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

[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.

[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]

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]

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

[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?

[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.

[ARGOJIM]

Silly question, you have had a tire on there?

[john swenson]

yea..i sure hope the wheel axle sticks out far enough so the tire clears the portal . j.b.

[mfenmor]

Silly question, you have had a tire on there?

OBJECTS IN PICTURE ARE CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR---very close... but far enough.
The closest parts are the upper axle and the beadlock ring bolts.

[john swenson]

hey mike .. hope your doing well , just wondering how the project is coming along . j.b.

[mfenmor]

Hey JB,
Just spent the last three days finishing up the details on the Kubota Max IV and putting on the snowplow. Snow is flying now. I'll try to get a video of plowing.
I'll get back at the portals this weekend. Just been trying to finish up other project (that'll never happen), but the Max IV highboy will take priority. Can't go out and have fun anyway till I get a vaccine.
Doing well, Hope you are as well.
Mike.

[john swenson]

glad to hear your carrying on. we got about 10'' snow today . took a ride up thru the woods with the tracks on . max 2 did fine , probably a little tire slipping in the tracks with the wet snow , but still made it . tracks due take more power . it would be interesting to take them off tomorrow and see how i do with just tires , but thats alot of work and if i got stuck ...well it sits there till enough snow melts . johnboy

[mfenmor]

Got my butt into gear today and fired up the pellet stove in the garage. Waited for two hours for it to warm up from 20 degrees to 65. Been more than a month since the last time I was in there. Spent 7 hours working on the portal boxes, mostly deburring. Getting ready to weld in supports tomorrow. Pictures at 11:00

[mfenmor]

Got another full day in the garage working on the Max, thanks to some heat.
IMG_0504.jpg

Cleaned up the boxes well in the dish washer.....I mean "parts cleaner".
IMG_0502.jpg

Painted my favorite color.
IMG_0503.jpg

I have one more mod to do to the frame this week, then I'll drop it into the tub and bolt on boxes.
Getting close.

[john swenson]

they look great ...hope the machine has been tested and ready to go by april busco !! j.b.