For some people, R/C cars just aren’t enough. [djMedic2008] has gotten his hands on a monstrous 1/5 scale wheel loader. The loader weighs in at 500lbs, and can lift up to 250 lbs. It was built several years ago as a prototype by [Richard] at Tiny Titan Earth Movers.
The design is based upon huge machines made by companies like Caterpillar and Komatsu. The 4WD system is driven a DC motor through a worm gear reduction. Bucket operation and steering are both operated by a hydraulic system driven by an electric pump. Just like the full-scale machines, the mini loader uses an articulated steering system. The front wheels are locked in place while the entire chassis bends at the middle pivot point. This allows for a much stronger solid front axle.
After several years of hard life, the loader came to [djMedic] in need of some TLC. The biggest issue was that the rear axle bevel gear had lost several teeth. This gear is under enormous loads when the loader is turning. A gear made of harder steel was the easy answer. Thankfully, you can order high carbon steel bevel gears from Amazon. The repair video gives us a look at the design of the loader. The main components of the machine are welded up from steel sheet and tube stock. This means that [djMedic] won’t have a hard time finding spare parts for his machine once he puts it to work clearing snow, dirt, or anything else that gets in its way!
Click past the break to see the loader in action!
This thing is great! It reminds me a lot of remote controlled soil compactors that I’ve seen on job sites:
http://www.bomag.com/world/en/construction-equipment-dictionary-trench-compactor.html
His next step should be to make a working 1/5 scale model of one of those :)
This reminds me of the Tamiya Clod Buster, only 1000x better in every way.
Way back in the day one of the R/C car magazines modified a Clod Buster enough that it could pull a full scale jeep. It got about two feet before the rear differential exploded ;) This thing could drag cars around all day long!
I’m not surprised, that’s a lot of load to put on very small parts. I never had a Clod Buster myself, but some of the guys in my R/C club did. They didn’t fit within the rules of competition (only one motor was allowed), so no one ever brought them to the races. I can imagine that one of those would have driven right up and over my Blackfoot.
I have been outside on oilfield locations where the where heavy twin screw trucks where making short tight maneuvers. Despite the power divider and axles differentials there was a lot of popping and snapping until I assume one drive axle overcame the traction available spinning the tires relieving built up stress. I suspect without differentials making on component stronger will begin the breakage of other weaker components. I wonder if there are any garden tractor rear axles up to the job, if not start scouring the salvage yards for rear axle out of older smaller cars. with out much more work one can build an external locking mechanism for those times you want to lock the axles together
Another solution is to add an overload clutch and set it to slip before the gears are overloaded. Probably just need one between the front and rear axles.
Being into e-bike and alt-tran stuff, I would say it ain’t got the teeth to be up to it.
Looking up the web site, it looks like it was intended to be a product. “Wheel Loader to Become Available December 2013” and that the prototype was sold off, so it’s not going to be a product anymore?
It sure looks like an interesting design. Maybe convince the designer to open source the design or at least sell plans?
That is the most bad ass Tonka truck EVER!
Reminds me of this thing: http://www.sinusleistungssteller.de/Radlader.html
One word to describe this…..INSANE!
That thing needs a seat and foot pegs on the back over the “engine bay” :)
Very nice machine. Jealous. :D
It needs a backup beeper. :)
it’s as if someone heard my earliest Tonka dreams, scaled them up, and made them real!
Thank you for the great article, Hackaday. I am “djmedic2008” – and I enjoyed the read. Yes, its quite a machine.. a Tonka Dream to be sure. :-) I have filmed almost 1000 RC’s on my show “RC Adventures”, and this is a very unique machine. I have replaced the gears with hardened steel.. and will be filling up that rear axle with diff fluid. Im interested to see the difference.
How much
This design of wheel loader is more than http://www.lgloader.com/Wheel-Loader-For-Sale.html
hay you want a realy big build that will make you rich.? because everyone who has gotten all there rc machine . need a droppstade machine. soil/composter shereder seperater you can see it on you tub. it`s exspenceive but everyone needs one in there littal construction site. for rc soil separator. or the rc road grader 14m catapillar. throught id give you something to think about for 1:5.6 scale . or 1/8