Guy goes into a garage to grease bearings.....

[mfenmor]

the build looks amazing so far very stout!i have a few ideas you may want to sonsider if i may. Will you have a bar or and that connets all three portals togther? it will add a great deal of strngth if you tie them all together especially in the even of an impact. i would also have some form of cap reatainer as i can guarntee if you drag the caps through a swamp enough something will pry one off. i am assuming you have your own machine shop that gives you the ability to do all this custom fab?

I did consider a brace connecting all three axles, kinda like the snow plow mounting bracket, but didn't want to get hung up on something with them defeating the purpose of the portals, so I did extensive frame bracing and 1/2" grade 8 bolts. If this prove inadequate and one bends or breaks, then I'll have more fun fixing it.
A retaining strap around the covers may be a good idea that I use.
I do have a sparse machine shop, just enough.
Thanks for your ideas. I don't have all the answers.
Lets see some pix of your Kubota diesel.
I'm using the 722D but I've added a turbo, intercooler and turned up the pump.

[countrycummins99]

the build looks amazing so far very stout!i have a few ideas you may want to sonsider if i may. Will you have a bar or and that connets all three portals togther? it will add a great deal of strngth if you tie them all together especially in the even of an impact. i would also have some form of cap reatainer as i can guarntee if you drag the caps through a swamp enough something will pry one off. i am assuming you have your own machine shop that gives you the ability to do all this custom fab?

[john swenson]

thats it !! just as i imagined . great design . you know i have seen agriculture machines that have extended drive wheels to clear crops while spraying , etc. and thought i would be a good way to get tub clearance on a aatv. the advantage of your portal boxes over my max 2 highboy design is you don't have the short axle , chain and sprockets exposed . although i must say i've been very pleased with my design and how well it's worked over the last few years . one suggestion that may add to your performance is weld a piece of lightweight angle bar on each flat edge of the boxes so they act as a plow in mud and snow instead of the flat edge . it may be a little more streamlined. looking forward to the next pictures , thanks....johnboy

[mfenmor]

i'm slowly getting the picture....i love new designs !! i'm still wondering if the lower wheel axles that go thru the box extend past the bearing and collar of that inner bearing ( in other words the axle is only long enough to have the wheel hub on and to go thru the outer bearing , the width of the box , and then the inner bearing and collar ). also i can't figure out how the lower bearings can adjust and still not loose oil out of the box. slots ? lastly , if the 2 end boxes are slanted for tire clearance , won't the center wheel be lower ? or did you make the end wheel boxes longer to compensate for that . thanks for your patience , it's just fun trying to imagine how it's taking shape , and i know pictures will tell the story . j.b.

Does this picture help?
Saturday I'll get a real assembly done.
IMG_0466.jpg

[john swenson]

i'm slowly getting the picture....i love new designs !! i'm still wondering if the lower wheel axles that go thru the box extend past the bearing and collar of that inner bearing ( in other words the axle is only long enough to have the wheel hub on and to go thru the outer bearing , the width of the box , and then the inner bearing and collar ). also i can't figure out how the lower bearings can adjust and still not loose oil out of the box. slots ? lastly , if the 2 end boxes are slanted for tire clearance , won't the center wheel be lower ? or did you make the end wheel boxes longer to compensate for that . thanks for your patience , it's just fun trying to imagine how it's taking shape , and i know pictures will tell the story . j.b.

[mfenmor]

mike... i think your making a max 4 '' sherp '' !! so on the portal boxes , the top of the box mounts to the tub and frame , and the gear or sprocket inside is driven by the original axle . ( like my center axle on my highboy max drives the lower frame axles ) so then the lower wheel axle go thru the lower portal hole and bearing and gear to drive the finals . is there another lower axle bearing on the other end of the wheel axle for support ? johnboy

Hey JB,
Yes, there are three bearings on the outside of the box. the side of the box will bolt to the frame/tub where the original axle bearing would have been. I made stub axles to go where the original axles would have been to power the top sprocket. the original axles will go in the lower bearings/sprocket. I did have to shorten the stock axles. So now you know I did go with sprockets and chain inside the boxes with the lower bearings able to adjust and take up slack. the boxes will be sealed with oil in them.
Mike.

[mfenmor]

Lookin' good Mike!

Thanks Drew

[john swenson]

mike... i think your making a max 4 '' sherp '' !! so on the portal boxes , the top of the box mounts to the tub and frame , and the gear or sprocket inside is driven by the original axle . ( like my center axle on my highboy max drives the lower frame axles ) so then the lower wheel axle go thru the lower portal hole and bearing and gear to drive the finals . is there another lower axle bearing on the other end of the wheel axle for support ? johnboy

[xbunsenx]

Lookin' good Mike!

[mfenmor]

I 3D printed these covers this weekend. They are nylon and flex nicely. They will be siliconed in and the bottoms will have just two screws. Tops will have a fill and bottoms will have drains. no breather as this will be handled by the seals on the inside of the tub, otherwise water will be sucked in when running a hot box into the cold water.

IMG_0458.jpgIMG_0457.jpgIMG_0459.jpgIMG_0460.jpgIMG_0461.jpg

[mfenmor]

i must say, when a guy has the machines and knowhow as you do...you can make anything you envision . thats way cool ! it's going to be quite the machine . how much height clearance are you thinking ? johnboy va.

Thanks JB.
The portals offset the axles 5 5/8" and another 1" for the bigger tires. Any higher on the portals would mean a whole lot more bracing and weight.

[john swenson]

i must say, when a guy has the machines and knowhow as you do...you can make anything you envision . thats way cool ! it's going to be quite the machine . how much height clearance are you thinking ? johnboy va.

[mfenmor]

So finally got back to poking some more holes in the portal boxes.
Next need to clean up and do a little welding and bolt em up.
IMG_0439.jpgIMG_0440.jpgIMG_0441.jpgIMG_0442.jpg

[mfenmor]

I'll use my 12x12 rims, but they say a 12x10 rim will work.
Now to make some beadlocks.

Check it out.

http://www.6x6world.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41996&p=235708#post235708

[mfenmor]

Those tires look like they have good swim potential.

That's what I'm hoping, and great mud performance also, but there has to be a tradeoff somewhere. Not sure the lifted Max IV will swim anyway. May be too heavy. Can't wait to try it out.
It'll definitely be ready for spring BB.