First up - for those who say we should just hire a mini-digger/excavator/bull-dozer, please send money along with your suggestion. Do you know what those things cost to hire? We live on a shoe-string, remember?! And the same applies to bringing in more gravel for the lane - we’ve spent many hundreds already. We’re not short of gravel/fill, it’s just that it’s now in the wrong places.
But it’s not just about the money - repairing our lane is an on-going, never-ending job, so it would be good to have our own machine to do that work with. And I hope this thing will get into places bigger machines just couldn’t go. And I like making things.
And, no, a garden rotovator would not do the same thing. Especially when it comes to harder conditions which I hope we will get to later.
These are my thoughts on the design after this first test -
It would be more stable if the wheel hub was set lower in the trolley.
The leveling wheel worked really well, but the flat plate that it rides on was too narrow (and not fixed) so it ran off the sides. Needs improvement..
The engine/shaft/reducer/chain/sprocket arrangement worked surprisingly well. But ideally I would replace it all with a hydraulic motor. That way, the power source (pump) could be sitting on the ground and just two pipes would attach to the cutting head. Big money though.
Of course it needs a second cutting head on the other side of the beam - but I’m having trouble getting matching bullet points…
Potential uses for this sort of machine..
These would cost a fraction of the price of any kind of track-digger, so that’s the biggest advantage - but they are more limited too, of course. They may be good at leveling sites/lanes/lawns/gardens though. Also clearing rough ground, laying down new railways, and trenching. (And maybe even some light tunneling!).
Lastly - it needs a better name. The Long-Armed Mangolator isn’t exactly elegant, is it? Any suggestions gratefully received!
Tim
Ok, here are some important website links. Please check them out..
Here's Tim's amazing guitar machine..
www.chordelia.com
here's our online store where you can see some of the craft things we make and sell..
www.wayoutwestemporium.com/
and here's our Patreon page where you can see more of our plans and dreams. (Remember even 5 dollars would make a BIG difference to us and we'd be very grateful.)
www.patreon.com/user?u=276131...
and finally our FaceBook page / way.outwest.524 (Not quite sure what to do with this but we put photos and extra comments when we get around to it..)
Thank you!
Sandra & Tim
blowinblog@gmail.com
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21 июн 2017
