Well folks... I thought I had my next MULE planned out pretty good. Had an old Bolens chassis, an 18hp Vanny twin, and some tricks up my sleeve. The Vanny ended up in MULE2, and I scored a 2-cylinder Kubota to replace it with in the future build.
I had a pretty ambitious driveline planned... The Kubota in place of the Vanny, CVT to a Peerless 700, and out to a live axle
Ambitious indeed, and I believe I could have pulled it off. Already had all the mounts done. BUT- My plans are always fluid. Something better comes along, and I adapt to the new situation. THIS came along:
I came upon this ad, and HAD to score it:
It sure don't look like much right now, but there's PLENTY to work with, and the componentry is bombproof. SO- out with Plan A, and in with Plan 9 From Outer Space!
Most of you probably won't get that...
So NOW, I'm trying to figure out the overall game plan. I have the Kubota to power it with:
It would be VERY easy for me to do up some engine mounts, drop the Kub in place, clean everything up, and simply drive on.
I DOUBT that's going to happen... So far, I'm thinking 2 seat side-by-side, which means adding framing and floors on either side of the chassis, and moving all the controls including the steering box, to the left.
Being shaft drive, it blows the options wide open for rear suspension. Suspension huh? Maybe the front, too!
The object of the game here, is the ultimate MULE. Literally. I want to outdo myself to the point of no longer being able to outdo myself. As physically capable as I can manage, with all the recovery and service toys and tools I can possibly pack into one big, sick tractor. The usual stuff- battery boost, compressor, winch, yadda yadda yadda... and so much more. I'm thinking to add a power inverter, air storage tank, and acutal lift/tow mechanism...
Oh- did I mention the Garrett T3 turbocharger I recently laid hands on??
The more I think about this, the more I want to build it 4x4! The dilemma? A year or so ago, I scored a 2000 Yamaha Wolverine 350 4x4 ATV that was written off in a fire claim. I was in the right place at the right time. A battery charger sitting in it's seat shorted out and ignited. The seat burnt, the rear plastics, the wiring, and the tires burnt too. The rims got discoloured but are salvageable. The engine had been recently rebuilt. The quad's rear axle was undamaged deapite the surrounding damage. Here it is:
So- I had PLANNED on sourcing the CDI, Regulator, wiring harness, seat and plastics, and a new set of rear tires. Sandblast and paint the rims, and I'm good. BUT!
The frontend on this thing is PERFECT for MULE3 if I were to make it 4x4. It's shaft drive, and features double A-arm suspension with coilovers, not struts. This is ideal for such a build. To make it even tastier, the provious owner installed the Warn lockout kit on the front axle, to make it part-tme 4wd instead of fulltime.
So... I have THE perfect front axle for MULE3, but it would cost me a potentially awesome ATV.
What do you do? You freakin' DO it! Figuring out gear ratios? Thats another story. I highly doubt thats the same as your mini truck rear end. And how much narrow is it? I guess it doesnt matter to much, just throwing it out there. i think it would look better with some sort of rear fenders and hood/grill. Not sure how you do that, but thats one of the easier things to do on such a large build.
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Regarding the width- I will fab up new A-Arm mounts and make the track as wide as the tractor demands. Then I will extend the axleshafts to suit.
Now the ratios- I need to figure then out, but I CAN compensate for the difference. I would be using chain and sprocket off the transmission output shaft to drive the front driveshaft. So once I work out the difference in front to rear ratios, I will select sprocket ratios to equalize them.
I am The Doc. Step back, son- I GOT this! LOL I think I'm gonna burn out 3, 4 calculators on it, and probably several hundred thousand brain cells.
As long as one diff isn't different than the other by more than a factor of about 4 (which is pretty unlikely), then I can't see it being too much of a problem. If I get really desperate, I can also use tire sizes to help compensate, but I'd rather not.
Look up economy/power king tractors, your transmission set up is similar. They use 2 transmissions in line on some of them. Then you can use the front one as a range sector, with 3 forward ranges. You can even put both in reverse, and go forward! They use a portal axle to get the gearing down for the bigger tires, but your straight axle will allow more speed. And 2 transmissions would allow you to go super slow.
I have 1 uncle, and his brother, (TRB's Dad is one) that built their own tractors, with double transmissions, and car engines. They have long since been scrapped, but super cool idea.
Look up economy/power king tractors, your transmission set up is similar. They use 2 transmissions in line on some of them. Then you can use the front one as a range sector, with 3 forward ranges. You can even put both in reverse, and go forward! They use a portal axle to get the gearing down for the bigger tires, but your straight axle will allow more speed. And 2 transmissions would allow you to go super slow.
I have 1 uncle, and his brother, (TRB's Dad is one) that built their own tractors, with double transmissions, and car engines. They have long since been scrapped, but super cool idea.
DEFINITELY selectable 4x4. The Wolverine has that Warn lockout kit for the ffront axle, so if I go that way I would certainly use it!
As for the tranny arrangement- I'm giving strong consideration to a couple options I have- one of which is the Comet 40 CVT that I had previously planned to use on my next build, you might recall talk of that. Another such option is a H-L-N-R transmission from a Polaris Trail Boss 250 wreck that I had laid hands on. Might be able to make that work for me.
As always, a decent transport speed would be nice, but nothing comes before raw grunt with me.
use diesel and drivetrain from ATV, the polaris trailboss trannies are pretty stout, but after about 7 months of my abuse, i managed to pop one... be careful with it if you go that route
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use diesel and drivetrain from ATV, the polaris trailboss trannies are pretty stout, but after about 7 months of my abuse, i managed to pop one... be careful with it if you go that route
Oh, I won't be using an ATV drivetrain- not the whole thing anyways. I will be using the 3-speed transmission and differential axle from the Bannerman chassis. What I'm talking about, is using the Trail Boss tranny (maybe) as an auxiliary transmission- like a range box if you will. Think of it as having a high/low like the Sears tractors (and others).
by the way you are describing your build idea on your vid, if you would to build a body on her it would be a little car and if ya do it right try to get her street legal
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by the way you are describing your build idea on your vid, if you would to build a body on her it would be a little car and if ya do it right try to get her street legal
I have indeed been batting around bodywork ideas, but that's another discussion for another time. Regarding legality... tough one. Ontario motor vehicle laws are about the toughest ones on the damn planet. I can't really see that happening, other than hanging a SMV sign off the back and hoping to find a sympathetic cop.
Oh good, I didn't miss half the build yet. I should start paying attention more... That thing is pretty neat for a factory built deal. There's a company called panzer that made lawn tractors with a car differential and inline trans too. Bout all I know about them though, maybe they weren't up in canada much, who knows.
Oh good, I didn't miss half the build yet. I should start paying attention more... That thing is pretty neat for a factory built deal. There's a company called panzer that made lawn tractors with a car differential and inline trans too. Bout all I know about them though, maybe they weren't up in canada much, who knows.
Beats me, I don't know much about them either. But- cool!
Subject: 
November 12th 2014, 6:54 pm
and if ya do it right try to get her street legal 
