jebster's tonka truck rc conversion

[Mike Flea]

Coming along great! Actuator works well, have you tried adding some weight to the bed to see if it will lift it?

[jebster]

Originally Posted by Mike Flea

Coming along great! Actuator works well, have you tried adding some weight to the bed to see if it will lift it?

I did post up a video earlier with it lifting and dumping a 5lb dumbell. That might be ok but if I find a need to lift more I wanted to be prepared to add a second actuator.

[jebster]

Going to try a different steering setup. I like the fact it is much more responsive than the linear actuator. I need to do some testing with the full rig to see if it has the needed power. This also makes for cramped space in the cab area so I need to be creative on where I tuck all the electronics.

https://youtu.be/8WKqleJtkgc

[calcagno45]

Very nice. Could likely use different gears should more torque be needed.

[Mike Flea]

Much better

[jebster]

Originally Posted by Mike Flea

Much better

Thanks. As always these types of projects are full of experiments.

Originally Posted by calcagno45

Very nice. Could likely use different gears should more torque be needed.

That is one of the reasons I decided to give this a try. I could also swap in a higher torque servo, although the hitec 7950 I pulled from my 2.2s rig is no slouch.

[jebster]

Starting to mock up the bucket mechanics. Will use a lever arm and actuator mounted behind the lift arm plate. Like I did with the dump bed I will have it set up such that if two actuators are needed or even a swap to a high torque servo I can do it without a modification to the structure.

[jebster]

Haven't finished either of the other rigs but picked up something for a future build!

[jebster]

Getting closer on the loader bucket mechanics. Needs a small tweak on the actuator attachment geometry but pretty good.

https://youtu.be/AmR9TO95rxU

[calcagno45]

Very nice work on that linkage

[jebster]

Jumped back to the dump truck for awhile. I decided to try a more powerful actuator for the dump action. Went from the L12 to the L16, which has over 2.5x the power and it is easy to see. With the other actuator it would strain dumping a single 5lb weight. With the L16 I can handle two 5lb weights with ease.

Took it out for a spin. I'm pretty happy with how it has worked out. I do wish I could get more steering but the only options for that would be smaller tires or cut out the wheel wells. I may consider smaller tires in the future. I also have to keep in mind this is not one of my comp crawlers!! I may also need to rig up some type of shocks as it seems to have a little too much bounce for my taste.

https://youtu.be/mbv7yPvB8rI

Now I just need to get that front loader up and running.

Then I need to find someone to blast everything and prime the parts so I can paint them. I don't have equipment for sand or media blasting.

[jebster]

Back to the front loader. I was not happy with the gear and servo setup so I decided to try an actuator again. A little different geometry and a stronger actuator this time. I think this will work. I only mocked it up for now because to do this I have to cut a large slot in the side of the lower body to allow the actuator to move. Given it seems to line up ok I'm going to start cutting!

https://youtu.be/mbv7yPvB8rI

[HumboldtEF]

Awesome work here!

It looks like the last video you posted a link to was one of your older videos, I think this was the one you meant to put up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_dwONycZ1E

[jebster]

Originally Posted by HumboldtEF

Awesome work here!

It looks like the last video you posted a link to was one of your older videos, I think this was the one you meant to put up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_dwONycZ1E

you are correct. missed that I cut-n-pasted the wrong link.

and thanks for the compliment on the projects. progress has been slow lately (too busy in my day job) but i'm hoping to put in some quality time in the next couple weeks. really want to get both the loader and dump truck finished minus a paint job. then I will start thinking about how to make the dozer run!

[jebster]

I think I finally have a steering setup for the front loader. Not a quick as the gears solution but this seems stronger and more direct. I didn't want to have to cut so much of the original body but it was the only way.

Now I need to start putting things back together to test a rig that runs.





https://youtu.be/Rk_odRCPn8g

[jebster]

More work done. Got the lift actuators for the loader figures out. Works pretty good. In the video it is only running with a single lift actuator because I need a y-harness to be able to run two on the same channel.

https://youtu.be/eNyrQdOBvjI

I also decided I didn't like how bouncy the dump truck was running leaf only so I added some shocks in a cantilever setup. At this point the dump truck is done besides paint and wheels.

[jebster]

Any suggestions on the easiest way to prep these rigs for painting? I was thinking some type on media blasting but I don't have that type of equipment. To wire wheel with a cordless drill sounds like a VERY long project and it won't get into the corners well.

[Zukiiholic]

Front loader and Dump look pretty good.
Lil Blast cabinets are pretty cheap if you already have a compressor (and space) or the drill with wire brush will work good too.
The Little corners it can't reach, a little piece of sandpaper will make quick work of it.

[jebster]

Originally Posted by Zukiiholic

Front loader and Dump look pretty good.
Lil Blast cabinets are pretty cheap if you already have a compressor (and space) or the drill with wire brush will work good too.
The Little corners it can't reach, a little piece of sandpaper will make quick work of it.

A little blast cabinet would be nice but I don't have a compressor capable of doing the job. I'll probably try the wire wheel. Wish there was a body shop nearby that I could ask them a favor. Years ago I had access to equipment like that in my dad's machine shop. I miss those days.

[Mike Flea]

Originally Posted by jebster

Any suggestions on the easiest way to prep these rigs for painting? I was thinking some type on media blasting but I don't have that type of equipment. To wire wheel with a cordless drill sounds like a VERY long project and it won't get into the corners well.

Auto parts stores have a brush-on paint that you apply directly to a rusted surface, that turns the rust to primer, I don't remember what it's called. Everything else that's bare metal, you can apply a self-etching primer, then I would recommend a damp proof primer over those before you do your finish coats.

I used the rust treatment on the frame of my '40 Chevy. When dry, it turns the metal black. After it dried, I used a damp-proof red primer before finishing it in gloss black.

Nice job on the actuators, my only question is did you check how low the bucket will go, once you have the tires on? When the bucket was lowered, it raised the front up a bit, but it didn't look like it would be low enough with the running gear.