[wmgeorge]

I have my wonderful 318 down to the Lake. Even with weights and chains its just about useless on the hill, if its even slightly damp, forget it.

Has anyone taken the frame, transaxle and the rest, removed the front wheels, steering and made a tracked mini dozer? No my present one would stay a virgin but a sacrificed project grade 318 would used.

Suggestions? Maybe JD made one and I missed knowing about it?

 

[KB]

Bill,

I was an ariens gt modified with track off the rear wheels, that extended behind the tractor. there was a weigh platform above the rear non powered axle to weigh down the entire track setup, without adding axle strain.

somewhat similar to 4 wheeler tracks, and you could probably still have a mower if needed.

 

[knottyrope]

how much weight and chains do you have?
How steep is the hill?
is this in grass, leaves, snow?

when a tire slips do you apply the brake to that wheel to increase traction?

 

[woodpecker41]

Bill do a Google search "JD tractor converted to crawler". There a number of them around. It is going to be way more work than you think it is. Good luck with it. Roger

 

[knottyrope]

found a place that sells them and yes expensive

http://www.atvdirect-online.com/camoplast_pricing1.html

 

[wmgeorge]

I have 80 lbs of wheel weight and another 80 on behind. The tire just digs a hole and when brake applied, the other tire digs in. Need a track with more surface on the ground.
I see the plans advertised and Make you Own Track and etc. Would be happy with a pre made rubber track so I am not re inventing the wheel so to speak in this case it would be re inventing the track!

 

[wmgeorge]

This is what I am talking about>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7Q56uS1n00

 

[coalminer16]

What do you use this for? Any mowing/blowing snow etc? You can put larger tires and the rearend from a 420/430 so you have more floatation as well as the locking diff so you can lock it BEFORE you start to dig. Using tracks-lot harder unless you have have a dual clutch brake system for each side and the diff locked solid. Otherwise just using the brake to turn-may not be enough power and harder on the diff.

 

[mikeduwe]

He made custom drop boxes and stuff for that. And probably custom drive wheels.

Cobbling something(not saying thats what you plan to do, but I have seen it done on some track conversions) and its just going to eat tracks, jump tracks in turns and overall not steer or work well.

Hydraulic motors driving each individual track would be sweet, then you could do full 360 turns, but then your tearing out most of the 318 and just using the shell.

 

[wmgeorge]

So I am wasting my time looking for a decent 317/318 hydrostatic drive?
But If I used the frames my existing blade and bucket would work. Just need a decent engine, pump and a couple of hydraulic motors. Cheap. But of course then its the track..... I does not sound cheap. No mowing.

 

[koch140]

As Mike says, I think it will be a lot of work for very little reward when the thing doesn't work properly or as you had hoped.

BTW, John Deere does make a mini-dozer in case you missed it. They have tons of attachments for them too!

 

[knottyrope]

at 62k, that's an expensive toy to own

 

[wmgeorge]

Its beautiful!!

 

[drew]

Are you thinking of something like this?

 

[drew]

Here's a little better picture...

The bucket isn't all I hoped it to be, but the hoe is great.

Here's a video of the backhoe...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9A8SvgNj2Y&list=UU_Q8tcSEokI5CLfeKV9DcLg

 

[dd57chevy]

Bill , sorry , but you're not answering anybody's questions .

1 . When you say "useless on the hill" are you talking about a sloped driveway , or driving "off-road"? Garden tractors are not ATVs & it isn't a good idea to use them as such .

2. Not to be rude , but a crawler conversion would probably be towards the top end of required fab skills . If you're intent on doing one , there's another guy who's building one (at least he said he was in the "homemade attachments" thread ). Maybe follow it .

3 . If you need a loader , maybe one of the newer 4x4 tractors w/locking diff would work better (& be less prone to frustration & heartache) .
Otherwise , most guys would probably consider getting an ATV .

JMO

 

[coalminer16]

And/or upgrade to a 4X4 machine. With a 318 you are going to spin one wheel and create hole. Then when you use the brake you attempt to have the other wheel make the front two wheels continue as well as pull the other wheel out of the hole. It would be cheaper to do this I think. But-with enough time and money anything can be done. I have seen a few tracked machines and my father has a 140 that is tracked. But using the brakes-it doesn't have enough power to turn at all. I plan on figuring that one out after the 4X4 140 is done.

 

[ab318]

To fix the track on old kind of Skidozer I saw guys using good old conveyor belts.
One track was made with two slice of belts with a kind of U shape channels bolted on each belts.

Another cheap solution maybe the track from a scrap snowmobile can be cut in half to obtain 2 narrow track.
Also the sprockets and small wheels can be used.
Andre

 

[lt_jd]

Instead of tracking a 318 get a X728 or one of it's equivalents. With it's fulltime 4WD, low CG, and HDAP tires that thing was like a billy goat. It would go anywhere you had the guts to take it.

 

[drew]

Mike F. is probably more correct. HDAPs will likely solve the problem.