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John Deere 140 Crawler Build

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16K views 67 replies 15 participants last post by  superspeedex  
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I'm back !

I started this track modification several months ago, I got busy with work and I ran out of time and funds.

Just now getting started on it again, hopefully I can finish it this winter.

I made the rear sprockets out of old pickup rims and 3/4" shaft. The smaller sprockets and chain are from a combine.

I am putting in a Kholer 2 cyl 18hp engine, I already had to move the exhaust and I had to do a little cutting on the frame to get the engine to fit.

Now I just need to get a drive shaft built and drill new bolt holes in the gt to mount the engine.

I made a sub frame for the tracks to run on so there will be no stress on the garden tractor or axle/rear end.

I also have a Kwik-Way Garden Master "G" loader I am going to put on it, I also have a hydraulic blade that I am also going to use on it.

I got one track finished a couple months ago, and I just finished the other track the other day.

The pictures are from start till now, I'll get more pictures when I start working on it again.

JohnDeere140GardenTractorandLoader003.jp


JohnDeere140GardenTractorandLoader004.jp


JohnDeere140GardenTractorandLoader001.jp
 

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#8 · (Edited by Moderator)
Thanks,

Yes the engine is out of a cub cadet.

I'm planing on steering with the individual brakes, so I'm going to steer it with the right foot, I was going to change it to hand brakes/steering but I think the foot would be better because the hydro is controlled by hand and same with the loader/blade valves.

For the undercarriage I am using channel iron that is a little narrower then the tracks, which will have a guide in the middle to help keep the tracks straight, I am then going to attach dump truck bed liner which is about 3/4" thick plastic, I am going to have that between the channel and the tracks, hoping to give it a slick surface to slide on.

I think small wheels or something might be more trouble, I'm hoping this is going to be easy and cheap.

I made the tracks, I'm not sure of the size of the chain, but I got it off of a combine. This chain had rubber paddles to haul the grain to the top of the combine, we where scrapping the combine so I got the chain and 4 small sprockets free :dancingbanana:

I then welded 2" wide strap to the chain for the cleats, when I get it finished I am thinking about welding on small rebar for better traction if I need it. Although I also don't want something that's going to shred the lawn, I know it's not going to be very turf friendly but I would like to be able to drive it across the yard.

I'm going to work on it today, I will get better close up pictures and I will post them tonight.

I added a couple pictures of the chain and the track when I was building it.
 

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#10 ·
Got the second track put together, also got the engine mounts finished.

Next I need to build a drive shaft, I have the original drive shaft off the jd 140 and I have the original cub cadet drive shaft that fits the engine. I guess I'm going to cut both into and then weld them together?

Probably going to use a coupler of a sort to make sure it is straight.

I made a drive shaft for a Ford LGT165 and it worked out really well, hopefully I can get this figured out too.

I will get more picture tomorrow, I'm going to try and get it put together just to see how the new track fits.
 

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#11 ·
Really cool, glad you're making headway.
I have a feeling you will be wanting rebar not L-R and a short piece F-B on each cleat. Anyone who has ever ridden a std track sideways will tell you that it's a spooky feeling.

:thumbs: on the Leatherman. I had one like that, lost it and they stopped making that model. Still getting used to my new one.
 
#12 ·
Use some pieces of angle iron and flat bar if nesc. as splints, as well as the coupling, when

building your drive shaft. Clamp the shafts into the angle, on either side of the coupling

and then bridge over the coupling with another piece of straight angle, or whatever.

Just trying to get it as straight as possible.

Nice progress on the track.
 
#13 ·
Thanks for the info,

Didn't get as much done today as I was hoping, went to put on the new track just to find out it was 6 chain links to short, I'm still not sure how I messed that up :(.

But now it's the right size so I'm hoping to get both tracks on for a test fit on Monday.

Oh and I looked at the chain I am using and the number stamped on the side is 550
 
#14 ·
Interesting build. Where did you come up with the idea? Have you been around track types before?

I would agree with others, on making something for the pads to grip with. Twenty some odd years ago I rode down a side slope with a D-7 in the winter :biting_nails: wasn't the ride I was looking for! You will need some kind of traction.

Again cool build.
 
#16 ·
Well, I got both tracks on for a test fit, :dancingbanana:

The tracks are not tensioned tight yet, tomorrow I'm going to do more work on the undercarriage and track rails. I set the hood on to get an idea of what it's going to look like, I don't know how it's going to work, but so far it has a nice look :thumbs: :smilewink:

I also put on the blade mount, I think the gt is to tall for the blade to go down all the way to the ground, so I'm going to half to lower the mount.

I rolled a push mower up beside it to give a idea on the size, it measures 3' 4" at the hood, but I'm going to half to raise the hood a couple inches to fit the engine, so it's probably going to be 3' 6" when I'm finished.
 

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#17 ·
Anyone know what kind of oil I should put in the hydro?

Right now it looks like automotive transmission fluid (it's red), I have some hydraulic/transmission fluid, the jug says it can also be used on hydrostatic transmissions, but they are also talking about big machinery like swathers, combines and ect.

Thanks for any info
 
#19 ·
BTS said:
Anyone know what kind of oil I should put in the hydro?

Right now it looks like automotive transmission fluid (it's red), I have some hydraulic/transmission fluid, the jug says it can also be used on hydrostatic transmissions, but they are also talking about big machinery like swathers, combines and ect.

Thanks for any info
Click to expand...
John deere hyguard is what we run iin our 445 and 455
 
#21 ·
zippy1 said:
Interesting build. Where did you come up with the idea? Have you been around track types before?
Click to expand...
I haven't be around much tracked machinery, just had a idea of what they should look like and then started building :thumbs:

I have always been intrigued with tracks and really all machinery/tractors and ect.

My family (on both moms and dads side) have been in construction since the very beginning, construction machinery is in the blood.

I have always liked building things and I've always wanted something with tracks, so this is what I've come up with! :rocker2:

Most of the time I'm weening it, but I guess that how you learn.
 
#24 ·
For what it's worth, I give you a lot of credit for having the drive to take on a large, uncharted build on your own :thumbs:

But there is only one way to find out how it's going to turn out in the end, and that's the finished project. Good luck along the way, I'll be watching this one till the end :watching_you:
 
#26 ·
Thanks

I have been thinking about the lower rear sprockets too, I don't like the design I did, I have the fork shafts threaded, so I can tighten the nut to move the sprocket out to tighten the track. But the nut is to hard to turn, so I am going with a different design, now I have welded on a heavy piece of strap to the fork, I then cut a slit in the strap, I am going to weld two 5/8" bolts on to the frame, then I can pull the track tight with a chain and boomer. Then I can tighten the nuts on the 5/8" bolts and that should hold it (I hope)

This should also make it a lot stronger and hopefully it will hold up.

Hope this makes sense :say_what:
 

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