Custom made volkswagon powered 8x8 with sea doo pump

[chris davison]

I just made the skid plate that goes under the seadoo pump its 1/4 " 5052 alum. and will keep the rocks from bashing it and will keep the water sucking in from under the boat instead of sucking air in next to the pump.

[chris davison]

Heres the pic of the plate

[chris davison]

a pic of pump shaft coming thru the hull

[chris davison]

Finaly have the time and money to get back on my project. Last week was 72 hrs at work. I have purchased diamond plate aluminum to cover the chain cases and have most of the parts to finalize the pump drive I only need an air compressor for the air clutch. Oh I did take it to work and weighed it. 1760 lbs I parked by the guard shack and drove it up on the scale after work. The guard said that every truck driver would just stop for 5 minutes and stare at it then come in.

[gimmegreens336]

Just finding this thread. Killer job dude, can't wait for more videos of the action.

[chris davison]

This is the next step in powering the seadoo pump,getting this assemble installed with the pump shaft just below it.

[Mike]

Chris, it's good to follow your progress again. I created an album under your gallery where you can store all of your photos going forward. It will help keep the project photos in one place so we can look through your progress.

[coosaridgerider]

That is one awesome machine you are building and it looks like you are making great progress.

[Coop]

Chris....Awesome build. Tell me more about the coupling you are using to drive the pump. How do you engage/disengage the pump from the engine? I'm curious because I need to come up with a coupling for the Berkley pump on my 6x6 project. I've been trying to come up with an electric clutch, but nothing is lending itself to my set-up.

Coop

[chris davison]

Hi Coop
The shaft coupler is a rubber flex aligne from Mcmasters, it has two metal halfs and a splined center spider. I bought the smallest one that would work with my specs 1" shaft Its good for 4000 rpm and 110 ft lb torq. in addition it handles angular miss alignment and absorbs vibration. The clutch is an air clutch I bought on ebay for $80 its new and is about $ 400 if bought from a bearing house. With a 12vdc air compressor and a 1/4" air switch in the dash it will engauge and disengauge with a flip of this switch. I will shift into neutral at 10mph as I hit the water flip the air switch and floor it. At least thats what Im hoping for.

[gimmegreens336]

At least thats what Im hoping for.

Just be sure to have your camera-man/woman out there to share with the rest of us!

[chris davison]

I will post films of it you can bet. Just bought on ebay a 12 vdc high volume air compressor to engage my clutch. I also figured out a better way to work my pump. Instead of using the seadoo 17" drive shaft bearing and seal I can cut the splines off drill a 1" stainless shaft and press them together so now I use a press in 1" seal and a 1" 4 bolt flange bearing Key the shaft for a belt pully or sprocket and use a 1" pillow block at the other end. I am trying to get to the machine shop but working 12 hr shifts now.

[sawbuck]

Hi Chris, very nice looking build you have there. I used an air clutch to drive and brake my bandsaw mill I built. It was a horton air clutch and brake. It used quite a bit of air and pressure to operate it efficiently. I had planned on using a 12 volt compressor but needed the extra volume and pressure with a regular compressor. I mounted a air tank on the mill and used a small electrical inverter to get 120volts to operate electrical air switches. When engaged to drive it was plumbed to disengage brake and vise versa. There are pics of the mill I built showing the clutch @ diy bandmill in the gallery first page user name willsaw. http://www.diybandmill.com/index.php...ery2&Itemid=13. Keep up the good work and looking forward following your progress.
Bill

[chris davison]

As you can see from the pics my clutch is only 7 inches in diameter and I am looking for an aluminum 1 gal tank and air switch These should work nicely I will put the air gauge in the dash. This compressor will blow up a car tire in two minutes and will go to 150 psi I will only need 80 psi. I would like to thank all of you for your kind comments and the questions that get me thinking.

[MAX IV Mark]

Chris,
someone I rode with used his rollbar, capped the ends and put a fitting on it and used it as an airtank without even adding any more equipment to his machine. Just a thought, I thought it was slick when I saw it.
MAX IV Mark