Massey crawler update #1 It Works

[tractormike]

I had time to work on the crawler this weekend. I got the second track built and installed. I just had to try it out. It works very well! It steers with the brakes just like the real thing. on the snow you can spin it right around by holding one brake. I don't know how it will do on grass or dirt but we will have to wait for spring to find out. I have a lot of work to do yet but at least I know the tracks work ok.

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s208/tractormike/IMG_3171.jpg

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s208/tractormike/IMG_3170.jpg

[Maybar]

That's just pretty neat. Great job.

[david doyle]

That must have been satisfying to have work! Congrats keep posting pics f you can.

[Ingersoll444]

VERY cool!!! I missed the thred. Is that a Panzer running gear??

[tractormike]

Thanks for the comments. Yes it is a panzer 1110 chasis that i am using. I will be putting massey model 12 sheet metal on it. For me it is fun to take an idea and then see if I can actually build it. I have been into building custom massey garden tractors the last couple years. I have a narrow front, front wheel assist and an articulated 4 wheeler so far. After the crawler is done I'm going to build a high crop tractor.

[slkpk]

I'm looking forward to seeing it completed. Thanks for the pics. slkpk

[Rodney in VA]

tractormike:

Now that is just way cool! Congrats on having the knowledge and skills to do that stuff. Me... I'm still hung up on this "turning a light bulb" thing. :sidelaugh

[Ken in NJ]

That is so neat ... I cant wait to see the final photos !!

[saskman49]

Nice job !!! keep up the excellent work. I sure am looking forward to the finished product..

[Farmall5C]

have you posted pictures of all your creations? If so where? If not, can you? Based on this thread, you made a few we would love to see

Farmall5C

[tractormike]

If you go to the members photo album under tractormike, I have pictures of some of my projects there. I'll try and get more pics posted.
Glad you guys like my creations. It's fun to take them to shows and have people looking at them and try to figure out if they are factory built or not.

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s208/tractormike/crawler%202009/masseycrawler2009009.jpg


http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s208/tractormike/crawler%202009/masseycrawler2009001.jpg

[m.jodrey]

Very nicely done.

[Aksarben96]

What's the update as to your trials on grass and dirt ? Did you find you needed to modify anything ? Is the profile of the track grousers too smooth ? while I can see it wouldnt damage a drive or lawn as it is now seems it would limit traction on dirt ?

[simpleman]

neat looking tractor. thanks for the pics

[tractormike]

Once spring came and I got the crawler out in the dirt I soon found out it took much more brake effort to get it to turn. The single shoe in each rear drum wasn't enough to turn it when the grousers got a good grip. Traction is not a problem. I pulled it in a garden tractor pull and it never gave a hint of track slipage. The crawler pulled untill it just plain ran out of power.
To solve the lack of braking I bought a pair of hydraulic trailer brake loaded backing plates. I had to modify the backing plates to bolt to the old Plymouth rear end. Then I had to remove the orginal brake drums from the wheel hubs. The original brakes were only 2 inches wide and the trailer brakes were 2 1/2 inches wide. I had to cut the rivets that held the brake drums to the wheel hubs. Next I had to make 5/8 of an inch worth of spacers to shim the drum out enough to clear the wider brakes. Next I mounted two 1965 ford mustang single circuit master cylinders, one to each side to activate the trailer brakes. I hooked up each steering lever to one of the master cylinders. NOW it turns well.
I was really suprised at how much effort it took to turn the crawler on dirt. The grousers do get a very good bite and don't slide sideways easily.
I was going to use a hydraulic pump setup I had to lift the blade but the pump was in bad shape so I decided to use a 12 volt ATV winch instead. This works fine except for no down pressure, but on the dirt and gravel I have pushed so far the blade has dug down with no problems.
I took the crawler to one show so far and it did get a lot of looks. I have it all painted up now and the seat redone.
All in all I am very happy with the way it turned out and have actually used it to work on my gravel driveway.

[simpleman]

i might have missed it but do you have a build thread?

[tractormike]

If you search this forum using "crawler" I have a couple of different posts as I was building it. The only thing actually Massey in this project is the hood and grill. It is built on a panzer garden tractor frame which used a narrowed chrysler car rear end. My goal is to build a fleet of different Massey tractors that the factory never got around to building.