Snow blower tracks

jdolecki

I just finished welding the frame on my tracked robot. And couldnt wait the get the electronics mounted before I drove it.
Also in the video it gets stuck cause of the 2 transmission handles the sick down and reduce the ground clearence , but i fixed that
when i made the hold down strap for the battery.

Also after the first test run I might just lay the batteries flat to get more room and ground clearence.

Snowblower tracks
350 watt wheel chair motors
Snowblower tracks
2x25 Sabertooth motor driver
Spekstrum rc transmitter and reciver.
2 17ah batteries

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IUOcqocCKM&feature=feedu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ucs_7opJiI

Spiral_72

Wow, that's a pretty serious rig! maybe 2ft square for the base?

Where in the world did you scrap two wheel chair motors from???? I want some!!! I don't think I could resist the temptation to build a Johnny 5 with that setup

jdolecki

Type "Power Chair " in the search box on craigs list.

You have to wait but you can get a whole chair minus the batteries for between 50 -250.

erco

Nice rig, you're off to a great start!

Spiral_72

jdolecki wrote: »

Type "Power Chair " in the search box on craigs list.

You have to wait but you can get a whole chair minus the batteries for between 50 -250.

Thank you! That's another perfect situation where searching for the correct keywords makes all the difference. I've been looking on CL for "Motor" "DC motor" "gearmotor" etc, for some time now.


Good luck with your project. It really looks like it'll scoot

jdolecki

It will scoot im working on a 2 speed transmission. Darn gears are expensive each trans will cost approx 100 dollars.

Also laying the batteries on the side will increase the width by just 3 inches so I got more metal and will do that tonight. And it will give me a flat surface to mount my electronics.

ajward

Spiral_72 wrote: »

Thank you! That's another perfect situation where searching for the correct keywords makes all the difference. I've been looking on CL for "Motor" "DC motor" "gearmotor" etc, for some time now.


Good luck with your project. It really looks like it'll scoot

83 hits on eBay this morning looking for "wheelchair motor". http://bit.ly/qiLaxf

HTH,

Amanda

jdolecki

Motors only on ebay are around 150 ea. If you watch craigs list everyday or use

http://www.searchtempest.com/

craigslist search engine you can get the whole chair minus or dead batteries for that much.

motors, wheels, controller, joystick, charger.

Bamse

Nice tracks...

I love the video with the camera mounted on the robot.

jdolecki

Look on Craigs list everyday found in Hobart Indiana thrift shop 45 min ride for me

Just got for 49 dollars tax includes

And it works and charges

chibi2666@hotmail.com

Hi,

Nice work.. Can you please tell me how you got the wheel chair shaft mounted into the drive wheel. What mods did you have to do?

Thanks

jdolecki

My motor shafts are 17mm dia with a 6mm keyway. I was going to machine hubs but I found these on e-bay because the do not make a 6mm broach for a 17mm shaft. (They do but its custom and expensive)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-COUPLER-17MM-KEYED-SHAFT-ADAPTER-HUB-FLANGE-PTO-/400241768181?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d3044b6f5

My track drive hubs are 2 piece plastic with a sprocket in between and bolted together.

I machined the side of one of the track hubs made a spacer to replace the sprocket and bolted the drive wheel to the new motor coupler/hub.

I am in the process of redoing the frame again in aluminum so i will take and post a bunch of pictures.

jdolecki

I finally finished the new tig welded aluminum chassis. Here are some pictures and a video.

Also i removed the freewheeling lever and geqarbox cover. now the chassis plate is also the gearbox cover.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQn5SD7UQgw&context=C3197620ADOEgsToPDskIMttUI6fYjYEr32b7AgA1K

doggiedoc

Very cool! You're using sealed batteries I assume since you can invert?

Paul

cuzinit

I got my snowblower tracks off CL in upper Mi. of corse I think curiosity helped. I emailed the guy and ask if he was willing to ship them to Fl. well he called me and made a deal. Powerchairs look on CL also the local pawn shops a friend of mine got one for $50 one time. Just keep looking.

garyg

I just now looked your entire thread.
This is a very good project.
I'm impressed.

I've built pedal powered snow plows years ago, but could not develop the 175 watts needed to make them work.
I'm only able to do 100 watts pedal power.

Have you thought about turning your plow attachment into a blower attachment?

It's a great thing that you have built.

kfinisterre

Can you post pictures of this part: "I machined the side of one of the track hubs made a spacer to replace the sprocket and bolted the drive wheel to the new motor coupler/hub"

I wound up with the same motors and keyed hub. The problem for me is that the hub hole pattern does not match that of the tread wheel. I'll need some sort of adapter / spacer with a dual bolt pattern, or I assume you drilled through the plastic in the tread wheel and used an appropriately sized spacer?

Did you knock the existing bolts out of the hubs? Or did you make use of them?

mklrobo

jdolecki wrote: »

It will scoot im working on a 2 speed transmission. Darn gears are expensive each trans will cost approx 100 dollars.

Also laying the batteries on the side will increase the width by just 3 inches so I got more metal and will do that tonight. And it will give me a flat surface to mount my electronics.

:cool: Cool tracks! :cool:
I have not tried anything like your project, so please forgive my idea... would other types of transmissions work for your project? Like a hydrostatic transmission?
Just a thought. Good Luck!