Idea for The easiest 4x4+4WD

So I've been thinking... Anyone remember how we made our first carts? Well, we made the steering from two wheels connected to a wooden plank, and for it to turn we used only one center hole in the plank... So. How about you take two rear or std transaxles, and mount the front one in a tray so it can pivot, turn side to side by one point only?! If you want 4WD steering you do this to both axles, so in a turn it would look like / \ for 4WD steer, watched from above, anyone done this before? I'll draw up a sketch later on if it was poorly explained

Mean like an articulated 4x4 tractor? I think it could work. Only problems would be shifting linkage and steering.

Not really like that but kind of just easier, since you would want to make the pivot point on the same point as the pulleys, meaning all you need is, engine, two belts and two axles. So when you turn it keeps the output shaft on the turn point. Need a sketch lol

It can be done, but there are problems. You need to have really long axles or a really narrow tractor.

allowances have to be made for the axles to swing through their arcs.

No problem if its lifted. Well it won't have a super turn radius.

I got ya. Once again, the linkage would most likely get ya. I would see it working, but how would you mount the engine? I think someone with a bunch of tractors laying around should try this.

Mount it original spot, then you'll need two more pulleys if not mount it midway like 2/3rd, ya someone with many parts should try this

That way you wouldn't need an all steer transaxle. I still want to make an articulated tractor.

the easiest way to do it in my opinion is hydraulic drive, ive seen a few lawn tractors over the years that have an engine running a hydraulic pump and then 2 lines going to the controls then to the rear axle getting 2 of those axles set up to articulate like the one in the picture would be easy because you can just split the lines after the pump and run both axles at once
and for steering just get a power steering box off a truck and run it through the pump aswell, so it will work like a truck does when the machine is off there will still be steering but stiff and when its running the pump will make it pretty easy

seems pretty straightfoward. but how would you mount the transaxle to keep the pulley in the same spot and still let it rotate?

Sounds like an idea that would work but how would you keep the belt from coming off the pully.

that goes in with my question, i think

what do you guys need cleared up?

Jordan wrote:

the easiest way to do it in my opinion is hydraulic drive, ive seen a few lawn tractors over the years that have an engine running a hydraulic pump and then 2 lines going to the controls then to the rear axle getting 2 of those axles set up to articulate like the one in the picture would be easy because you can just split the lines after the pump and run both axles at once
and for steering just get a power steering box off a truck and run it through the pump aswell, so it will work like a truck does when the machine is off there will still be steering but stiff and when its running the pump will make it pretty easy

Hydraulic motor wasn't an option tho when I wrote this, tho I agree, easiest but expensive.

that goes in with my question, i think

A hydraulic piston for steering and a PTO drive hydro (like old Cubs) would work perfect for this scenario. The steering wheel could control the piston for your steering, and the pivot point could be solved by using a universal joint.

Running belts might be tricky through the midsection as there is a good chance of rubbing somewhere. Having the front axle driven by belt and off that axle pulley a RAGB running to a Ujoint then to another RAGB for the rear would probably work perfect.

Doug Fackler wrote:

A hydraulic piston for steering and a PTO drive hydro (like old Cubs) would work perfect for this scenario. The steering wheel could control the piston for your steering, and the pivot point could be solved by using a universal joint.

Running belts might be tricky through the midsection as there is a good chance of rubbing somewhere. Having the front axle driven by belt and off that axle pulley a RAGB running to a Ujoint then to another RAGB for the rear would probably work perfect.

That ain't easy....

Thunderdivine wrote:

Doug Fackler wrote:

A hydraulic piston for steering and a PTO drive hydro (like old Cubs) would work perfect for this scenario. The steering wheel could control the piston for your steering, and the pivot point could be solved by using a universal joint.

Running belts might be tricky through the midsection as there is a good chance of rubbing somewhere. Having the front axle driven by belt and off that axle pulley a RAGB running to a Ujoint then to another RAGB for the rear would probably work perfect.

That ain't easy....

probably easier then trying to rig up pulleys and belts though, and the less belts in the system the more durable it is

I wouldnt say not easy more than expensive and time consuming. It would be a lot easier though than having to figure out how to run your belts and pulleys so you dont get any rub wear or slack.

Would be wierd to see one built. But if u can make it work, i wanna see that get done.

I tried to upload a pic if it didnt work click the link below \/

dylansrockinrigs wrote:

I tried to upload a pic if it didnt work click the link below \/

Yeah this might work.

All this is expensive,

What you do is, take two identical gearboxes.

Like those two in this vid:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl1fH1oj1Ik

Then you make em pivot (turn left to right) on the same axe as the pulley, then you won't need more gears, more pulleys and so on.

I got 4 of these laying around but only two identical (same gearing).





But im planning on makin a tracked autonomys robot mower of those two identical.

you could build something like this