Combat Vehicle Simulator Build

[JoeMeg]

Looking good! I'm shootin for fall Busco trip to see her in person. Did you consider submerging those frozen axle/hubs in the electrolysis tank with those graphite consumable electrodes?

Joe.

[racerone3]

Aw, C'mon! He's a whole two days closer as far as the U.S. Mail is concerned! Today, I tell you....they'll show up TODAY!

It's looking fantastic. I can't wait for you to be able to take it out into some rough terrain....

I wasn't grumbling. They did in fact show up today, and axles are back in the machine. Lunch break then headed out to run chains. Wiring harness went in this morning... she just might drive today

Looking good! I'm shootin for fall Busco trip to see her in person. Did you consider submerging those frozen axle/hubs in the electrolysis tank with those graphite consumable electrodes?

Joe.

I didn't try it on these hubs Joe. I had no luck with the last set I tried it on. I have 2 spare hubs on the way... that just means I'm only allowed to kill 2 axles per ride

[JoeMeg]

Only kill 2 per ride?!?!?!?! Isn't that gonna be tricky,lol.

Joe.

[racerone3]

DISASTER!!!

what would have been considered a huge day of progress was ruined at the last moment. Bearing flanges came in around 10:30 this morning and all the axles were back in before I broke for lunch. got all the chains run, sprockets lined up and axles locked down. Wiring installed and everything tied up... Filled the tank with fuel and fired the engine. Everything operated as planned. I was just about to start bolting tires on the machine when I noticed a puddle on the floorboard. found the gas tank to be leaking in 3 places The good news is that I have another tank that can go in the machine... the bad news is that it will be a miserable process to change out. Guess I know what the plan for tomorrow is

[hydromike]

Okay, so it's "tomorrow".... how's she ride?

[racerone3]

Okay, so it's "tomorrow".... how's she ride?

Awesome!! The gas tank swap wasn't near as bad as I had it built up in my head to be. the cradle had to get disassembled in the machine then all the pieces removed. reverse process for install. took about 2 hours including dry time for the paint on the replacement tank. It was a PITA, but at least I didn't have to split the body as I had originally expected.

The front yard is now sufficiently torn up next on the agenda will be getting a battery and hooking up the remaining wires so I don't have to open the engine cover to pull start it. I also need to find a 15' choke cable. Both of those items will have to wait until I catch up on the back log of lawn mower repairs. I've pretty much ditched the mowers and thrashed on the Tank all week... time to get to work on some paying jobs!

[vanmeterj1]

Hey race,

There for a minute I thought you said it was running and everything... But I must have been mistaken because I didn't see the video. we got video before you rebuilt it but none after?

LOL, Post a video man, don't keep us in suspense.

[racerone3]

I will get make a video and get it up soon. I've been having some clutching issues with the machine so I haven't driven it off the property yet. hopefully tomorrow I can get the clutch situation sorted out, and replace the DOA solenoid in Beth's Max. I shouldn't have too much trouble convincing her to go out for a ride after work tomorrow. Still haven't gotten drain plugs for the machine, so there won't be any water tests going on for at least another week

[racerone3]

Making money, by fixing mowers, and saving money by cutting firewood (it was only 89 today) took priority over clutch swaps. I will try to work on it tomorrow, but you never know what the day might bring around here

I did however get a short video of the tank running around the yard with my test pilots at the helm. hopefully later in the week we can do a real test run.

I also convinced Wyatt to take his tractor for a spin

[hydromike]

Since when does the instructor get to wear sandles and put his feet up? That's a pretty lax instructional atmosphere!

It really runs around well! I see what you mean about the clutching, but you'll get it figured out. It's cool to be able to comfortably take the whole family out for a spin, huh?

[Model Citizen]

Since when does the instructor get to wear sandles and put his feet up?

Gees, Mike, that's for stabilization. Duh. The Captain knows what she's doing.

Bridget

[techfx]

This machine is looking pretty nice!

[racerone3]

Over the last few weeks the final details of the Tank have started to come together (mower business seems to have picked up again). She got a winch last week and I threw in a bilge pump just before a test ride on Thursday morning. I had ordered a choke cable and header wrap early in the week, and had high (dashed) hopes that they would come in before the shakedown. The machine ran pretty well for the test run although a bit slugish. We took my Brother in law out for his first ever ride, and in hindsight, probably shouldn't have turned him loose in the pimpfoot Jimmy had a bit of brain fade at the controls and punched a hole in the LR corner of the tank with the pimpfoots front bumper. He felt absolutly terribly, but I assured him that it could be fixed (already is). I swam the machine for the first time and it did pretty well. took on some water but that is what the bilge is for. I did have some issues with the engine once it got hot, but I think the fuel was trying to boil in the line. (relocated the pump and wrapped the lines to keep radiant heat away) The engine cover also got hot enough to sag till the exhaust duct rubbed on the primary clutch. We got home from the ride to find the choke cable and header wrap sitting on the front porch.

Last night, I wrapped the exhaust, installed the choke cable, and tinkered with the governor. I think I might have bumped the linkage somewhere in the multiple install and removals of the engine during the build. now that I have things adjusted, she has really come to life. I still need to drill 37 holes and install the bolts in the body band (I think there are 64 total in the thing) and stencil the ARMY numbers on the machine. I'm also looking for a pair of 22" Rawhide III's to round out the machine

[msafi65]

I prefer fiberglass mat to cloth. The ABS cement works into it better. I prep the patch on plastic wrap then apply it to clean body. Peel the plastic wrap off and brush a coat of cement. Makes very strong patches.

[lewis]

Looking great Brian! Hopefully there will be 2 of these machines at Busco in October.