, then gluing the loader wheels to the outside of the rail wheels.
I think that this modification would be less obvious than trying to swap the whole mechanism in under the loader.
Consideration will also need to be given to just how you will make the loader stay "on track" as well as power pick up.
This does favour the complete mechanism swap path.
Some of the answers will begin to make themselves know once you have both vehicles in your hands.
Taking scalable photos and then merging them may help with the decision process assuming those skills are available to you.
Then again nothing beats making even a rough drawing and taking measurements.
This is going to be a very interesting task, which will be of interest to many.
Mark
Fake It till you Make It, then Fake It some More
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#11
Mark I think you're right about having both units in my possession to really see what needs to be done. The modified 2 wheel drive might be a better idea since the rear of the loader has a lot more space to hide the drive mechanism than the front, I would just need to fasten some sort of guides for the front wheels so they don't veer away from the rails.
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#12
Rscott417 Wrote:I would just need to fasten some sort of guides for the front wheels so they don't veer away from the rails.
Seriously, just look at any auto, or truck, that a railroad would use for "track inspection", or "drive"on the track. They have wheel sets ( front and back ) that are lowered to the rails, and locked in place. They can then be raised and locked for highway driving.
Not only would they be "guides", they would be electrical pick-ups.
https://www.google.com/search?q=Track+in...d=0CD4QsAQ
Also:http://www.google.com/patents/US6988451 might give you some ideas.

I usually do not "inhabit the internet", but.......there is a world of research out there, and sometimes answers can be found.
Wink Big Grin
Pete
We always learn far more from our own mistakes, than we will ever learn from another's advice.
The greatest place to live life, is on the sharp leading edge of a learning curve.
Lead me not into temptation.....I can find it myself!
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#13
Pete I'd like to keep it as non hi-rail looking as possible, just a front loader pulling/pushing cars down a track.
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#14
Interesting project. I was going to suggest looking into a NWSL power unit, but that Bachmann hi-rail is cheaper, anyway. But do you think it would actually have enough power/traction to shove cars? I wonder what the drive system looks like for that hi-rail. If it has enough power/traction it could make a nice critter drive.
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#15
nachoman Wrote:do you think it would actually have enough power/traction to shove cars?

I really hope so, I wasn't thinking there was going to be an issue.
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