DIY Electric Car Forums > EV Conversions and Builds > Non Road Going Vehicles

Woodsmith · #1 12-22-2009, 07:14 AM

Right, having started one project with the MR2 I have decided to start a second project as a learning platform.

I figured I'd take a leaf from Jimdear's book and build a sort of tractor type thing. With no need to be road legal I can do pretty much as I please.

So far I have collected together the following:
Lada Niva transfer box

6 1/2" golf buggy motor

Some 1/2" chain, 38 tooth sprocket and 12 tooth sprocket
Curtis 1214 36-48v controller
Land Rover discovery front axle
10m 35mm welding cable.

The motor didn't have a drive end cap so I made a wooden one (thanks for the nudge on that one Simon).

It also had a female shaft which seems to be a 3/4" 10 spline SAE keyspline. I couldn't find one of them so I made one.
I turned the major and minor diameters and swept the shaft back to full size to reduce stress risers from forming.

I then scribed the dimensions of the splines using the 60 tooth gear on the lathe as an index.

I then used a cutting disc in an angle grinder to cut the splines gaps.

And with a bit of fettling it fitted.

When I know what is happening on the other end of the shaft I will then heat treat it and it might then last a little while for playing.

The plan was to use the transfer box sideways as a transaxle with the locking diff in it. However, there is very little clearance around the input flange for a large sprocket to be fitted to bring the ratio down.
So I bought a Land Rover axle. Being a front axle is no problem as I can narrow it using short half shafts both sides and lock the track rod. If I find a rear axle then I can use the transfer box and make it a 4x4 with narrow axles.
I will keep it 48v to suit both the motor and the controller and use up some of the steel scrap I have floating about to make the chassis and miscellaneous parts.

jackbauer · #2 12-22-2009, 08:32 AM

Very nice work on the shaft! I'd be looking at some sort of a 3 wheel setup. On the subject of insane ev projects i've been eyeing up a mini digger and a forklift pump motor combo

Woodsmith · #3 12-22-2009, 08:54 AM

I've also been eyeing up minidiggers but can't find one cheap enough. It should be a fairly straight forward conversion.

jackbauer · #4 12-22-2009, 09:12 AM

Great minds eh?

One good thing is that the building game in Ireland is dead so stuff like minis can be had for pennies on the dollar! No need for a controller just a good contactor like a kilovac. So all thats needed would be an ev van with a trailer for the ev mini digger. Low carbon garden services ltd!

Woodsmith · #5 12-22-2009, 09:57 AM

I'm sure the only thing coming down in cost here is the labour cost. machinery and hire charges don't seem much cheaper yet.

My neighbour needs a minidigger at some point soon so I reckon the prices are stying up until after he has hired one.

I've got to find time to collect the Land Rover axle when the snow clears a bit. I don't even know what the dif ratio is yet. It might be better to just sell it on and get a series rear axle and have a known 4.7:1 diff.

Dave Koller · #6 12-22-2009, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackbauer

Great minds eh?

One good thing is that the building game in Ireland is dead so stuff like minis can be had for pennies on the dollar! No need for a controller just a good contactor like a kilovac. So all thats needed would be an ev van with a trailer for the ev mini digger. Low carbon garden services ltd!

Got a great new job idea there Jack!

The building game was great up here in the Lake country
of the Northwoods of Wisconsin - then the bottom dropped out!

But the wealthy cabin owners from the big cities still use garden services BUT
this time of year - Plowing driveways of the white stuff

. EV plowing in -20 degree (err Fahrenheit) ...

Nice job on the spline Woody - I will be lurking!!

Woodsmith · #7 12-22-2009, 12:12 PM

I was back and forth in the snow to a neighbours house today as I am cat sitting for ten days. I was thinking that if I had a little tractor running I could be playing with a snow plough!

In the end the cold got the better of me and I brought the cat over to holiday at mine with my cats. Saves me the back and forth nonsense trying to get the cat to toilet outside.